The EU

19-10-2005, 11:42 AM

Why not go to www.amazon.com type in 'Lakoff' and click on his book 'How not to think of an elephant' and read the reviews?

The title is a good example of why just telling the truth does not always work, especially when your opponents are winning the language game.

Hypothtical: I'm the President of the 'Campaign to eliminate thoughts of elephants because they are obviously designed by committee.'

I gather a group of like-minded people and we suggest how to achieve our aims. Someone suggests we just tell the truth. 'Just tell them straight! Don't think of an elephant! The truth will set them free!'

So we go out and tell people 'Don't think of an elephant!'

We buy billboard space with 'Don't think of an elephant!' printed in huge letters.

We run TV ads telling people 'Don't think of an elephant!'

What have we achieved?

The exact opposite of what we set out to do. Try it yourself, tell someone 'Don't think of an elephant!' and ask if they thought of an elephant.

Richard Nixon as President of the USA stated: 'I am not a crook' so everyone thought he was a crook. Use the word and you evoke the frame, the ideas.

Say, 'I'm not a racist' and people will think? You've just evoked the racist frame.

Non-racists don't go round denying they are racists.

Honest people don't go round trying to convince people they are not crooks.

Christina

Harrism · 19-10-2005, 11:48 AM

People only see what is infront of their noses.

If you say elephant they will think of an elephant, few will think large grey mammel, and even fewer will ask why.

This in itself is a langage advantage.

If you can have the why, who can stop you? If your information is based upon wisdom, who is wise enough to stand upto you? I'm not saying I am but I think you're understanding me Christina.

Harrism · 19-10-2005, 11:50 AM

I understand it.

19-10-2005, 11:54 AM

Christina

Harrism · 19-10-2005, 12:11 PM

They know what they are doing, but do they have the wisdom to apply it?

You might read his books study his methods, but when you are only using it to get what you want or what you yourself can see infront of you then are you really wise enough to be using that wisdom?

ukip have a lot of potiental if they learn to apply it. They're small enough to adjust their policys but big enough to have a chance of power (they're known). If they use this position wisely I can't see any problems.

Harrism · 19-10-2005, 12:13 PM

I wouldn't worry about them, wisdom can only be used as it was meant to be by the wise and the wise will always agree with each other.

Harrism · 19-10-2005, 12:17 PM

If the world was wise how far would we get?

And would there be racism?

-It's all in the title. 'The Pro-European Case For EU Withdrawal'

A pro european case for finding reasons to support the anti europeanians.

It's someone who's explaining the otherside of the tree they're attached to.

If a anti european was to give a case for why we should stay, wouldn't we know all the true facts? And so be able to make a truely sound judgement?

19-10-2005, 12:17 PM

Did you read it?

Harrism · 19-10-2005, 12:22 PM

I don't need to, I got a pretty strong message from the title but I shall.

Logan · 19-10-2005, 01:24 PM

http://www.englishdemocraticparty.org.uk/ and click on breaking news

Logan

19-10-2005, 01:24 PM	#30 (permalink)
Logan Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 181	http://www.englishdemocraticparty.org.uk/ and click on breaking news Logan __________________ only dead fish go with the flow www.abcounties.co.uk proud to be \"indigenous\"

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19-10-2005, 11:42 AM	#21 (permalink)
Guest Posts: n/a	Why not go to www.amazon.com type in 'Lakoff' and click on his book 'How not to think of an elephant' and read the reviews? The title is a good example of why just telling the truth does not always work, especially when your opponents are winning the language game. Hypothtical: I'm the President of the 'Campaign to eliminate thoughts of elephants because they are obviously designed by committee.' I gather a group of like-minded people and we suggest how to achieve our aims. Someone suggests we just tell the truth. 'Just tell them straight! Don't think of an elephant! The truth will set them free!' So we go out and tell people 'Don't think of an elephant!' We buy billboard space with 'Don't think of an elephant!' printed in huge letters. We run TV ads telling people 'Don't think of an elephant!' What have we achieved? The exact opposite of what we set out to do. Try it yourself, tell someone 'Don't think of an elephant!' and ask if they thought of an elephant. Richard Nixon as President of the USA stated: 'I am not a crook' so everyone thought he was a crook. Use the word and you evoke the frame, the ideas. Say, 'I'm not a racist' and people will think? You've just evoked the racist frame. Non-racists don't go round denying they are racists. Honest people don't go round trying to convince people they are not crooks. Christina

19-10-2005, 11:48 AM	#22 (permalink)
Harrism Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 113	People only see what is infront of their noses. If you say elephant they will think of an elephant, few will think large grey mammel, and even fewer will ask why. This in itself is a langage advantage. If you can have the why, who can stop you? If your information is based upon wisdom, who is wise enough to stand upto you? I'm not saying I am but I think you're understanding me Christina.

19-10-2005, 11:50 AM	#23 (permalink)
Harrism Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 113	I understand it.

19-10-2005, 11:54 AM	#24 (permalink)
Guest Posts: n/a	Christina

19-10-2005, 12:11 PM	#25 (permalink)
Harrism Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 113	They know what they are doing, but do they have the wisdom to apply it? You might read his books study his methods, but when you are only using it to get what you want or what you yourself can see infront of you then are you really wise enough to be using that wisdom? ukip have a lot of potiental if they learn to apply it. They're small enough to adjust their policys but big enough to have a chance of power (they're known). If they use this position wisely I can't see any problems.

19-10-2005, 12:13 PM	#26 (permalink)
Harrism Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 113	I wouldn't worry about them, wisdom can only be used as it was meant to be by the wise and the wise will always agree with each other.

19-10-2005, 12:17 PM	#27 (permalink)
Harrism Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 113	If the world was wise how far would we get? And would there be racism? -It's all in the title. 'The Pro-European Case For EU Withdrawal' A pro european case for finding reasons to support the anti europeanians. It's someone who's explaining the otherside of the tree they're attached to. If a anti european was to give a case for why we should stay, wouldn't we know all the true facts? And so be able to make a truely sound judgement?

19-10-2005, 12:17 PM	#28 (permalink)
Guest Posts: n/a	Did you read it?

19-10-2005, 12:22 PM	#29 (permalink)
Harrism Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 113	I don't need to, I got a pretty strong message from the title but I shall.