Britain says attack expected imminently

[outsider]

There's nothing prophetic about it.

It's a precaution, not an end-time prediction.
The Muslims may well feel it's a condition of Armageddon though, hence the attention given to it.

I'm talking about Mr. Snow job's words here (http://thinkprogress.org/2006/08/09/snow-lamont/) as an attempt at being prophetic. You might be limiting the scope of that word though if you think it has only to do with armageddon/end of time shit.

[TheZenMan]

My point was that any religious sect who is the sworn enemy of any other may well use a significant "holy day" to smite their foes.

Identifying that holy day by their scripture isn't prophetic by an observer view. It's just a precaution. If they feel it has something to do with end-times is equally meaningless in the significance of noting the date.

To them it may be a holy day, but for us it's just another day to be weary of, in this case it's the anniversary of Muhammad flying off to heaven on his horse. So to a fundamental kook, that might sound like a great time to nuke Jerusalem.

Whatever snow said didn't catch my attention, so if I misread your point...my bad.

[outsider]

I'm talking and was talking about US politicians appearing to be prophetic about what will happen if we don't "stay the course". You're addition of religion and armageddon stuff had nothing to do with my use of the word prophetic.

He had said that shit would happen if we didn't stay the course after Lieberman got voted out. Go figure.

[GoodCitizenDan]

I'm talking and was talking about US politicians appearing to be prophetic about what will happen if we don't "stay the course". You're addition of religion and armageddon stuff had nothing to do with my use of the word prophetic.

He had said that shit would happen if we didn't stay the course after Lieberman got voted out. Go figure.

Fear is always the most effective tool for control. All you have to do is keep repeating the worst case scenario over and over, and eventually the people who hear you will start to believe that it is the most likely scenario.

Humans respond to fear and repetition. Its not much different than training a dog, really...

[HaloGuardian]

Yup. If someone said the San Pedro terrorists from Mexico hid nukes in tacos and sneaked them across the border because their extreme catholic book told them to, people would buy it. Not the first time, but a mexican kills a border patrol agent, pictures all over the news, yadda yadda repeat, rinse, wash, repeat.

[TheZenMan]

I'm talking and was talking about US politicians appearing to be prophetic about what will happen if we don't "stay the course". You're addition of religion and armageddon stuff had nothing to do with my use of the word prophetic.

He had said that shit would happen if we didn't stay the course after Lieberman got voted out. Go figure.

And I said "my bad" meaning 'if I misread what you meant, it wasn't intentional.'

I'll spend more time honing my mind reading skills in the future as not to offend you by misinterpreting your crystal clear and logically flawless posts.

[outsider]

And I said "my bad" meaning 'if I misread what you meant, it wasn't intentional.'

I'll spend more time honing my mind reading skills in the future as not to offend you by misinterpreting your crystal clear and logically flawless posts.
What about this requires mind reading to deduce that I am talking about US politicians?


Seriously though, something smells fishy about this. I've read enough stay the course rhetoric in regards to a few recent political happenings saying something just like this would happen. I really don't belive our politicians are actually prophetic.

[TheZenMan]

What about this requires mind reading to deduce that I am talking about US politicians?

lol

Dude, fuck it. Let's just fist fight.

[fibula]

Fear is always the most effective tool for control. All you have to do is keep repeating the worst case scenario over and over, and eventually the people who hear you will start to believe that it is the most likely scenario.
Humans respond to fear and repetition. Its not much different than training a dog, really...

I kind of get what your saying, but so you mean that the government supposed to keep all threats to civillians secret rather than use it as a weapon of fear, or are you saying that only credible information should be made public rather than predictions?

[GoodCitizenDan]

I kind of get what your saying, but so you mean that the government supposed to keep all threats to civillians secret rather than use it as a weapon of fear, or are you saying that only credible information should be made public rather than predictions?

I'm saying that inventing an invisible enemy has it's uses when trying to control your constituents....

[TheZenMan]

http://www.psywarrior.com/Goebbel2a.jpg
"Repeat a lie often enough, and people will believe it."
– Joseph Goebbel

Turned out to be true. Go figure.

[GoodCitizenDan]

http://www.psywarrior.com/Goebbel2a.jpg
"Repeat a lie often enough, and people will believe it."
– Joseph Goebbel

Turned out to be true. Go figure.

Exactly. Create a cacophony. If your oppenent comes at you with truth, come back with hypotheticals of the worst case scenario. When the truth comes out, avoid it and attack the source.

These are the guidelines to rule by misinformation.
Do any of these things sound familiar?

[TheZenMan]

Exactly. Create a cacophony. If your oppenent comes at you with truth, come back with hypotheticals of the worst case scenario. When the truth comes out, avoid it and attack the source.

These are the guidelines to rule by misinformation.
Do any of these things sound familiar?

All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near. Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him.

–Sun Tzu

Actually, it does.

[fibula]

I'm saying that inventing an invisible enemy has it's uses when trying to control your constituents....

I guess what Im trying to say is that I don't consider informing the public of a failed terrorist attack and increased saftey measures in planes as a fear weapon byt the government, and Im sure that's not what you mean either.

If you mean policitions using it as a soapbox to predict future attacks, etc, then I agree

[outsider]

There are certainly better quotes to be had from The Art of War in regards to propaganda than the beginning of the first chapter..

[TheZenMan]

I guess what Im trying to say is that I don't consider informing the public of a failed terrorist attack and increased saftey measures in planes as a fear weapon byt the government, and Im sure that's not what you mean either.

If you mean policitions using it as a soapbox to predict future attacks, etc, then I agree

I think he means it more in general as an implementation of control by any organization that intends to control a populous for any reason.

Beyond that, I'd be guessing.

But on that note, I agree on fear being the most favored bait. People love to fear.
It's addictive and yields an unseen payoff.

It's also the tool of a great many religion, arguably all of them.

[TheZenMan]

There are certainly better quotes to be had from The Art of War in regards to propaganda than the beginning of the first chapter..

Like I said man, let's just duke it out.

[GoodCitizenDan]

I guess what Im trying to say is that I don't consider informing the public of a failed terrorist attack and increased saftey measures in planes as a fear weapon byt the government, and Im sure that's not what you mean either.
If you mean policitions using it as a soapbox to predict future attacks, etc, then I agree

I'm suggesting that the situation is overblown to keep the public afraid, especially at moments deemed politically critical. At the very least I believe they are manipulating fear through systems like the color coded alert levels and overblown speaches by (at the moment) Tony Snow.

Would they take it a step farther and provide the american people with 'physical proof' of how much the terrorists want to destroy us? Maybe immediately after a foreboding messege from the press secretary was almost flippantly dismissed by the general public?

Well, thats for each individual to decide on their own...

[outsider]

Like I said man, let's just duke it out.

Did your brain stop working or something?

[TheZenMan]

Did your brain stop working or something?

Nope, all we're doing here is banging heads...for no reason at all.

Something has to give.

So, suppose you provide a written test, and I'll try to find the better instances of propaganda in the The Art of War.

If I don't, then you win.

Otherwise, wtf?