Salesman mentality vs Haka dancer mentality (aka “There is no fifth upāya”) ⭐
The basic concept of “explain how it is good for them, from their perspective” is lost on a lot of Indians.
Instead our guys always frame themselves as adversaries to whoever they’re supposed to be trying to persuade.
This “salesman mentality” comes naturally to Left-liberals/Muslims who falsely present (and honestly believe) themselves to be friendly to the target groups.
While we are often faced with groups with whom we truly share common interests and the other side is too retarded to realize it, and instead of persuading them, we simply accept the retard’s frame and go
- “yup, we’re taking your jobs and women”
- or the reverse “you are colonialists!!”(*)
- or, the more intellectual (but even worse) version: framing Trump’s tariffs or Biden’s regime-change attempts as some totally rational play from American self-interest POV.
… which is supposed to work, how, exactly?
The four methods of diplomacy are sāma-dāma-daṇḍa-bheda. Persuasion, payment, punishment and deceit. There is no fifth upāya of “yell and seethe at your enemy and he will magically submit”.
I would call this “Salesman mentality vs Soldier mentality”, but a soldier actually inflicts material wounds on the adversary. This is “Salesman mentality vs Haka dancer mentality”.
(*)this is not about Nirmala Sitharaman’s remark, as that was directed towards Indians and was very good for that purpose. I’m talking about mudfighters who actually use that line when arguing with Americans.