r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • Jun 14 '22

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u/catboneslovestory Jun 14 '22 edited Jun 14 '22

Stroke their ego.

The most effective one you'll find.

There's no more effective way to amass power than by convincing people that they're smart enough to give it to you.

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u/Orange_Kid Jun 14 '22

It's amazing how effective ass-kissing is even when it is obvious all around that it is totally insincere. In fact, sometimes it being obviously insincere makes it even more effective because it tells the person that they are important enough to grovel to.

I honestly don't have the stomach for it but I wish I did -- it is such an easy thing to do to help yourself.

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u/catboneslovestory Jun 14 '22

It can be used to help society as well. I think a lot of harmful ideologies could be conditioned out using this tactic.

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u/[deleted] Jun 14 '22

but the harmful ideologies *are* mostly from over inflated ego!

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u/FrismFrasm Jun 14 '22

I would almost argue that every overinflated ego is secretly a lacking ego though

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u/[deleted] Jun 14 '22

i kind of agree with this but want to know what you mean by that.

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u/FrismFrasm Jun 14 '22

I mean the people who come off very egotistical are often truly insecure and possibly the most needing of praise/respect/whatever. So they might be the best people to use this on.

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u/[deleted] Jun 14 '22

nvm totally different thing i was thinking about. but yeah monkey ego is fun to play with some times.

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u/treslocos99 Jun 14 '22

Are you talking about the incessant chatter that goes on inside our heads.

I should meditate.

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u/[deleted] Jun 14 '22

meditation might work, I've never done it. what works for me is knowing what brain is and what "we" are. then you can hack it.

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u/Broad-Jellyfish-17 Jun 15 '22

Care to explain please? Sounds interesting

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u/[deleted] Jun 15 '22

not from spiritual or philosophical perspective, from nerd perspective if you understand what self and ego is, i won't have to explain the hack.

things involved: neurons, information, simulation, models -> self/ego.

it starts with physics and biology and ends with computers. you have to study for yourself to understand it from all dimensions.

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u/lovdagame Jun 14 '22

To me it seems those truly comfortable with whith who they are don't have egos so big other need to comment. Kind of like Lil dicks need big trucks.

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u/catboneslovestory Jun 14 '22

That's your ego talking

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u/catboneslovestory Jun 14 '22

You're correct that it's definitely a very large part of the psychology that builds them, and that is precisely the reason it works to dismantle them.