When someone "influences" someone else, would that mean "persuade" or "talk into"?

Answer 1

I agree that it really is neither. That may be because of my involvement in the world of art, music and literature. We often speak of a person being "influenced" by another artist, musician or writer. In this instance, there is no persuasion involved, no "talking into". It simply means that a person was so moved by another persons work or words, that their own expression became subtly colored by it. If you read interviews with many of today's musicians, for example, they will readily admit that they were influenced by old blues songs, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, etc., even though they obviously never met these people. I, myself, am influenced in my writing by Isaac Asimov and Ray Bradbury; in my photography by Ansel Adams.

Hope that clarifies it for you. Thanks for letting me (perhaps?) influence you! ;~)

Answer 2

Influence is the power a person has to affect others by actions or
example. It is not something that a person can talk anyone into.
It would be like "I want to be just like him".
To "persuade" or "talk into" would mean going directly to someone and trying to change their mind, or make them do something, directly.

Answer 3

Neither, really.

Influence, to my ear, is a bit more passive than persuade or talk into. You can influence someone without trying to, just by being yourself. To persuade or talk into requires active involvement.

If I had to choose between the two, I'd take persuade.

Here are some definitions to help you:

Influence (In"flu*ence), v. t.

To control or move by power, physical or moral; to affect by gentle action; to exert an influence upon; to modify, bias, or sway; to move; to persuade; to induce. "These experiments succeed after the same manner in vacuo as in the open air,and therefore are not influenced by the weight or pressure of the atmosphere." Sir I. Newton. "This standing revelation . . . is sufficient to influence their faith and practice, if they attend." Attebury. "The principle which influenced their obedience has lost its efficacy." Rogers.

per·suade

TRANSITIVE VERB:

To induce to undertake a course of action or embrace a point of view by means of argument, reasoning, or entreaty: "to make children fit to live in a society by persuading them to learn and accept its codes" (Alan W. Watts).

talk into

transitive verb

Definition:
persuade somebody: to persuade somebody to do something by talking to him or her
We talked her into staying for dinner.

Answer 4

it does and it doesnt, what it means is that by hearing what the person has said it has made the person decide that he wants to go along with the other person, or by hearing what was said it became a deciding factor and helped him to make up his mind.

Answer 5

yes