48 Laws of Power when it describes law 6, it says "better to be attacked/slandered than ignored." How?

SS_BenGarrison · 2015-12-03T15:46:27+00:00

Compare Donald Trump to Ron Paul.

DELETEYOURFACE · 2015-12-03T11:43:06+00:00

When people hate on you, it's because you've got something they want.

Or however it goes. But the point is that if you are being hated rather than ignored, you have some sort of value over them.

bsutansalt · 2015-12-03T21:26:46+00:00

In terms of SMV what you're describing is essentially push-pull when implemented correctly. You rile them up, get them thinking about you, and then you smooth things over. It's massively attractive behavior because ultimately it means you're providing emotional stimulation.

throwawaycomedian95 · 2015-12-03T12:02:34+00:00

Consider the following:

Do you envy the homeless man in the street who pays no taxes?

Likely no

Do you envy the CEO who earns millions yet pays no taxes do to cleaver accounting?

Likely yes

The homeless man is likely invisible to you. However you know either the rich CEO be it the man or the company which he represents.

So you are going to pay attention to the CEO be it scandal or success to some degree. You are invested in learning either how he succeeds or fails to learn from it or gain some carnal release at his failings.

The CEO generates a cult of personality so even though you don't know him or are likely to meet him you envy him.

This gives him power over you because indirectly his actions dictate your actions/emotions/ambitions where the homeless man may invoke pity but only in direct contact.

Power is to engage a response in others without actively doing anything to them. So it is better to be hated than ignored. If for no other reason that it will expose those who are your rivals and cut the wheat from the chaff for your allies.

[deleted] · 2015-12-03T15:47:45+00:00

I think the idea is that it's better to be polarizing than not thought about at all. Because while some people will invariably dislike you, others will love you. If you're ignored, no one will feel anything about you one way or the other.

Chinny4daWinny · 2015-12-03T16:09:34+00:00

better to be attacked/slandered than ignored.

Let's think about it in terms of attention.

In high school there was this kid who did anything for attention, whether it was running to class, making high grades on tests, asking stupid/funny questions or asking girls out in ridiculous ways. When we graduated everyone knew him including freshmen that just came in that year. The dude was involved in everything he could be even if he didn't look like he should or could be involved in it.

Imagine a guy like this who hasn't participated in any sports besides middle school track applying for the varsity football, tennis, basketball and soccer team. I'm not saying to NOT apply yourself, but he clearly did it for the attention... and it worked. He didn't make the teams but he became the "manager" of the varsity soccer team (more like their camera guy).

People ridiculed him, laughed at him more than with him, he was ranked number 18 in our class but people called him dumb, but he shook it off. He had the idgaf vibe and I was astonished. He wasn't particularly hated, but lots of people were annoyed by him. He was also the type of guy to ask out any girl because people told him it's a good idea, girls like the captain of the cheer leading team and he actually did.

He had a hell of a lot more "dates" or "girlfriends" then I did (which was his goal ultimately) but no one really took him seriously (like trump in the analogy of a previous poster). Everyone knew him and he liked that.

rockmasterflex · 2015-12-03T20:04:58+00:00

Oh you don't actually have the book?

Its because you're increasingly relevant. When you hate (or hate on) someone, and more importantly, when you hate someone publicly, you are giving them power by admitting to the world that their existence influences you so greatly.

So its better to have people out there who slander you, thus making you INTERESTING to the people who are audience to such slandering.

Its also key to remember that you must be able to dissuade the audience by having a good core reputation.

Getting slandered for being an embezzler in a corporation is never going to go over well if you want to stay in corporate work for example, unless nobody believes it.

However, it will go over well if you want to sell books or otherwise capitalize on the fame boost of a high profile embezzling case that you can plausibly deny ever being a part of.

Title	48 Laws of Power when it describes law 6, it says "better to be attacked/slandered than ignored." How?
Author	throwawaycomedian95
Upvotes	6
Comments	13
Date	December 3, 2015 10:48 AM UTC (8 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/askTRP
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/asktrp/comments/3v9mgk/48_laws_of_power_when_it_describes_law_6_it_says/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/askTRP/48-laws-of-power-when-it-describes-law-6-it-says.157316 https://theredarchive.com/post/157316