> Lesson #9
>
> How to benefit from unclear and ambiguous statements.
>
> If a host you want to manipulate interprets some (not yours) unclear
> statement one way, tell him it should be interpreted another way. Start
> your sentence with a "No" (so you look stronger) and assure him he was wrong.
>
> >No, David, you have misunderstood.
>
> Accuse him of something anti-social and egoistic. Make it clear you are
> very personal (write YOU in uppercase, use "don't you?", etc.). Ridicule
> whatever you know he likes doing and accuse of not doing things you think he
> does not like.
>
> >I think I see what's going on. You only read the threads YOU
> >start, don't you? That's why you never chime in on discussions
> >about anything other than "Levels" or "Objectivism".
>
> Remind him of your kindness and how much he owes you (use "we", pretend you
> speak for other people too). Pretend you are glad doing him a favour:
>
> >Well, I'm glad we can provide a space for you to rant.
>
> (etc, etc...)
At long last! I AM A LESSON!!!
I generally consider myself quite a manipulative little son-of-a-gun and
to have been neglected thus far had, truly, begun to tear at the fragile
edifice of my ego. But, ho! I am once more redeemed!!! My friends can
call me Loki behind my back again and parents will know better than to
leave the delicate minds of their innocent children under the watch of my
dark and or'powering gaze. A reputation is a serious undertaking, to lose
it through subtlity would be most tragic. I feared, for a time, that my
wiles would go undetected by the goodly Tad, a man of great virtue and
compassion. And, though his humility would bid him tell you this is not
so, and that he trods the earth under foot even as the least of us, be it
known to you, gentle reader, that he is truly a great man and not to be
trifled with. So you may see my distress when, in the noble duties of
education, the goodly Tad, a man of great virtue and compassion, did
o'rlook my few rough and barbaric attempts to sway the plotted course of
your easy minds. My learned readers, do not think this a matter I took
lightly, for the approval of my dearest friend, a man of great virtue and
compassion, the goodly Tad, means as you may well suspect, all the world
to me. And now, having been included in his masterwork, gives me pause.
This is truly a grand and wonderful life to live, lord bless us every one!
Prof. Tim