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> To regard the "survey" as anything but a marketing ploy is naive.
I have no reason to believe without any evidence, that the poster was lying. I'm
sorry. I just don't. You can call me naive, if you want. I'd rather be naive
than automatically think people are liars.
It is based
> on Cialdini's basic work on commitment--once you have stated an opinion, there
> is a strong tendency to subsequently reiterate and support that opinion. The
> same ploy was evident in "contests" that require a customer to state (in 25 or
> 50 words) why the xyz widget is best. The contest is irrelevant; the important
> thing is to force prospective customers to formulate a response indicating
they
> prefer xyz widget. Once stated, consistency kicks in big time, and requires
> that the customer act, walk, and talk in concert with his or her stated
opinion.
>
One can answer questions about what software one might like to see without
committing on any deep level. I don't agree that this research you cite is of
particular relevance here.
> For an interesting insight, try Cialdini's "Influence" or any or Robert
Baron's
> works on social psychology. If you think it is fluff, bear in mind that it was
> used by the Chinese in Korea to turn US POWs at an alarming rate. (Not
personal
> opinion--see Dr. Cialdini's work, and Baron's work on police interrogation
> techniques to extract willing "confessions" to crimes not committed.)
All of this may be quite true; I don't doubt it, but in the present case, it
still boils down only to your believing -- without any evidence -- that the
poster was lying. I'm not prepared to do that.
--
Bonnie Granat http://www.granatedit.com
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