Is manipulating people always wrong?

3 Comments

If someone were to run a cult and manipulate their followers would it actually be a bad thing? As long as the followers enjoyed their roles and weren't physically hurt, even if they were unaware of the manipulation is it actually wrong?

People are manipulated all the time and often for inherently good reasons, a prime example of this is how public schools teach us to act a certain way so we can better fit into society and get a job some day. By drilling it into us for 12 years on a daily basis they in a form manipulating us.

so If people were manipulated for the benefit of another, so long as they were happy and not injured would it be wrong?

yes (comment why) 10
no (comment why) 5
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Comments ( 3 )
  • Short4Words
    8 years ago

    Yes, especially when it comes to children. They lack freedom. Every child should be taught to think for itself, if they want to join a cult at a later age,that is their a choice, but you can tell a child almost anything and have them believe it and that is psychological abuse.

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  • Tealights
    8 years ago

    I don't see the connection. Learning to read and write are essential. Then there's math, biology, and more. School doesn't necessarily teach people to fit into society, but rather give us the tools to make a positive (or negative) impact on it by using the knowledge we gained (if we chose to pay attention). Plus, teachers shouldn't try to control the lives of their students (unfortunately, some do anyway...), but should teach the subject they were hired for and while professionally maintaining order in the classroom. The manipulation in schools mostly come from other students who were (or still are) being mistreated from people in their personal lives, or more.

    There is no sunny side to manipulation, because it's basically controlling others for personal gain/satisfaction, and not necessarily for the well being of those who are being controlled.

    TL;DR - Yeah, manipulating people is wrong.

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  • xfg12
    8 years ago

    No, sometimes it's the only way to convince them you are God.

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