# The power to make people believe. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 14, 2012, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-power-to-make-people-believe/634720 "2012-09-14T19:51:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-power-to-make-people-believe/634720/21 "2012-09-18T13:55:42Z")
Well that would be great. I’d tell you that the Riemann zeta hypothesis was true and, if you believed me, I’d know it was true. Amazing! Maybe I could even parlay that into finding a proof. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-power-to-make-people-believe/634720/22 "2012-09-18T14:39:42Z")
It sounds to me like the Op as many others do is feeling some frustration that everyone does not accept his beliefs. The more we speak the truth and the more aften we are right the more believable we become. The more successful we are the more others will want to hear our opinions. When we are speaking of something non physical or spiritual their is no access to facts as we can only access physical things. In this case your level of attractiveness and success will be proportionate to your power of persuasion. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-power-to-make-people-believe/634720/23 "2012-09-18T19:14:14Z")
> [@Rachellelogram](#): > > Christ, no. Anyone with this power would essentially possess the Total Perspective Vortex. Been there, done that. No big deal. > [@AaronX](#): > > Wasn’t there a gun like that in Hitchhiker’s Guide? Make people see your point of view? Shucks, dude. That’s kind of a basic function of just about any gun, isn’t it? Nice to see you, **Lobsang**. That sounds like a pretty nifty power indeed. I can see it being amusing at first, then incredibly handy before too long, and shortly after that a goddam chore. Before too long you’d be known as “that silver-tongued guy who can get you to see things his way with just a sentence or two”. Nobody you haven’t gotten to yet would understand what was going on. Your life would become an endless defense against the misdirected accusations of the unknowing. You’d be nailed to a tree or burnt at the stake before too long. Because people don’t like having their heads messed with, even if you’re using the truth to do it. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-power-to-make-people-believe/634720/24 "2012-09-18T19:22:47Z")
> [@badger5149](#): > > The more we speak the truth and the more aften we are right the more believable we become. The more successful we are the more others will want to hear our opinions. When we are speaking of something non physical or spiritual their is no access to facts as we can only access physical things. In this case your level of attractiveness and success will be proportionate to your power of persuasion. Careful, you’re conflating truthiness with believable with right with success. Too often it’s not the truth that will set you free or curry credibility & favor with the masses, it’s a well-placed lie. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-power-to-make-people-believe/634720/25 "2012-09-19T00:28:19Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > That sounds like a pretty nifty power indeed. I can see it being amusing at first, then incredibly handy before too long, and shortly after that a goddam chore. Before too long you’d be known as “that silver-tongued guy who can get you to see things his way with just a sentence or two”. Nobody you haven’t gotten to yet would understand what was going on. Your life would become an endless defense against the misdirected accusations of the unknowing. You’d be nailed to a tree or burnt at the stake before too long. Because people don’t like having their heads messed with, even if you’re using the truth to do it. What if you quickly become the President’s trusted advisor? Just relay the assorted reasons why he should keep absolutely quiet about your power – all of which are _ **true,** _ which means he’ll believe you – and then privately spell out the results of implementing this or that policy, easy as weighing in on a Supreme Court nomination. Figure you get ample protection by dint of just being in the big guy’s entourage – and then factor in how you’ll infallibly predict impending attacks a mile off. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-power-to-make-people-believe/634720/26 "2012-09-19T05:40:11Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > Shucks, dude. That’s kind of a basic function of just about any gun, isn’t it? Good point. But it wasn’t a conventional gun that shot things. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-power-to-make-people-believe/634720/27 "2012-09-19T17:37:21Z")
Check out the movie “The Invention of Lying.” Ricky Gervais and Jenifer Garner live in a world where no one lies, or has any concept of how to lie. Ricky figures it out and people will innocently believe any stupid thing he says. Fair warning, it’s a chick flick but the first 2/3 or so is pretty interesting. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-power-to-make-people-believe/634720.md?page=1)