Fuzzing

Techniques > Resisting persuasion > Fuzzing

Method | Example | Discussion | See also

Method

Make them feel like they’ve got a mouth full of cotton wool and are banging their heads against a sponge wall. Responds largely in generalities, never agree (or disagree) and vaguely absorb even the most direct persuasion techniques without showing a single trace of having been affected.

Keep the conversation in a vague and fuzzy state. When they start talking specifics, move back up into generalities. When they talk about concrete things, convert these into abstract notions. When they talk about individuals, move the conversation to groups and society at large.

Example

Yes, I know you are interested in what happens today, and I was thinking that today is just a part of the whole scenario that we are considering. After all, what we are trying to do is make an overall difference to society. The problem is, however, that not everyone sees things this way and maybe never will. This makes things more difficult, yet I know if we pull together we will achieve much.

Discussion

In order to create action and specific choice, the persuader will seek to move to specifics. If you move in the opposite direction, becoming more general and inductive, then you will move them away from where they can ask for decisions and actions from you.