The power of dreams do not only lie in sleep. They hide, after all, within the unconscious that accompany us while we are awake. This, from the instinctive nibbling of nails to the automatic lifting of the chin, affects history in proportions that literally change the world.
In the early 1900’s, there was a small political party that did such a thing. They started out as a small movement among the many political parties within their country, and eventually became the strongest, dominating all the others on the rise to power. Some of the party’s well known ideologies include economic and political liberalism, totalitarianism and, most of all, racial superiority. The effects of these, possibly unknown to them at such an early stage, include the genocide and persecution of the Jews. This small movement was none other than the National Socialism, or, better known as Nazism.
Under the leadership of Adolf Hitler, the political party, played the people of Germany like a playwright controlling the fate of his actors. Coming from the loss at World War 1 and the treaty of Versailles, both of which dealt a severe blow of humility, Germany was in a state of chaos and despair. The people did not really want to believe that they had lost in the war. By appealing to the people’s fantasy that everything will be set right, Hitler gathered and led the fragments of Germany into further years of war and bloodshed. The National Socialist party offered the people none other than the moon – beautiful and tempting, yet unattainable to the very end.
A question stands out from all this – Why are people inclined to believe more in fantasy rather than reality? Is reality not tangible within the grasp of human reason and easier to comprehend? ---And fantasy more distant, ambiguous and utterly unattainable?
Human nature. People normally dream of attaining things that are ideal and perfect for them, and it is not surprising that reality will look more bleak than usual when compared to the fantasies that people envision. Human beings are, after all, innately ambitious. I guess in a certain sense, this is why we choose to have role models who, to each of us, are examples of perfection.
This specific law tells people how to gain power at the expense of other people. That in mind, then the whole world would be in chaos, where everyone is at each other’s throats, utilizing poisoned apples in preference to sharpened steel; to deceive those around you with their own ambitions to further your own. Fit for the masses? No. Just because one has the ability to attain power does not mean that one is fit for power.
Filbert Tan
HI18-K
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22 comments:
Your law is closely related to mine (law 37: Create compelling spectacles)... Playing with people's fantasy is like creating compelling spectacles but this time, instead of external visuals, you create spectacles inside people's minds.
Like what my law says, people like spectacles and believing in fantasies because it is an immediate appeal to their emotions, through their fantasies they are able to solve their problems and whatever it is that is conflicting in their minds. Reality is much more complicated and harder to understand than fantasies because we are not in charge of reality and sometimes, the happenings in reality merge together into an unintelligible state. Using our fantasies, we can set everything right.
Leng Desuasido
Hi18-L
Re: happy hammy
I'd like to think that "playing to people's fantasies" exploits what is already there in the minds of the people, but yes, the reasoning is almost the same - the people see what they want to see.
In any case, your view in using fantasies to "set things right" is quite interesting, to say the least. In a ruler's sense, what comes to my mind is a king telling the people that everything is fine (when it really isn't - with disasters happening all over the place) in order to prevent chaos from ensuing - a "positive" use of the law, of sorts.
Rather than creating spectacles in peoples minds' as Leng suggested, maybe playing to fantasy PROMISES spectacles, wouldn't you agree?
On another note, playing to peoples fantasies only apply to certain situations i think. While the oppressed, suffering, desperate masses might be easy to sway with shiny promises but the upper class, already living with such a high standard of living, might not be as easy to sway. I guess this law is related to the "religion is the opiate of the masses" phenomenon in that a "fantasy" is used to control a mass of people.
Diego Juan Elpidio Canlas Ibanez
Hi18-K
Re: Diego
Come to think of it, I agree with your opinion. Fantasy does indeed promise spectacles - in a way that the masses believe you have power through the performance of grand gestures.
