We live in a moral vacuum because nobody beats it into us. When the church had REAL power they could, but now the only things they have are empty threats and priests playing grabass. The only way to control a mass is with fear; you can't keep everyone happy, but you can sure as hell scare the piss out of them all.
I liked that, partially for its shock factor and partially for its truth, though I wish to examine its truth in detail. Just for reference: a mass is the singular of the masses, like a mouse is the singular of the mice. The italics represent thought processes of mine, and will provide important side information, or crucial turns of thought.
A central question here is What controls a mass? If we boil it down to the base ingredients, only a couple things stand out: fear, happiness, and conscience. In my post, I neglected to mention conscience; a mistake with little consequence. Fear, happiness, and conscience: What makes them so important and powerful that they can control a mass?
The three attributes all have something in common, in regards to their place in the human psyche and how they are responded to as stimuli. After careful reconsideration, I realize that there are only two facets that truly affect control of a mass: Happiness level and fear level. These two things are still common for the previously stated reason, and I apoligize for any confusion. I will now continue on, with fear level and happiness level as the two facets of control.
Both happiness level and fear level determine the likeliness of action against the controller, hereby named "The Man." If the mass has a high happiness level, it is unlikely they will take action against The Man, because a central goal of the human race is happiness. However, if the happiness level is below acceptable, the mass will wish to address the cause so that they will once again be happy. Since fault always lies with the leadership, action will most likely be taken against The Man. To avoid this, The Man has two courses of action: Keep the happiness level high or keep the fear level high, to the point where no action would be taken by the mass. If the mass is afraid to act, then they will not. Methods will not be discussed, as they are infinitely variable. In the event of failure, The Man is replaced by another, whom the mass either believes will raise their happiness level or is afraid to deny leadership. Thus, deduction leaves us to believe that, in order to remain The Man, he must be proficient at manipulating one or both facets of control.
Now that we have answered a central question, we must now answer another: Which method of control is stronger and more reliable? (Coming soon.)
