Sidetalkers

Saagar and Krystal agree on the absurdity of ‘open letters’ and ‘petitions’. Why bother sending an open letter to the president telling him to do what he’s already doing? Or the opposite? Presidents don’t read petitions.

This is a fine example of the Sucker Filter Corollary that I heard from some political strategist back in the ’90s. When a political ad asks you to write or call your senator about some particular law or action, the ad isn’t really talking to you. The advertisers know that the senator won’t read your letter. The advertisers want the senator’s staff to hear the AD ITSELF and believe a mass movement exists.

Lately I’m finding this rule to be the SOLE explainer for public verbiage of all sorts. Corporations, politicians, NGOs, universities, churches. All are talking to billionaire donors. The speakers don’t want or need our money and support.

In this case the Hollywood idiots aren’t really talking to the president. They’re talking to the heads of their studios.