Posted on 03/06/2009 6:55:10 AM PST by Jenny Hatch
I just wanted to make everyone aware of the Delphi Technique. It is a Consensus and Facilitation technique that keeps those who are unaware of how it works from being effective political activists. For those who are just beginning as politically active conservatives, mastering the countering techniques will help us be much more effective as we move against the Marxists who have overtaken our government.
(Excerpt) Read more at tcotprojects.ning.com ...
“How to Diffuse the Delphi Technique.
1. Always be charming, courteous, and pleasant. Smile. Moderate your voice so as not to come across as belligerent or aggressive.”
I wouldnt make it past step 1.
Actually, I’ve used the “Yawn” post before... but it was more of a response to the article posted than to the poster.
Arent’ these also known as “Jedi mind tricks?”
We can and do use it.
While studying in Boston in the late 60’s I encountered a graduate of the BU school of Social Sciences who had just received a PhD, one of the first, in group dynamis. He was the group leader of my graduate class at Tufts for 3 years, one Dr. Bruce Baldwin. Through him we learned the science of group dynamics.
I recognized at the time that this was a dangerous tool that could easily control people. The only systems I later used in my work with disadvantaged communities was enabling expression. I refused to manipulate groups into predetermined conclusions, with a few significant exceptions.
These are enormously powerful tools because they appear to rely on democratic principles.
The foundational principles of Free Republic make it clear to all that open discourse is encouraged but conservative values are the playing field. This removes the possibility of group manipulation.
The Delphi system, as outlined above and practiced by the 0 administration, can only be effective with groups and individuals who have weak basic principles. This is precisely why true conservatives, Right to Lifers, Roman Catholic leadership and so forth are excluded from White House study groups.
Our very existence is an affront to the Delphi Masters, much as is Rush. Let not your heart be troubled. Truth and conviction will break the rod of tyranny.
CS Lewis had interesting things to say about the damage good people can do when they decide to adopt immoral methods.
Also, Tolkien in the Lord of the Rings makes the point -- Frodo tries to give the ring, first to Gandalf, and later to Galadriel. They are good and wise -- wise enough to recognize the temptation to use the ring for good and to know that this power would corrupt them and taint what they wish to achieve.
Delphi Method is wrong. Fight it. Don't use it.
VERY good info there....I’ve witnessed this applied once and never realised it (involving some copmutor game testing)...
Something learned everyday....
The FR way...
ping
GRR...faulty keyboard...
Many times it isn’t necessarily calculated, some controlling, narcissistic personality types do this without knowing it is a defined technique, it is just part of their nature.
I prefer to clarify my position by reacting like a wolverine.
There's a lot to be said for clearing a room.
3... 2 ... 1... until mnehrling finds some way to blow my posts out of the water :0)
Seriously, good point about paranoia, well made.
I doubt that DT as written could be successfully used on this forum. We DO get shills (classic builders of fake consensus), but I believe this Forum is well armored against them. This is because FReepers instinctively refer to an external touchstone on most issues (e.g the Constitution, the Bible, scientific papers, sourced links and so on).
But we do get dishonest techniques - ad hominem attacks, and prior constraint of debate. They are always obvious (and annoying) when used - no secret mind techniques, no possible cause for paranoia.
With respect however, I can’t agree that it could ever be a good idea to use manufactured ‘consensus’ to get things going the way one wants. Doing this must surely pose a moral hazard?
By which I mean: it’s not bad just because it’s dishonest, but also because in the end you would end up relying on slippery group dynamics rather than having and holding good ideas.
Better to make sure one’s arguments are good, one’s position is sound: train yourself to stand your ground and repeat the truth. This has got to be better strategy.
(Disclaimer: I have no experience in moving groups either with truth or trickery)
Interesting.
No doubt many of us have experienced this at the corporate level too.
Of course even in the absence of such codified detail, it should be clear to everyone that, for many years now, our form of gvt only provides the “apperance” of free choice by its participants.
What were our choices last fall? Left and Left-er?
And the melting of the switch boards prior to the original $700 bil bailout: Didn’t they do it anyway?
As with the lists of ideas cited in the article, were’nt “our represntatives” able to claim they got lots of call both for and against the bailout?
I suspect one cardinal foundation of Obama’s administration is the tacit buy-in he got by being elected. We’ve seen here recently that some people have “changed their mind” about him. But how many will come out and admit their error?
I see it often, although I doubt it is calculated.. I'm sure you have too.. think of all the threads where we challenge X Republican candidate over an issue and that candidate's supporter all jump in with something like ..all you who oppose freedom and liberty just want X to fail while you root for socialism... even though the original premise had nothing to do with "freedom and liberty" but a specific issue or comment... it is an attempt to isolate the opposition, make them appear out of the mainstream and opposing the core values the group holds..
“It’s cruel, and just plain evil.”
Yeah, but it works.
I read somewhere that one of Alinsky’s rules was to hold the opposition up to their own highest standards. Why do you think he said that? ‘Cause he knew that would paralyze them.
Oddly enough, I had to study this as part of my “management” training. It wasn’t called the Delphi technique, but it was about how as a manager, I should decide what I wanted to do, then bring in the group and use similar techniques to get them to come to the proper conclusion. It also had chapters about how to cut somebody off at the ankles if they didn’t get on board.
Thanks for posting this - copies made.
You’ve had the ‘controlling group dynamics’, ‘achieving consensus’, and ‘successful group negotiations’ training as well?
Ah yes! Covert hypnosis, also known (IIRC) as Neuro-linguistic Programming or NLP
Absolutely correct. The key to this technique is to start with very obvious truisms, to remove resistance to the trojan horse idea which comes in later.
“concerned about politics, you are alive”
“concerned about politics, you are breathing”
“concerned about politics, you are in this room”
“concerned about politics, you will vote for hopey-changy-changy hope”
Ok I blew it at the end there, but you all see what I mean. Obama also makes key signals to reinforce his take-away points. There’s a PDF analyzing his technique - I bet sticking “Obama Neuro linguistic Programming” into Clusty will come up with it.
Yeppir, along with New Age out of body experience training. I worked for the city of Austin, TX.
Sorry, old NLP joke...
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