This is a hilarious humor post about the Obama Infomercial. Go read it now.

Some are saying that Obama’s infomercial used NLP, Neuro-linguistic programming. NLP is used by some as a technique to speak rhythmically and embed a message into the mind of the recipient. It’s controversial as to whether this constitutes psychotherapy methods, because it is not proven to actually work.

Having watched the video, there certainly does seem to be a cadence to the presentation. Even the additional participants and testimonials seem to have a very rhythmic cadence to them.

However, NLP is complete bullsh1t. So there’s no need to get all bent out of shape over it. Like hypnosis, NLP is only as effective as the recipient believes it to be. It’s nothing more than a mythological curse, but with an intended positive effect than a negative one. If you believe you are cursed, you will be, because it will affect your behavior, perceptions, and everything that you filter through your world view.

NLP and Hypnosis are the same. It’s interesting though that the claim is being made, when just a few days ago, Scott Adams asked whether it was ethical to use hypnosis methods to influence the outcome of the election. He claims to be a trained hypnotist, which amounts to being a trained witch doctor, because hypnosis is also bullsh1t. If you believe that it works, the placebo effect kicks in and it does work. Unless you are utterly convinced from the get go, it will have no effect at all. None. You won’t even be “hypnotized.” Whatever that means.

This brings me to one more topic of supposed methods of influencing people that is bullsh1t. Subliminal. Subliminal messages claim to bypass the “conscious mind” and be processed unfiltered by the “subconscious mind.” It’s hilarious that people spend money buying subliminal cds for self improvement, because it will not do a damn thing. If you aren’t hearing the subliminal track, then get this. YOU AREN’T HEARING THE TRACK!

You can’t process what you don’t hear! Let’s think about this for a second. If you are repeatedly exposed to something that you are not aware of, then YOU ARE NOT AWARE OF IT. IT CAN’T AFFECT YOU. The only way it can, again like a curse, or a placebo effect, is if you firmly believe it can, and it’s the manner in which your belief colors the your view of the world that makes it work. Not the technique itself.

Here’s what wikipedia says about NLP

In contrast to the Meta Model of NLP which seeks to specify information, is the Milton Erickson-inspired Milton model described by Bandler and Grinder as “artfully vague”[52]. In it the communicator makes statements that seem specific but allow the listener to fill in their own meaning for what is being said. It makes use of pacing and leading, ambiguity, metaphor, embedded suggestion, and multiple-meaning sentence structures. It has been described as “a way of using language to induce and maintain trance in order to contact the hidden resources of our personality”.[53] The Milton model has three primary aspects: First, to assist in building and maintaining rapport with the client. Second, to overload and distract the conscious mind so that unconscious communication can be cultivated. Third, to allow for interpretation in the words offered to the client.[54]

After spending months closely studying Erickson’s language (verbal and non-verbal) and imitating the way that Erickson worked with clients, Bandler and Grinder published the Milton model in 1976/1977 under the title The Patterns of Milton H. Erickson Volumes I & II[55]. In the preface, Erickson said, “Although this book [...] is far from being a complete description of my methodologies, as they so clearly state it is a much better explanation of how I work than I, myself, can give. I know what I do, but to explain how I do it is much too difficult for me.”[55] Erickson was known for his use of unconventional approaches, including the use of stories, and for deeply entering the world of his clients. The Milton model is a way of communicating based on the hypnotic language patterns of Milton Erickson.[56]

Like I said, Bullsh1t.