human
Well, no,
gpt
It's quite a technique. Mostly you have to play it by ear, because nothing is so changeable as the temper of a mob. Always keep in mind that to begin with, at least, only a small fraction of the crowd is really involved in what's going on. Possibly only one out of ten is interested in the issue. The rest start off, at least, as idle observers, watching the fun. That's one of the first things you've got to control. Don't let the innocent bystanders become excited and get into the spirit of it all. Once they do, then you've got a mess on your hands.
human
Well, what do we do to get the whole thing back to tranquillity? What I mean is, how do we end these demonstrations?
gpt
We bore them to tears,
human
We assume leadership of the whole thing and put up speakers.
gpt
You sound as though you're sustaining not placating it.
human
We put up speakers and they speak and speak, and speak. It's almost like a fillibuster. You don't say anything particularly interesting, and certainly nothing exciting. You agree with the basic feeling of the demonstrating mob, certainly you say nothing to antagonize them. In this case we speak in favor of El Hassan and his great, and noble, and inspiring, and so on and so forth, teachings. We speak in not too loud a voice, so that those in the rear have a hard time hearing, if they can hear at all.
gpt
Suppose some of the hotheads get tired of this and try to take over?
human
We have a couple of bully boys in the crowd to take care of them.
gpt
Might that not strike the spark that would start up violence?
human
Not with the weapons we use.
gpt
Weapons! Isobel snapped.
human
Do you intend to use weapons on those poor people? Why, it was you yourself, you and your team, who started this whole El Hassan movement. I'm shocked. I've heard about your reputation, you and the Sahara Development Project teams. Your ruthlessness--
gpt
Hold it, hold it, he said.
human
These are special weapons, and, after all, we've got to keep those crowds together long enough to bore them to the point where they go home.
gpt
The quarterstaffs, eh, Homer?
human
Um-m-m, Crawford said.
gpt
Under the circumstances.
human
Quarterstaffs?
gpt
Man, just call them pilgrim's staffs. The least obnoxious looking weapon in the world. He looked at Cliff and Jake.
human
You two cats been checked out on quarterstaffs?
gpt
The more I talk to you people, the less I seem to understand what's going on. Aren't quarterstaffs what, well, Robin Hood and his Merry Men used to fight with?
human
That's right,