CCT205-Lab6

Saul Alinsky "rules for radicals" - [] -Talk about one that inspires you.
 * Rule 9**: **The threat is more terrifying than the thing itself.** When Alinsky leaked word that large numbers of poor people were going to tie up the washrooms of O’Hare Airport, Chicago city authorities quickly agreed to act on a longstanding commitment to a ghetto organization. They imagined the mayhem as thousands of passengers poured off airplanes to discover every washroom occupied. Then they imagined the international embarrassment and the damage to the city’s reputation.

Threats in a way are more terrifying than the thing itself because without the threat and just the action the opposition has no choice but to deal with it, but if the opposition is givin a choice whether they can do something to avoid it, it'll hurt more if they don't. Threats if carefully constructed can be more useful than acting on the threat. If one were to act without the threat they may not gain an advantage at all, but if they threaten someone they can often get what they want. For example, threatennig to sue someone may be enough to cut a deal without actually having to go to court.

Another more humrous example that comes to mind is in the televsion series How I Met Your Mother, the characts have a "slap bet." Whoever loses the bet has to endure 5 slaps in the face. What is more painful and agonizing is not knowing when the slap is coming! Marhsall, who won the bet, creates a slap count down for Barney and this tortures him even more than the pain from the actual slap. In this case, it's quite hilarious! Overall, It's quite clear threats, in all circumstances can result in more "successful" outcomes than acting on the threat.