Don't Read This

Don't read this post.

Please. It's not meant for you.

Why are you still reading?

Because you don't like being told what to do, do you?

You, independence-loving, autonomy-addicted, you.

Some call it Reverse Psychology. Some call it just the good old plain logic.

Many years ago, the King of Prussia, Fredrick the Great, also known as Fritz, heard about a new root called Potato. Enamoured by it's nutritional value, he decided that his subjects need to start including potato in their staple diet.

Grand announcements were planned. Drummers would walk across town, singing paeans of the benefits of eating this potato. Cooks would publicly demonstrate recipes with potatoes. I would go out on a limb and say, French Fries was not one of those recipes, because what happened next would just not justify it. 

The public rejected potatoes. That's right. Rejected.

Hard as it may sound, the people didn't want to be told what to do. So, they did not take to potatoes.

Old Fritz was surprised, but he knew his way around. He planted potatoes in the royal garden and put up tall walls to protect it. He got the best of his security guards to keep a check on the garden and not let any common people in. 

But he left a small hole in the wall. Just enough for people to peep in. And peep the did.

What is it that the Royalty is eating, that we cannot eat? Injustice. Unfairness.

A plan was hatched and finally, one commoner entered the garden, stole a plant and started selling the produce for a premium in the market. 

"The Royal food, which we are not allowed to eat? Of course, I am going to pay for it." 

And before they knew, potatoes were a part of the Prussian diet. Just because they were told not to do it.

Old Fritz laughed gleefully, as he dipped his golden French Fries in Ketchup and watched his court performers dance. It is said, people still commemorate his memories by leaving potatoes on his tombstone.

To a life long and after-life supply of French Fries!

Reverse Psychology is one of the oldest forms of persuasion that marketers and public policy enthusiasts have used. Though, I do feel like the younger social media start-ups need a crash course in this. So here's my two bit advice:

If you want people to tell you what's on their mind, Facebook, it would help to not ask them. May I suggest changing your status update prompt to:

"I don't care what you are thinking. I am reading an awesome book and I am too busy to care about your thoughts."

Lo and behold, don't be surprised if people will start sharing their biographies with you. 

Or actually, maybe you shouldn't do that, Facebook. 

(See what I did there?)

Cheers

Preeks

PS: Apparently, there's a Blogathon going on. So, why not?