How Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Gwyneth Paltrow Short-Circuit Your Ability to Think Rationally

[Klaralven]

I’m not saying 1 only total losers 2 would skip this story, but a bunch of people did warn me. If you read on, you’ll discover how only I 3 can protect you from the shadowy groups 4 peddling lies 5 to control your children. 6

If a version of this message sounds familiar, it’s because it contains some of the most common techniques deployed by the authoritarians, con men, bosses, and questionable cultural figures swirling around us. Donald Trump. Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Even Barstool Sports’ Dave Portnoy, Elon Musk, and Gwyneth Paltrow have inadvertently used some of these methods. (Respectively, prejudice, scare tactics, and faux intimacy.)

Propaganda—communication designed to manipulate thought or behavior—is the opposite of persuasion. It’s running amok, juiced by social media clicks, dopamine hits, cable TV, and, as always, advertising. Whether used gingerly by celebrities twisting the truth or dangerous demagogues wrecking democracies, rhetorical devices are brain hacks. Leaders short-circuit followers’ ability to think rationally; they stir emotion, scapegoat the innocent, enforce group identity, and arouse suspicion without evidence.

“These strategies are designed to influence you without your consent,” says Texas A&M University communication professor Jennifer Mercieca, who’s writing a book about propaganda to follow up her 2020 Demagogue for President, which examines Trump’s rhetorical strategies. “You take a dirty narrative, and you filter it through Trump’s Twitter feed, and it looks a lot cleaner.”

As powerful as these tactics are, Mercieca says they can be reduced to a universal mind-control playbook. Propaganda experts break down some of the most dangerous stealth assaults, which—once identified—give us the best shot at defusing them.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2021-10-15/rhetorical-tricks-donald-trump-and-elon-musk-use-to-control-how-you-think

[Qutzupalotl]

1. Bookmarking. Thanks for posting.

[Kid Berwyn]

2. Thank you! Very important OP and thread!

A professional hypnotist tried to warn us before Selection 2016. How the Dim Donnie Demento did it:

Hypnotist Richard Barker Shows How Trumpnosis, Donald Trump's Form of Covert Hypnosis, Affects Millions Around the World

NEWS PROVIDED BY
Richard Barker, Incredible Hypnotist
Mar 29, 2016, 08:35 ET

ORLANDO, Fla., March 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Hypnotist Richard Barker has just released research surrounding mass hypnosis and has coined the phrase "Trumpnosis".

Trumpnosis.com has been receiving lots of interest as of late. Covert hypnosis means having access to people's subconscious mind and altering the way they behave and think in a disguised or somewhat hidden way. Some popular covert hypnosis techniques used to align someone's behavior and thoughts to the desired outcome of the hypnotists are displayed during mass hypnosis.

Barker typically refers to mass hypnosis as "Trumpnosis", since he states, "Mr. Trump displays it so well". The media have also made comments regarding the Hypnotizing of a nation and questioned what is happening to America. Through the words and actions of an individual, can we influence and suggest a nation to think a certain way? Richard Barker who is known as the 'Incredible Hypnotist' thinks so. Barker said, "Everything we do and see must first start with a thought process. We don't see the world; we think it. If your thoughts are influenced by a master Hypnotist to think in a certain way on a mass level, this is 'Trumpnosis'".

Mass Hypnotism can apply to everything and be everywhere – in families, in schools and in politics. The influence and use of repetition on crowds is identified through Mr. Trump's speeches and is seen to influence even the most enlightened minds. The power is due to the fact that the repeated statements are embedded in those profound regions of our subconscious mind.

Donald Trump successfully uses techniques such as pacing and leading, anchoring, verbal confusion, repetition and so on. He successfully bypasses the critical factor in minds of some people and has the ability to turn off the rational thinking. By using certain words and behavior, a speaker can very quickly establish a rapport with an audience. Repeated exposure to the same speaker can result in them being viewed with admiration, bordering on worship. Every word uttered is accepted as the complete truth.