On the other hand, it is of no exaggeration when I say that everyone has fantasies of their own. I believe that the rich are not harder to sway; it is just that their vision of a fantasy is a great deal more different than the oppressed and desperate. While the marginalized would tend to think more on the hope of a better future, the rich, being already secure on the physical premises, tend to think more on the abstract side of life - something as intangible as death, perhaps? or even human limitations? (where they try to avoid the truth that they are, just like all others, human, and that they will eventually expire regardless of their riches)
Deception has always been key to the laws of power; much like how making use of people is also an evident feature of the laws...
To actually be able to play to people's fantasies is pretty much like campaigning in government... you want to win? then make sure you get their support by 'promising' them what they want... either that or cheat the election... whatever floats your boat. =P
I don't like this law. Playing with other people's minds are not a good idea. haha It may have worked for Hitler and the Nazis but Making them believe in things that aren't true, that's just bollocks. haha But, I liked the idea that Hitler encouraged his men through the fantasies he showed to them. He got them to fight the war longer and killing more people.
I think this law is all about dealing with the truth, the reality of things around us, and choosing to live with a fantasy or reality. Each person has a way of dealing with these realities in life. The difference is of HOW we look at things.
to answer your question Filbert:
Ibelieve that people tend to believein fantasy more than reality because fantasies can be controlled and, most of the time, are pleasurable to the mind/person.
People refuse to believe in reality because it hurts them. Like how the saying goes, "the truth hurts" and it does hurt knowing that things seem hopeless and unfair.
People like to believe in things that will bring them happiness or positive energies.
note:
Sorry kung malabo,haha sabaw lang today.haha
Clarice Manuel
Hi 18 K
To answer your question, fantasies are the hidden and repressed desires of a person. You can use that against the person. I agree with Diego that this applies to certain situations only. There is a reason why those desires are kept in the subconscious. Whatever reason the person has for not revealing what he wants, you have to be aware of that. It takes much from a person to hide what she or he wants. If you play with that fantasy, it might trigger the person to go aggressively against you.
Mara Liboro
Hi18-K
Honestly, i don't like the law either. But, the law is a reality of things; it's a brutal fact of life that people, in order to gain the advantage over other people, manipulate others. And in a certain sense, wouldn't it be nice to fight fire with fire?
I agree with Ice that it is not good to play with other people's minds, but dont you think us having a religion is the same thing as what Hitler did to his people? Back in the day people were given a wrong impression on religion. They say that the more you donate to the church the bigger your chances are of going to heaven. As you can see, heaven is a fantasy that was conceived by the church to take advantage of the people.
This can also be seen in the Spanish era, where they used the church to make the Filipinos believe in the Spanish rule. In our time today, we no longer have the idea of bigger donations giving us a sure spot in heaven, but we do have novenas, pilgrimages, etc that the church tells us that this will give us enlightenment.
I dont want to sound like an Atheist, because I myself have an image of heaven, but it does kinda make sense right?
Laurine Fabul, L
If you ask me, Adolf Hitler did the job the was supposed to do. He made Germany great... he just became insane a few years after. When Hitler rose to power, he brought Germany out of depression. He was even named Time's man of the year. This is the time when the United States of America was facing an economic crisis with the great depression.
Sean Co
Hi 18 K
Re: Sean
But, isn't that beside the point? I mean, how he attained the power is the topic at hand. He got it through playing with people's fantasies, regardless of whether he brought Germany out of a depression or not.
Filbert Tan
Hi18-K
I think following this law is really advantegeous because I also believe that people like to be in the world of fantasies. As mentioned, I guess our nature as human beings, make us like ideal world and things that it is quite hard for us to acquire in the real world. This law sounded like fooling people for benefits but I guess taking some advantages by doing so is not bad. Because in any way, we like to belive in ideal world, the fantasies.
Yu Chin Hong
Hi18-K
Most of the time, reality could be very harsh. That's probably why fantasies appeal to a lot of people, because it's what they want to see and believe to free themselves from what is real. Take for example the show Wowowee. People perceive the host as someone very generous and kind, when the ones who know better know that he isn't really that kind. People are made to believe that image, and that's probably the reason why the show has a high rating because it appeals to many people.
