Hi all,
Sorry, can't remember exact quotes, but here are two thoughts on manipulation:
RAPE OF TRIN
News got out. But whose news? [FACT ALERT (to borrow from Dave Johnson): I
don't have any TNE stuff!] My 'Commander Lilly' character eventually got
promoted to be an Imperial Count. There were lots of planetary 'rapes' (some
even instituted by my own intelligence operatives) but my own people only
ever heard what I wanted to hear. I didn't have to lie, just shift the blame
or emphasis, spread a little rumour. If I wanted something to sound as if it
had leaked, my intelligence people leaked it, then I denied it but, directly
afterwards, also denied something people knew to be true (i.e. grass is now
officially blue, not green). You only have to look at other world-scale
manipulations to know that news can get out with no effect whatsoever...
For example we've just had a documentary on the De Beers and Anglo-American,
i.e. the controllers of 80%+ of the world's diamond market. Basically,
diamonds are not exactly the rare things most people believe. It's only by
careful manipulation of the media, markets, etc. that Anglo keep the diamond
prices nice and high (allegedly, I'm just repeating what the program said; I
have no personal knowledge of the reality of the situation... but I can
smell a rat as well as the next Aslan). Okay, so the program says this
pretty blankly and also mentions exploitation of the poor natives, etc., etc.
Even if this program was watched by every person in the US and UK, just how
many people are still going to go out and buy a diamond ring for their
engagement, etc. The Anglo (et al.) marketing specifically includes details
of how to encourage such sales - I think the program said over the past few
years their advertising had persuaded 20-30% of Japanese now give diamond
rings for such occasions!
The power of the media...
Someone else said:
> The Zhos appear to be manipulating the Regency just as the Hivers
> are doing so to the RC.
And then (I think) David Johnson said:
>Oh boy! I'm loving TNE to death. Just think, I can play a human puppet in
>the Wilds trying to make the galaxy safe for Hivers OR I can play a human
>puppet in the Regency trying to keep the galaxy safe for Zhodani.
>Then again, we still have the Solomani.
Hmmm... Who's actually manipulating whom? [FACT ALERT: No TNE; see above] If
the Regency, Coalition, etc. are getting back anti-virus help, aid in
raising their technology, etc., wouldn't they quite happily play ball with
whatever their 'manipulators' desired. To take a vague analogy, look at how
Japan built itself back up after WWII (hope this isn't a contentious issue).
Back then they were 'beaten', but now they're doing pretty well for
themselves. Perhaps the general populace think their own governments are too
weak to resist these outside influences but I'd bet my shirt (a nice blue
and grey striped one; hell I'll throw in the John Major blank grey tie as
well) that the Regency (etc.) leaders aren't taking this lying down. They
don't have to throw off their helpers the instant they're back to a stable
position of strength; they can just quietly keep growing, looking
reassuringly docile to the Zho and Hivers, etc. And if they pull new
strengths from the outside influence - e.g. a resurgence of psionics in the
4th Imperium (?) then they can't really lose, can they? Of course a good
diplomat in the Zhos or Hivers will already have anticipated this and will
have counter-measures in place, e.g. remote (flase holding companies, etc.)
control of certain critical raw materials within the new Imperium, holds
over important officials (spying, bribery, blackmail, etc.), etc. etc.
If a government says grass is green, run straight out your front door and check!
Yours, cynically,
Andy
Commander Lilly, PITS (Political Intelligence Team, Scout)
Nothing I say or do in any way reflects the views of my very kind and
generous employers.