Thanks, Roger. I hope the discussion won't focus too much on the now-vanished ewrgall poem. Maybe someone can offer us a genuinely good piece of agit prop.
You're right that it's better to get somebody to think they thought of an idea themselves, but this can be done manipulatively -- just watch some I Love Lucy episodes.
I don't know why you are so sure that cliche is a problem for propaganda: people are touched (though not MOVED) by many a Hallmark card.
In propaganda and advertising, the main aim is usually to avoid provoking thought: You don't want somebody asking "will all the girls REALLY be after me if I just use Head and Shoulders"? -- the right cliches of feeling (father calling daughter whose away at college -- by means of AT&T long distance) might be better than something more specific or individual.
[This message has been edited by ChrisW (edited July 24, 2002).]
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