Forbidden Knowledge - What Is It?
Is there really "forbidden knowledge?" Probably not much remains
truly hidden or forbidden, but there are little secrets about
how things work. Politicians, salesmen and others always learn
and use subtle techniques to influence you, for example. Here
are some examples.
Control Through Words
The classic joke, "Have you stopped beating your wife?" is
difficult to answer without incriminating yourself. Politicians,
of course, use this technique of the implicit premise for more
than jokes. For example, if they can get everyone to argue about
how to do something, nobody questions if it should even be done.
Implicit premises are a powerful method of control. Get in the
habit of recognizing the premises hidden in political debate.
Another way to influence is to control language. Social security
payments don't come from actual investments, unless you call the
government lending itself money "investing", so it isn't a
"retirement fund." However, calling it that makes it seem safer
and more acceptable than what it is: welfare. Without arguing
right or wrong, can you see how the words used control the
debate?
Words matter greatly. It might be hard for a defense contractor
to sell "human shredder" bombs, so they use the name "daisy
cutter." Start noticing how words are used to influence you.
Hypnotic Selling Techniques
"Does speaking before a crowd make you nervous? What if it was
easy for you? Imagine standing there, knowing exactly what to
say to make them love you. Wouldn't that feel wonderful? Just
apply our simple methods, and you will have that power. Use the
form below to ORDER RIGHT NOW."
The sales pitch above starts by getting you to say yes, which is
habit forming. It hints at the possibility of a solution.
"Imagine," in line three, gets you doing just that. Line four
suggests positive emotion and gets another yes. "And" in line
five infers cause and effect, suggesting you'll have the power
BECAUSE you used their product. The last line directs you with
"Use the form below." The "order right now" is called an
"embedded command," because putting it in capitals influences
you without you noticing consciously.
That short paragraph uses six or more "hypnotic sales
techniques." I learned dozens of these techniques, and when I
used them to re-write the sign-up page for the Brain Power
Newsletter, I started to get four times as many subscribers from
the same traffic. This may not be forbidden knowledge, but it is
powerful stuff. Start watching for it or using it (with good
intentions I hope).
More Forbidden Knowledge
Consistently lucky people are usually creating the conditions
for "luck." There are a dozen techniques for doing this. Good
salesmen are using techniques like "mirroring," and "leading,"
to persuade you. The new science of behavioral economics is
showing how little logic has to do with our choices. Smart
marketers are drawing on their research to create methods of
getting you to buy.
This hidden knowledge isn't all about influencing others. Every
industry and human activity has little-known "tricks of the
trade." Smart real estate agents sell expensive homes, for
example. They know it takes the same work as selling a mobile
home, but the commission can be five times as much. Those who
don't use this "secret" struggle to make a living.
Subliminal techniques and other "forbidden knowledge" can be
used for good or bad, so is it dangerous? Yes, especially if you
don't have it. Having it means you can use it (ethically) and
protect yourself from its mis-use.