“ Through the words he has used, both now and in the past, he has placed others into a hypnotic state without them knowing," says Barker. "Trump's speeches contains hypnosis techniques of hypnotic anchoring, pacing and leading, critical factor bypass and so on."

Hypnotist Richard Barker insists, "All you need to remember is that most people's needs are based on their instincts. Understanding people's instincts, especially in a mass gathering, is one of the key goals of mass hypnosis. Trumpnosis is a vehicle for enabling large groups of people to have an altered belief system."

Richard Barker is a World Renowned Professional Hypnotist. He has spent the last 20 years working with thousands of clients across the world. Richard Barker has recently appeared on NBC's The Today Show, CBS' The Late Late Show with James Corden, FOX's Good Day LA and News channels for FOX and ABC http://incrediblehypnotist.com

He has written a new book focusing on Persuasion and Suggestion titled, "Selling Hypnotically. The Art Of Suggestion" http://sellinghypnotically.com

Source (press release for news, public use distribution and publication): https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hypnotist-richard-barker-shows-how-trumpnosis-donald-trumps-form-of-covert-hypnosis-affects-millions-around-the-world-300242345.html

[Skittles]

7. so how is it

it's effective on so many, but people like you and me hear utter gibberish

[ananda]

9. IOW, it's bullshit.

What they appeal to is confirmation bias.

With Trump, it's mostly racism, well, all the isms,
making them acceptable.

[Skittles]

10. I absolutely agree

a DUer yesterday was referencing an article calling them "very damaged people" - fucking nonsense....they're just ASSHOLES who think they are superior to others and are depressed the world just doesn't revolve around them....I am FED UP being told I need to "understand" them

[Kid Berwyn]

11. You have and apply critical thinking skills -- knowledge, logic, analysis ...

…best guess, based on reading your writing over 20 years.

Many minds are illiterate when it comes to reason. They await intellectual rescue and grab the first straw they see in an effort to remain afloat in an ocean of propaganda. Add the tools of modern ratfuckery — such as objectified fear, personalized hatred, targeted disinformation and publicly shaming the intelligent as eggheads and nerds — they may even want to let go of the straw, just so they aren’t left behind.

[Skittles]

13. but...but...

I know a couple of people who HAVE to extensively use critical thinking skills at their job, yet they admire Trump.....it is insane....I don't understand how they cannot see him for exactly what he is, a fucking carnival barker.

Aw shucks thanks for that compliment

[Ilsa]

3. I hope Dr. Mercieca has body guards.

Generally, Texas Aggies are fairly disciplined in their behavior. But there's always a violent kook out there.

Thank you for posting, Klaralven!

[catrose]

5. I remember being taught how to listen to advertising & propaganda

involving looking for real facts and putting your finger on what emotions they're trying to manipulate.

I'm thinking that's not taught any more, and it seems like a basic life skill.

[Kaleva]

6. One will see some of the methods used here

"False Equivalence
What It Is: A comparison among two or more people, events, or things that share something superficial but basically have nothing important to do with each other; the intent is to diminish the relevance of one element.

Textbook Case: Comparing anyone (and anything) who isn’t actually a genocidal dictator to Hitler and his movement. A cheeky bit of internet folklore from 1990 known as “Godwin’s Law” proposed that the longer any online discussion runs, the more likely it is that someone will make an inappropriate comparison to Hitler."

"Appeal to Fear
What It Is: It conjures the specter of a threat, harm, or evil to gain support."

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2021-10-15/rhetorical-tricks-donald-trump-and-elon-musk-use-to-control-how-you-think

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

8. Damn

I didn't think those three had such influence on me but thanks for alerting me.

[radicalleft]

12. I think the author is giving TFG

WAY too much credit. I don't think he's had an original thought these past 10 years...just repeats what the deplorables say and makes it sound like his own ideas...

He's too fucking stupid to be able to hypnotize an fruit fly...