page 8 renee eit os ae ven THE OTHER PRESS er , = November 30th, 1984 Nie i eB When | wrote on the sneakiness of advertisers several weeks ago, | by no means covered the entire spectrum of underhanded advertising techniques. by STAN PICKTHALL Certain magazines often staple card- board advertising supplements be- tween their covers--so that the maga- zine (inevitably) opens to these heavier pages. Still other magazines employ “‘litter’’ advertising techniques. Here, ‘the supplement is not stapled, in the hope that it might slip from between the pages and inflict itself upon someone other than the buyer of the magazine. It was.in precisely this manner that | came across a campaign that is mass- marketing mind control. A girl rushed by and the folded card fluttered from between the pages of TV Guide, landing at my feet. ‘‘They’re here... the ‘SUBLIMINALS’.. .program your subconscious mind.”’ A cold hand scraped down my spine: Orwell had been right--this was 1984 come true! " A campaign that is amass-marketing mind e ~ ” control The text briefly and efficiently sells the subliminal approach as the way to change your life: ‘‘It’s as easy as listening toa tape...scientifically back- ed by Freud...established by pro- fessional hypnotist Barrie Konicov, founder of Potentials Unlimited, Inc., and internationally recognized as a leader in the field...fast and effective techniques...one free tape with every three bought.’’ When you listen to a Subliminal Persuasion cassette you hear the sound of ocean waves breaking on a geach, blended with gentle, almost ethereal music. But the real message is beneath the level of your-conscious hearing, modifying your subconscious. Side 2 of the tape has self-hypnosis programming, where you consciously hear the message. The repetition of key words and phrases quickly brings about changes in your abilities, atti- tudes, and personality. In short, your life can be full, rewarding, and free from worry, without the nasty embarrassment and social stigma of attending expensive therapy sessions. You can be shaped to fit more closely to the ideal: you can be psychologically readjusted in just days or weeks: you can be a better you! The Soviets accomplished these goals and more during the Moscow Trials of the latter 1930’s. And their techniques were live--not Memorex. They found that sleep deprivation and food withdrawal, combined with con- stant threats and harassment from the interrogators, intense social anxiety, and inducement of pervasive general fear, was enough to elicit desired be- haviour patterns from even the stauch- est-willed political prisoners. “WAIT! WAIT!’’ You cry, ‘/Russ- ian brainwashing methods can hardly be equated with these mild subliminal persuasions.” — A very astute observation. The primary difference is that the Soviets sought to control conscious be- haviour: the more refined subliminal techniques aim for a deeper target-- the subconscious--where the newly programmed material can alter behav- iour without any intervention from the conscious self. Change the subcon- scious mind, and the conscious soon will’ follow suit. If the client is subliminally programmed, it is entire- ly possible that he might not know why he is behaving differently than usual. He might not even be aware that his behaviour has been changed!! 1984 again. ae That the persuasion is likely to be helpful to the client (stop smoking: control anger: lower blood pressure) does little to assuage me. It is not the aims of the subliminal persuasion tapes that frighten me: these are (mainly) noble enough. It is the pes of achieving these aims that | ear Subliminal persuasion has the po- tential to become the most devastating mind-control weapon available. Where classical brainwashing techniques work best on individuals and small groups, subliminal persuasion can be inflicted upon large populations. Where classical brainwashing is ex- pensive and time-consuming, sublim- inal persuasion is cost-efficient. and quick. Classical brainwashing requires that you first capture and then contain your subject: subliminals can be broadcast on the airwaves. The present state of persuasive technology, fortunately, is relatively primitive. We need not concern our- selves with brainwash radio broad- casts. Yet. But here’s the rub: the Potentials Unlimited people are now performing the much-needed research. They have a volunteer corps of guinea pigs: Canadian TV Guide readers. Who could ask for a wider, more varied representation of the general public? And, although Barrie Konicov and Potentials Unlimited seek only to make a profit, who knows what forces might “ Subliminal persuasion has the potential to become the most devastating mind-control weapon available ” take interest in the future? Once the foundations are laid, the bell curves drawn, and the success rates tabu- lated, then the dark and dangerous Demons Of The Mind ones will begin to take note. It will be a reign of terror beyond imagining and, with post-subliminal suggestions, be- yond remembering. It could happen. Perhaps it already has. Perhaps it’s happening now. Listen to the radio... What does it say? iT \\ Von “oe: aeaeapaece ey Ahh yp RATT Ty , Me MY o YVAN AN y ARIA ARR NAAN Wy MAQHUN \ SDL -_- eae te A Bt Pf, LL FA - = anaes a wt A CE we ee ee Oe 7 =e SNANAAAY ENS i‘ > i XS HEN, \ ~ as “ ‘MNNM AT’ = AWAY + “CYPRUS PIZZA | STEAK 6 LOBSTER HOUSE -A41ColumbiaSt.New Westminster,B.C. Hours: Mion.to Sat- 4:;00p.m.to 3:00am. 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