How to induce Panic

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

Hostage negotiators know that the phrase likeliest to set someone off is, "calm down!"

Ordinary cops don't understand this so well... they get right in people's faces and scream, "CALM DOWN" while pulling their gun and waving their night-stick around. Then the suspect freaks out and the cop starts whacking him around and the whole situation goes to hell.

Imagine if you were in a crowded theater. The house lights come up and the manager yells, "Don't Panic!!!"

You hadn't been considering panicking, but Jesus... the situation must be pretty dire for some guy to be yelling "Don't Panic!!!"

If you have reassuring arguments and information it might be more effective to not preface it with shouted demands for calm, and if you're trying to persuade anyone it might be better to not begin a message with personal assaults on the character of the people you are trying to persuade. (ie: "You sniveling weaklings need to read this!!!")

Maybe, "Here's some good news..." or perhaps, "I am not frightened because..."

Just a note to those concerned about concern...

[elocs]

1. Yeah, there sure is a lot of concern because we MIGHT be behind in the first quarter.

It ain't over till it's over, as Yogi said.

[Curtland1015]

2. Your post implies that people around here WEREN'T acting like sniveling babies...

Before the "calm down" posts began.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

3. Not my intention. (I can see where you get that from the theatre example, though.)