Mind Tricks
December 4, 2011 8:25 AM Subscribe
A Redditor recently asked the question: What is a "mind trick" you know of? There's a fair bit of useless commentary mixed in with some pretty interesting ideas.
This post was deleted for the following reason: I think if you're apologizing up front for a lot of the content of the link it may not be something that's a great fit for a single-link post. -- cortex
If you're providing a service that could be offered for free, requiring people to pay a small amount (as little as $5) will make them value the service a whole lot more.
posted by benito.strauss at 8:41 AM on December 4, 2011 [8 favorites]
posted by benito.strauss at 8:41 AM on December 4, 2011 [8 favorites]
Oh look. Instant tiresomely predictable anti-reddit snark. How tedious.
posted by Decani at 8:45 AM on December 4, 2011 [15 favorites]
posted by Decani at 8:45 AM on December 4, 2011 [15 favorites]
If you ask a question, and receive only a partial answer, respond with polite silence. Simply wait. A more complete answer will usually follow.
This is an effective Japanese business negotiating tactic. Unwary Americans will often break the awkward silence with something they weren't planning to reveal.
posted by StickyCarpet at 8:49 AM on December 4, 2011
This is an effective Japanese business negotiating tactic. Unwary Americans will often break the awkward silence with something they weren't planning to reveal.
posted by StickyCarpet at 8:49 AM on December 4, 2011
There's a fair bit of useless commentary mixed in with some pretty interesting ideas.
Yes, but how can I tell which is which?
posted by box at 8:50 AM on December 4, 2011
Yes, but how can I tell which is which?
posted by box at 8:50 AM on December 4, 2011
If you see something cool on a movie you can post it to Reddit as a real life experience and everyone else will instantly believe you.
posted by Poet_Lariat at 8:50 AM on December 4, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by Poet_Lariat at 8:50 AM on December 4, 2011 [3 favorites]
If you ask a question, and receive only a partial answer, respond with polite silence. Simply wait. A more complete answer will usually follow.
I do that as an interviewer. When you ask a question, people will answer quickly, sometimes with whatever they say every time, or they will just make up something ill-considered on the spot. If you then refuse to speak for a moment or so, they panic and add to it, and that's usually when you get the better answer.
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 8:53 AM on December 4, 2011
I do that as an interviewer. When you ask a question, people will answer quickly, sometimes with whatever they say every time, or they will just make up something ill-considered on the spot. If you then refuse to speak for a moment or so, they panic and add to it, and that's usually when you get the better answer.
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 8:53 AM on December 4, 2011
MeteFilter: A fair bit of useless commentary mixed in with some pretty interesting ideas.
posted by jimmythefish at 8:56 AM on December 4, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by jimmythefish at 8:56 AM on December 4, 2011 [2 favorites]
WIthout reddit, we wouldn't have FifthWorldPics -- OBEY DOGLAW!
posted by symbioid at 8:58 AM on December 4, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by symbioid at 8:58 AM on December 4, 2011 [1 favorite]
Poet_Lariat: "If you see something cool on a movie you can post it to Reddit AskMeFi as a real life experience and everyone else will instantly believe you."
posted by symbioid at 8:59 AM on December 4, 2011
posted by symbioid at 8:59 AM on December 4, 2011
I don't know if you'd call this a mind trick or not; the mind I'm tricking is my own. As follows:
Say I'm speaking in public, and, for me, the larger the group I'm speaking to, the larger can be the panic coming on, choking me off, taking from me my spontaneity, fun, the ability to communicate clearly, if at all. If I remember to do this—and mostly I do, by now—I'll cop to the fact that I'm scared, say something like "Damn I'm scared—don't you hate when you get in front of a large group of people and get all tight and embarrassed and lame?"
Now look around the room; you'll have instantly connected with many, many people, heads nodding, smiles of understanding everywhere; it happens to them, too. And just that fast, the fear is gone, I'm back in the present, my mind mostly cleared, and ready to say whatever it is I'm saying.
Works great, hasn't failed me yet.
posted by dancestoblue at 9:01 AM on December 4, 2011
Say I'm speaking in public, and, for me, the larger the group I'm speaking to, the larger can be the panic coming on, choking me off, taking from me my spontaneity, fun, the ability to communicate clearly, if at all. If I remember to do this—and mostly I do, by now—I'll cop to the fact that I'm scared, say something like "Damn I'm scared—don't you hate when you get in front of a large group of people and get all tight and embarrassed and lame?"
Now look around the room; you'll have instantly connected with many, many people, heads nodding, smiles of understanding everywhere; it happens to them, too. And just that fast, the fear is gone, I'm back in the present, my mind mostly cleared, and ready to say whatever it is I'm saying.
Works great, hasn't failed me yet.
posted by dancestoblue at 9:01 AM on December 4, 2011
If we all "focus all of our energy," we can make Reddit disappear.
Like we did at the London pub quiz OH SNAP.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 9:01 AM on December 4, 2011 [3 favorites]
Like we did at the London pub quiz OH SNAP.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 9:01 AM on December 4, 2011 [3 favorites]
I know this isn’t a Reddit hate thread (is it?) but I’ve never even given that site a chance because I simply can’t read it. It looks like a pile of words lying on the floor.
posted by bongo_x at 9:02 AM on December 4, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by bongo_x at 9:02 AM on December 4, 2011 [4 favorites]
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If we all "focus all of our energy," we can make Reddit disappear.
posted by Threeway Handshake at 8:36 AM on December 4, 2011 [4 favorites]