wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

Comments

• [1] deniz from switzerland June 20, 2008 - 11:09AM

  I read Streatfield's book "Brainwashing" and found it very reasoned and objective. It debunks a lot of the myths people have about brainwashing. I wonder what he thinks about present-day CIA and other intelligence agencies and if there are any remnants of the old way of thinking regarding brainwashing as a potential tool against terrorism or "enemy states".

  
  
• [2] hjs from 11211 June 20, 2008 - 12:09PM

  just a light rinse, please

  
  
• [3] bob braczyk from upper west side June 20, 2008 - 01:21PM

  In discussing brain washing,don't over look the great artist of brainwashing in the 20th Century,John Frankenheimer.

  Obviously, in the Manchurian Candidate he presents a "true believers" image of the possibilities of the practice. In many other of his films Black Sunday,French Connection Two",and I believe in some of his work on Playhouse 90 he used the device of individuals under controlled distress to propel the plot.

  RB

  
  
• [4] mh June 20, 2008 - 01:28PM

  i've read that the word 'brainwash' comes as a direct translation of the chinese word 'hsi nao.' ask pat o'connor

  
  
• [5] hjs from 11211 June 20, 2008 - 01:34PM

  are you talking about modern advertising

  
  
• [6] David Harrington from Manhattan June 20, 2008 - 01:44PM

  Is there any effective positive use for brainwashing? For example: Can it be used to reprogram child molesters?

  Also is cognitive behavioral therapy in the case of, say, PTSD, a form of brainwashing?

  
  
• [7] Rick from Brooklyn June 20, 2008 - 01:49PM

  Leonard can you ask the guests if they think the Fundamentalist Mormon children in Texas have suffered from brainwashing?

  
  
• [8] Jimmy G from NYC June 20, 2008 - 01:51PM

  Jonestown???

  
  
• [9] Amy from Manhattan June 20, 2008 - 01:52PM

  Up to a point, the question may be whether the person can leave if they want to, but can it reach the point where they don't even have the choice to want to leave?

  
  
• [10] Daniel Jenson from MA June 20, 2008 - 01:53PM

  I was a member of the Unification Church for twenty years and I left five years ago without any problems or trauma and moved on with my life. I was not brainwashed. I wanted to join and I wanted to leave. End of story.

  
  
• [11] John from New York June 20, 2008 - 01:56PM

  Do you think Oswald was brainwashed. He had a connection to both the Marines and Russia.

  
  
• [12] Cesar from Upper East Side June 20, 2008 - 01:58PM

  This is a very frustrating conversation because the guests find it difficult to define the spectrum of persuasion. What, beyond coercion and persuasive techniques, constitutes the media term brainwashing?

  What of examples of political brainwashing? The Iraq war propaganda of mushroom clouds and weapons of mass destruction? What of the minimal media reporting of war dead from all countries, regardless of nationality or the employer's contractor?

  
  
• [13] Mary from NYC June 25, 2008 - 08:10AM

  Good show! Wish it was more in-depth. Scary stuff.

  
  
• [14] Tom from Georgia June 26, 2008 - 06:03AM

  I have been getting daily downloads of this particular segment ever since it first aired. I use WNYC's Pubcatcher to retrieve my podcasts. Is anyone else having this problem?

  **Lopate Show producer responds:

  We've forwarded your comment on and are looking into the problem. Thanks for letting us now, and thanks for listening.