Introduction

Controlling information is one of the most basic and most powerful methods of controlling the narrative. A necessary part of having an unshakable, advancing frame, many have posted on this concept, usually with the advice of keeping your trap shut. While this is sound advice, there is far more than verbal interactivity that controls the narrative.

What It Is

Controlling the narrative is controlling the flow of information to achieve a specific objective amenable to your goal or goals. "Yeah, thanks, I gathered that, but I have no idea how to do it red_philosopher." Of course you don't, that's why you're reading this post in the TRP subreddit.

Everything about your environment, from the lighting, the location, the people present, the sounds, the smells, the objects there, all of it communicates information to an observer which is interpreted by their brains (there's a reason why I say reality is subjective). Now, most people don't ask why something is the way it is. They usually make an informed assumption about their environment and write it off. If it's particularly out of place, they may ask questions without knowing why they are asking them, or they may make an attempt to put you down.

Many components can be controlled (to a certain extent) in order to prompt an individual or individuals to provide information- or to feed them information so they draw specific conclusions that serve your purposes. The reason we advocate self-mastery here at TRP, is because you are the only thing you can completely control.

Physical Environment

Ever walk into a different room and then immediately forget why you went in? Scientific studies have shown that our brains automatically assess our new environment every time it changes. Anything we were thinking about is unimportant; a new threat to our existence could exist and we need to be blank and ready for it should we perceive it. It is in this moment that we form our assumptions about our environment and what it means.

This is also why appearances are important. It is why you need to dress well, groom and bathe, keep your place clean, mow the lawn, detail your car, eat good foods, lift, train, and read. It's why we wear a suit to an interview, and research the company beforehand. It is all a part of controlling the narrative.

Think about what you can place into your environment in any situation to achieve a result. Leaving a condom wrapper on the floor, for example, when a woman walks into your impeccable room. Haven't gotten laid in 6 months? Doesn't matter, she will assume you have recently. She may even ask questions about it, giving you the advantage. She has already, unwittingly, fallen into your frame. A shit-test is explicit proof that they are in your frame.

Mental Environment

People are naturally inquisitive. People want to know. They do not like the unknown, it has a very high perceived risk when compared to the known. (Better the enemy you know than the one you don't.) The truth is far more telling, most of the time you don't need to know. Knowing something isn't going to keep you alive in 99.9% of situations you are involved in. This why silence is uncomfortable many times. They don't know why you are being quiet. Naturally, they assume something about the situation, usually something negative, and usually that they have to placate you to make it right. They really should be assessing the objective behind your silence, but, frequently, they do not. That is why TRP tells you to be quiet. It gives you an advantage; however, there's more to it all.

Think about what the actual reason may be behind someone's actions and words. Think about what you can say in order to control the narrative and have others automatically make assumptions based on that narrative. A drunk guy hears you talking about something he deems "uncool" and tries to bust your balls over it. Why is he doing that? Why is he drunk and alone? The answer is because he's trying to (probably subconsciously) wrest control of the narrative away from you (shit-test). They are in your frame right now, why surrender control?

Example and Context

Someone asked this question in a separate post:

Why is it considered a red flag if the woman doesn't take birth control? A condom was used.

Taking or not taking birth control isn't indicative necessarily. However, when this information is voluntarily and intentionally disclosed is critical. I never ask a plate if they are on birth control; I also never ask a plate if they have an STD or not. To some, this seems like insanity. Wouldn't you want to know what kind of a risk you are taking before you take the plunge? Perhaps. But at what cost?

I can relinquish control of the narrative in order to ask. At that point though, I am, or will be, making a decision based upon a subjective interpretation of whether or not they are telling the truth. Are they on birth control? Are they clean? You don't know. You'll never know. You are in their frame because they DO know.

Or, I can retain control of the narrative and see what they do. It is a test of loyalty and trust. If she insists that you wear a condom, there's a couple of scenarios that can unfold. She may be concerned about getting pregnant on or off birth control- in which case she is protecting the both of you (good). She may not be on birth control- and is anxious about saying so... but is still protecting the both you (good, but warrants more digging). She may be clean and isn't about to trust your word- protecting herself from STDs (good). She can have an STD, but is anxious about letting you know, and she still wants you to be safe (good, but she may have a propensity for lying). She can say nothing, (withholding material information is bad); she can disclose after the fact (even worse because her intentions will ALWAYS be called into question); she can say everything is fine because she's clean (she's not concerned about getting an STD?) or that she can't get pregnant (a straight up lie). Do I know the truth? No. But, I do know more about their intent. She could be lying to me from the very beginning, but that's a truly pathological woman, and she's probably already revealed her nature previously.

But, by asking the questions myself, I give up this test of character and must devise other ways of determining her nature and intent towards me.

Takeaways

People only know what you let them know. Most people are too dense to grasp the fact that they make implicit assumptions and act upon them. A part of frame control is controlling the information made available to influence these assumptions. Shit-tests are exactly that, an attempt to wrest control of the narrative away from you. Relinquish it, and you lose frame. Keep it, and they make assumptions about your character that you want them to make. You can learn from their actions by configuring the scenario. Do so.

TL;DR's are for chumps wanting to take the easy way out instead of investing time.