When does. Trying to convince someone become trying to manipulate someone (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 7 hours ago by solidheron@sh.itjust.works to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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I had a better way of articulating it, but I went with that.

So for the longest time I felt like I shouldn't give people reasons behind an answer because you can put in the reasons behind it can sway their decisions. Also I know that I had incomplete data set. Humans do lean on each other to think and you can inject what idea and have it spread.

To attempt something more coherent. You can do propaganda when you try to reason. It's just natural to talk as if they know and just bridge the gaps in their knowledge with any old phrase

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[-] unknownuserunknownlocation@kbin.earth 2 points 1 hour ago

The central question for me is always: are you trying to make them do something they don't want to, that wouldn't be in their interest nor the interest of the greater good, and are you being deceptive.

Example 1: You're discussing something political. Part of that is often trying to convince someone that your opinion is right. Your believe your opinion is right, and you believe your opinion contributes to the greater good. Not manipulation.

Example 2: You're creating propaganda. You're trying to convince masses of people of something, you're putting the information together in a deceptive manner, and you're trying to further your own interests. Manipulation.

Example 3: Someone's depressed, and you're trying to get them to come on a walk with you, because you believe it would help their mental health. They don't want to, but you believe it would be in their best interest, since they're isolating themselves and it's not doing them any good. Not manipulation.

Example 4: you want to borrow someone's car. They don't initially want to lend it to you. You offer to grab groceries for them and fill up their tank. They figure that in that case, they would be OK with lending you their car. Not manipulation.

Example 5: you want to borrow someone's car. They don't want to lend it to you. You remind them of the time they accidentally broke something in your house so that they feel guilty and oblige. This was solely in your own interest. Manipulation.

this post was submitted on 12 Jul 2026

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