Mogwai - Miracle

So maybe I'll get some feedback on this one, and maybe I won't. Blogging is mysterious like that.

I have to admit that most of my interest in Communications as a focus is in the manipulation of people and social situations. Does this mean that my goal is to get people to hurt themselves for my benefit? No. What I'm talking about is the ability to nudge people in the direction you want them to go. We all run into these situations on a daily basis. "I don't think this guy cares too much about fixing my car on time, how can I get him to make it a priority of his?" "I want this stereo, but I really don't want to pay $500 for it; I wonder if I can get them to give me a discount?" "I'd love to go out with that girl/guy over there, how do I get them more interested in me?"

Questions like this run through every person's mind, every day of their lives. Now the question is, do you think having the knowledge to sway their thinking is a good thing or a bad thing? If I could get you to act a certain way through the use of four words, would you think I'm a jerk? Would you believe I can do it? hehehe...

I have no ulterior motives or wish to deceive anyone, it's just a very interesting question to me. We have a major at most schools with the primary focus of conditioning people to interact well with others, and a secondary focus of how to interact with others in a way that benefits your agenda. Very cool and scary at the same time.

ps. the song I'm listening to is linked and free for download.

1 Comments:

 chu said (9/28/2005 11:39 AM),  

"Manipulate" is such a harsh word. I prefer the term "compromise." Let's examine your stereo example for a moment. I see it more as a way of the salesperson allowing me to help him/her make a few extra dollars if he/she works on commission. If I am not going to pay $500 dollars for the stereo, he/she would not earn a dime on the "non-sale," but if we were to agree on a lower price point or some other incentive (gift card, audio cable, yaddy-yaddy-yadda), we would both be happy. I'd get a stereo I want and he/she would have a couple of extra $$$, meet or exceed his/her sales quote and get a raise, get a promotion, meets the girl/guy of his/her dreams. Damn.. I just made a huge difference in the person's life. I rule!!

But seriously, it is all in how you look at things. If you see it as manipulation, then it is by nature a bad thing. With all that said, having the knowledge and the ability to influence people is not in itself a bad thing as it really depends on where you sway them towards. :) Now if you sway those cute UNT chicks towards me... then it is definitely a good thing!!