I saw this post on social media recently:

It is very similar to many other posts that I have read in the past. The subject matter vague but the construction predictable; there is a hook in the sixth sentence that is loaded with emotional blackmail. Indeed, the subject matter is not important at all. I have seen similar posts that make reference to all manner of topics from racism to sexism, but it is always an emotionally charged issue that is used. It sucks the reader in by inspiring their empathy and then delivers a sneak punch beginning with ‘I’m going to make a bet’, which now loads a degree of responsibility onto the reader, creates a familial connexion, and then delivers a negative; claiming that very few will respond. Of course, if the subject is important to you in anyway you are going to feel that you should respond. You want to prove the original poster wrong in declaring that ‘less than 4’ people will do so because that is such a negative assumption and it does not apply to you. It is a form of manipulation. The whole point of the post was not to promote some worthy cause, it was to push an individual’s buttons and get them to respond in a certain way; in this case by sharing the post to their ‘wall’.

Curiously, people do not seem to like having this pointed out to them. When I criticised the above post I was told that I was taking the sixth sentence out of context?! Well, yes it could be taken out of its setting, but if it was then the previous five sentences would actually make for a far more positive message. Indeed, if the writer’s original intent was genuine then the sixth sentence does not need to exist at all; it adds nothing affirmative to the idea being presented. And that seems to be what some people do not realise.

Social media is a playground for individuals who like to manipulate other people; that is no secret. This example might seem harmless, and it probably is as the subject actually does appear vague and it really does not invoke any strong responses, but it still results in people doing something that they might not have done, in this case share a post, which is probably the original intent of the post’s creator. They can follow their success by seeing their creation being copied all over various social media platforms. My point is that people do not question what they read as a first response and this can lead to some rather inflamed discussions when the subject matter is far more sensitive or contentious. There are people who post similar constructions on subjects like racism for example and they are far more subtle about it; certainly more ingenious in stirring up trouble. They want their message shared as widely as possible and they judge their success by the anger that they stir up. Whenever I read a post and get to a sentence like ‘I bet I know who or how many people will share this’ then I stop and question why is it there? The answer is usually because someone is trying to manipulate you.