True or false, the best way to control the masses is to keep them IGNORANT?

Question

How do you feel about this statement?

Answer 1

It is completely true.

If the masses don't know any better, how can they object to their lot in life? If they never know what is done to keep them in place, how can they protest? If they never know the power they could have, how can they strive for it?

The old saying that knowledge is power is not just a phrase to encourage education, it is the absolute truth.

Answer 2

False, The best way to control the mass is to keep them happy.

Answer 3

I think it is true, as far as people with bad motives who want to control the masses.

On the other hand, I think that if all people were enlightened, knowledgable in everything there is to know and understand in the Universe, there wouldn't be a need to control anyone.

Don't forget too, that there is a segment of the population that DESIRES to be controlled, and cannot live without it. These people only wish to believe what their leaders tell them, do not wish to know anything else, and stay in their safe little boxes.

Answer 4

It is true, and even in different levels of ignorance it is effective. Ignorance to me implies that they are cut off from outside sources of information, discouraged (at least) from believing sources of information other than what they are fed, and therefore breeding mistrust with anyone other than their own "leaders". AND, every culture, country, religion or sect has such "leaders". Jerry Falwell and his ilk; Sharpton and Jackson are two more, Suddam Hussein was an example, as was Adolph Hitler. The Roman Catholic Church of the Dark Ages was a prime example by allowing only priests to read and have Bibles. The list goes on and on and on. Even so far as housemaids brought in from Third World countries, kept ignorant of their rights in western countries by the employers they have.

Answer 5

No truer statement.

Need proof?

Our writing here now wouldn't be on the agenda fifty or a hundred years ago.

Most likely we'd be enjoying life instead of working for everything we now seem to need.

We'd be socializing more. We would have close association with all important people instead of being far removed from them now with this new thing called computer.

We are the masses and we have been conditioned to accept everything done cheaply, quickly and insignificantly.

Those who have the power have it just the way they want it.

Answer 6

It is true. Fear and ignorance help make people do what you want them to do if you have something that ties them together. Something that seems larger than life. Religon is a great tool to make premeitive people, in the hands of a charismatic person, commit the most heinous crimes known to man. People are easily led to do things when they don't have to actually think about their actions. It is sad, but it is true. Look at the soldier effect that happened in the holocaust trials. The soldiers new what they were doing was wrong, but they didn't think...

Answer 7

The best way to control the masses is to keep them dependent on something (or more than one thing).

Answer 8

False, the best way to control the masses is to keep them in fear. Then you can take your time killing off the intellectuals.

Answer 9

Partially true, keeping them poor is the best way, keeping them ignorant is just a way to keep them poor. But take away the roof over a man's head, his ability take his children a doctor, his ability to earn a living (feed his kids) and you have a tinderbox waiting for a spark...

Answer 10

The best way to control the masses is to keep them divided.