However, this law must be used sparingly. Fantasies may appeal to people at first, but to entice people by using these often might not work because it wouldn't appeal to them anymore. :-)
PC Magnaye, Hi18-K
People are easily fooled, as long as they see what they want to see. This is the only way to deceive people, after all, who would want to listen to something they don't even like? But isn't this a short term fix? You tell people what they want to hear and they submit themselves to you. And then what? Fantasy means not reality; but by promising something, they will expect something. Sure, you may stay in a position of power, but unless you can find a way to fulfill their fantasies, your seat will not be secure.
Sam Bautista
Hi18-K
If we would follow Mara's definition of what a fantasy is- repressed desires, I would have to agree with Filbert in saying that this law can be applied in all situations.
If the fantasy of the masses perhaps may be about satisfying the basic physiological and safety needs such as food, shelter, water, etc. The fantasy of the rich may be more on satisfying their self-esteem such as being the best in archeology, for example.
The same magnitude of different forms.
-Marion Causing, Hi18-K
It's sad that sometimes its human nature to hope for a brighter future only to end up being deceived by the leaders who made them believe such fantasies. I just hope that this law isn't employed by those in high office, and those who hold a lot of influence in the world today. Maybe if Filipino politicians would stop using this law then probably less people will hope for their misguided platforms.
Alan Ortiz
HI18 K
law 32 applies the most to politics. remember the line in Scar's (Lion King) song "Be Prepared"? he said to the hyenas, "stick with and you'll never go hungry again!"
and the hyenas were happy. and they supported him.
it's the same in the phils. almost everyone but i'd like to use form Pres. Joseph Estrada as an example. he used the slogan "Erap para sa Mahirap" - appealing to the poor to support him if they support him. people believed in his promises and hoped he'd save them like leading man he was in his movies.
jaclyn yap
hi18 K
law #35:master the art of timing
This law revolves around the idea of catering to the wants and need of the people. Sometimes these people themselves do not know what they want. This is when we could create a fantasy. A fantasy that could capture the mind of these people. By doing this we could have power over them. This law is often observed in the marketing industry. When we control the peoples wants then we plainly control the people themselves.
Richard Hahn
L
I'd just like to add, just thinking out loud actually, that - believing in fantasy is like being addicted to drugs. It starts out sparsely, like all addictive substances. One is even conscious about it's dangerous qualities at such an early stage. But then, it takes you in gradually, and you don't even notice it since you're so enraptured by the ecstasy. Before you know it, you're addicted already, constantly indulging in the substance. If or when you realize that it is not real, you'll despair till the very end. Sad, no?
Filbert Tan
Hi18-K
I like the example of Hitler used for this law. With his great public speaking skills and use of propaganda, Hitler was able to sow hope into the despairing hearts of the Germans suffering from the ramifications of war and the Versailles treaty. A skill that's needed to supplement this law, then, is the ability to be convincing at the same time--making people sure that you have the time, power and money to make all their wishes come true.
Peep Warren
Hi18-L
People are inclined to having their fantasies at hand because it's obviously not everyday that it happens. It's given that people dream of something that they can't have because the ones that they can are already there they just need to make a step to get it. And after a while, it could get boring. But fitting fantasies to a reality in the expense of others is not at all rewarding. What Adolf Hitler did was unethical and unfair for those of whom he repressed.
Czarina Kathryne Masagca
Hi18-L
I think that people who do not fantasize are living really boring lives. Though it's not good to dwell and rely on fantasies alone, I believe that these dreams and aspirations can lead onto bigger and better things. Lots of great ideas didn't stem from a conceptualized, researched thought. Many started as a simple figment of the imagination that branched out and resulted in many of the amazing inventions we have today.
Regina A. Yulo
Hi 18 L
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