On Tuesday 11 Dec 2007 10:19 am, Kiran Jonnalagadda wrote:
> So you're saying that you're too cheap to get a real survey done, but
> expect to be taken seriously on "facts" you admit to making up yourself.
If that is not an ad homimen I don't know what is. However I will let it pass.
The reason I shall let is pass is related to another story I once made up as
a parable.
Let me relate that
It's called the "You farted" story
There is a particularly irritating psychological trick that you may have had
played on you, and perhaps you are guilty of playing it yourself. People do
it all the time - but it is educative to find influential groups and nations
playing that trick.
The "game" or trick is to get a person on the defensive with an unprovoked
accusation. The agenda and tone is set by the accuser and the passive
personality goes on the defensive right from the start.
Let me explain. For clarity I will call it the "You farted" game
A group of people are sitting together - say 6 or 7 friends in a hostel room.
Suddenly the foul smell of a fart wafts up.
An accuser personality (call him 'A') picks out a passive personality ('P')
and says "Hey P, you farted"
P protests "No I did not"
A: "Yes you did"
P: "Shut up and stop accusing me"
A:"He Ha. It's OK. No need to cover your guilt by getting angry. I know you
farted. We don't mind - just warn us next time.
What happens in this exchange is that the Accuser 'A' has the initiative all
the time. He sets the pace, and he sets the Agenda. He may actually have
farted himself, but he gets away giving the impression that "P" is guilty.
Jace has just played the "you farted" game on me. Thanks, but no thanks.
> FWIW, there are sociologists in India. Some are on this list.
I have actually met some of the sociologists on this list.
shiv
