It's possible, just ask Orson Wells:
Do you think a smart enough person can make people as a whole believe anything?
There's a truism that you can fool all of the people some of the time, some of the people all of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time.
But you can fool enough people enough of the time!
Consider the demagogues who have persuaded populations to vote for them; consider successful salespeople who will tell any lie to get their commission; consider infamous felons like Bernie Madoff who were so convincing they conned even smart investors out of their money; consider the plethora of pyramid schemes that still attract suckers; consider people like L. Ron Hubbard who founded phoney religions; consider the Republican nominee for the November election.
No...because there is always someone that is smarter.
The power of persuasion is more about charisma than intelligence. Persistently repeat the most fanciful lie, do it with conviction; engage others to corroborate it, present elaborate symbology and throw shade on (or --Gasp!-- invent a crime for) opposing views, and you can control masses of people.
Facts are not necessary, in fact, they often are the enemy; only the illusion of intelligence is necessary. I'm sure we all could cite numerous examples.
I don't think you can convince everybody of anything, but the right message can create a crowd.
Of course not. Nobody can make "everyone" to believe in one united factor. Look at history, look at now, "belief" is the most varied title within people. Everyone believing differently.
But charisma is the key. You can impact thousands or millions but yet not "all" after all, with the right charisma, communication skill and confidence you can make an army on your own. People can be impressed easily at some point. You can check Davidians. Their history will inform you how this can work.
no certainly not if that was the case everyone would share the same beliefs people are too complex and unique to have a set belief system everyone is going to believe in what they want too
No. If you look at people throughout history who supposedly swayed the masses, it wasn't their wisdom that did it. It was the fear of what would happen if they didn't follow.
Being smart is not really related to being able to persuade people. You can learn persuasion, because after all it is the reptilian brain who takes the decisions and not the neocortex.
A very good book around this subject is Influence of Cialdini.
I would advice you to watch this youtube video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFdCzN7RYbw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEawAFi3Nn0
Bill O'Riely fans, Alex Jones fans, Donald Trump fans, Glenn Beck fans, etc... Etc.
I always get the notion that Bill O'riely and some of these guys don't even believe the majority of the things they say. But they're good at it, and it makes them feel powerful. And weak underdeveloped minds seem to gobble the sensationalize monologues like chicken feed. I mean, what's there to develop a person's mind when you're secluded from the majority of civilization in your small rural town or village that's 99% white and in the middle of nowhere? When your knowledge of Chinese food is "beef and broccoli" and anyone who wears a turban to you is a "Muslim"?
And if I am actually wrong, and these people aren't actually weak and dumb. Then why are they having such a hard time under Obama's presidency? Why are they losing their jobs to illegals who can't even speak English or enjoyed all the benefits of being born in the United States of America? Meanwhile people who have better things to do with their time then watch or listen to these folks are prospering?
You don't have to be smart to persuade though. Religion's proved that.
