Greatest persuasive writer/speaker of all time?

[Duke]

Hitler was a fabulous speaker. MLK gets a mention too.


Persuasive writer is much harder to name i think. Should we look at articles? Books? Perhaps speeches?

And what's meant with the persuasive part? Literally? Or just a "good" writer? Does it have to be political?

 

[Jokerman]

Hamza Yusuf

 

[hizzle?]

speaker : Hitler....if you manage to brainwash a whole nation only by your speeches...then you know how to speak...now if you are saying nonsense, that's another story

 

[CalcuoCuchicheo]

Again, I can understand why a lot of people are saying Hitler, but you also have to look at the circumstances. I don't think the German people needed a huge amount of persuading.

 

[Zero Cool]

Again, I can understand why a lot of people are saying Hitler, but you also have to look at the circumstances. I don't think the German people needed a huge amount of persuading.

Even so, his shrewd use of propaganda and means of convincing people was unparalled.

 

[CalcuoCuchicheo]

Even so, his shrewd use of propaganda and means of convincing people was unparalled.

Yep, but a lot of that is irrelevant in a topic about the greatest persuasive speaker.

 

[Zero Cool]

Yep, but a lot of that is irrelevant in a topic about the greatest persuasive speaker.

He didn't need to persuade the Germans in certain ways i.e. mobilising the economy, ending unemployment etc. However the full-fledged programs against the Jews, the adoptation of "totale krieg", his manipulation of the German psyche for his own ends etc. did take persuasion and, in this, Hitler was almost unparalled in History. He is the supreme demagogue of the last 200 years.

 

[CalcuoCuchicheo]

A lot of the propaganda - like films 'proving' German supremacy - have no relevance in this thread though, only his actual speeches (or writings). Although it should be kept in mind that his 'persuasiveness' was hugely aided by this type of propaganda.

 

[Zero Cool]

A lot of the propaganda - like films 'proving' German supremacy - have no relevance in this thread though, only his actual speeches (or writings). Although it should be kept in mind that his 'persuasiveness' was hugely aided by this type of propaganda.

Well even so his speeches alone had the power to influence even the sternest of audiences. For example in January 1932 Hitler went to Dusseldorf to address a group of German industrialists. Mostly opposed to his policies, by the end of the address he had won almost all them over and garnered many millions in donations for his upcoming election fund. In addition he now had many new powerful supporters. That, in my view, is the mark of a great persuasive speaker.

 

[CalcuoCuchicheo]

Well even so his speeches alone had the power to influence even the sternest of audiences. For example in January 1932 Hitler went to Dusseldorf to address a group of German industrialists. Mostly opposed to his policies, by the end of the address he had won almost all them over and garnered many millions in donations for his upcoming election fund. In addition he now had many new powerful supporters. That, in my view, is the mark of a great persuasive speaker.

I'm not denying he had persuasive power to boot, I'm just saying, let's weed out the irrelevancy & look at what he actually did. Anti-semitism & nationalism was always there, he just build on it.

And as for what you mentioned, yeah, that's a good achievement. Then again, MLK changed views some people had held for a lifetime.

But I don't really want to argue about it because I see them as equally valid choices, just wanted to point out certain weak pillars for those who chose Hitler.

 

[makaveli_411]

Persuasive writer is probably Frantz Fanon imo, this guy was a genius, if you ever read Wretched of the Earth, Black Skin White Mask you would understand what I'm talking about. Another take would be Edward Said (R.I.P.), the way he wrote was just thought provoking, try to get your hands on Orientalism and you'll see for yourself.

As for speaker there is Malcolm X, Nelson Mandela or Gandhi. I never saw in my whole life somebody make 800+ million people move their minds by an intelligible speaker as Gandhi. We do also have to note that Mandela is a great and a courageous person who fought for what he believed and is blindly praised in the whole world up to this day.

Peace

 

[CalcuoCuchicheo]

Persuasive writer is probably Frantz Fanon imo, this guy was a genius, if you ever read Wretched of the Earth, Black Skin White Mask you would understand what I'm talking about. Another take would be Edward Said (R.I.P.), the way he wrote was just thought provoking, try to get your hands on Orientalism and you'll see for yourself.

As for speaker there is Malcolm X, Nelson Mandela or Gandhi. I never saw in my whole life somebody make 800+ million people move their minds by an intelligible speaker as Gandhi. We do also have to note that Mandela is a great and a courageous person who fought for what he believed and is praised in the whole world up to this day.

Peace

Yeah, Gandhi did have a seemingly special manner of communication.

You should scrap that last bit about Mandela though - or add 'blindly' before 'praised' for, while not unwarranted, the praise of Mandela is blinkered.

 

[AmerikazMost]

All of you are wrong. Morris was close.

The greatest persuasive speaker of all time was Jesus Christ.

 

[CalcuoCuchicheo]

All of you are wrong. Morris was close.

The greatest persuasive speaker of all time was Jesus Christ.

Hmm, if you can prove to me that he persuaded people with his voice, I'll agree.

 

[AmerikazMost]

Hmm, if you can prove to me that he persuaded people with his voice, I'll agree.

How bout the fact hat he turned thousands upon thousands of people started believing in him and following him. He was such a "threat" that the Roman Empire crucified him.

Not to mention all the people after him that followed his teachings and became Christian. The Catholic Church (the original Christian religion, stemming directly from his teachings) was the most powerful force in the world for the longest time.

 

[CalcuoCuchicheo]

How bout the fact hat he turned thousands upon thousands of people started believing in him and following him. He was such a "threat" that the Roman Empire crucified him.

Not to mention all the people after him that followed his teachings and became Christian. The Catholic Church (the original Christian religion, stemming directly from his teachings) was the most powerful force in the world for the longest time.

Not a conclusive fact by any stretch of the imagination.


In fact, other than that last sentence, this is grade A bullshit - congratulations :thumb:

 

[makaveli_411]

True, you're right Calcuo I'll change it.

Peace

 

[AmerikazMost]

Not a conclusive fact by any stretch of the imagination.


In fact, other than that last sentence, this is grade A bullshit - congratulations :thumb:

Hey, um, all of what I said is factual. So I must ask you..

Or do you just disagree with me for the sake of it?

 

[CalcuoCuchicheo]

Where is the evidence that he verbally converted thousands?

Where is the evidence that he was crucified?

The followers of his 'teachings' were converted by written word - the Bible - & other followers - ie. not his voice.

Again, the Catholic Church gained power by converting people itself & through the employment of deceitful tactics.

 

[AmerikazMost]

Where is the evidence that he was crucified?

This really ruins your credibility man.

Not only the Bible, which is also regarded as a historical text of the time, but there have been accounts in Roman documents found.