--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm trying to trick people into thinking…" description: "\"I'm trying to trick people into thinking about the unthinkable by using pop culture images.\" — John Shirley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38c/john-shirley-22620_culture_i-m-trying-to-trick-people-into-thinking_2267884.jpg" --- # I'm trying to trick people into thinking about the… ![“I'm trying to trick people into thinking about the unthinkable by using pop culture images.” quote by John Shirley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38c/john-shirley-22620_culture_i-m-trying-to-trick-people-into-thinking_2267884.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38c/john-shirley-22620_culture_i-m-trying-to-trick-people-into-thinking_2267884.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38c/john-shirley-22620_culture_i-m-trying-to-trick-people-into-thinking_2267884.jpg) > “I'm trying to trick people into thinking about the unthinkable by using pop culture images.” [John Shirley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shirley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Using familiar media images forces audiences to confront uncomfortable ideas. **In simple terms:** Pop culture can make taboo topics approachable. Key Takeaway Leverage familiar symbols to discuss difficult subjects. Themes media culture psychology communication social influence Mood provocative thought‑provoking Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - advertising - public health campaigns - education - social activism Key Concepts visual rhetoric cognitive framing shock value Questions to Reflect On - What images best convey the message? - How to balance shock with respect? A Different Perspective Risk of trivializing serious issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Culture Images](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture-images-2587223/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-thinking/) [Pop culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pop-culture/) [Pops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pops/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thinking Unthinkable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking-unthinkable-885667/) [Tricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tricks/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Trying Trick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying-trick-1105296/) [Unthinkable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unthinkable/) ## Related quotes > [“People are forever thinking that the unthinkable can't happen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lidia-yuknavitch/people-are-forever-thinking-that-the-unthinkable-can-t-happen/) [Lidia Yuknavitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lidia-yuknavitch/) > [“As yet, though we live in a culture in which images are the dominant currency of communication, we have been unable to form an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-bukatman/as-yet-though-we-live-in-a-culture-in-which-images-are-the-dominant/) [Scott Bukatman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-bukatman/) > [The big lesson I learned from Hurricane Katrina is that we have to be thinking about the unthinkable because sometimes the unthinkable happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-leavitt/the-big-lesson-i-learned-from-hurricane-katrina-is-that-we-have-to-be/) [Michael Leavitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-leavitt/) > [“You might be trying to trick me into sleeping with you.” “Is it working? Because I am desperate to sleep with you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-park/you-might-be-trying-to-trick-me-into-sleeping-with-you-is-it-working/) [Jessica Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-park/) > [Olaf: Of course I'm trying to trick you! That's the way of the world, Baudelaires. Everyone runs around with their secrets and their schemes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/olaf-of-course-i-m-trying-to-trick-you-that-s-the-way-of-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I'm considering whether or not to believe you. I need to run an algorithm on this." "That's not funny." "You might be trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-park/i-m-considering-whether-or-not-to-believe-you-i-need-to-run-an/) [Jessica Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-park/) > [Theres no stress in the world, only people thinking stressful thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/punkinhead-abhishek/theres-no-stress-in-the-world-only-people-thinking-stressful-thoughts/) [Punkinhead Abhishek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/punkinhead-abhishek/) > [Women are constantly taught to think about what other people are thinking, from those 'Jackie' magazine quizzes - 'What's he thinking?' - to being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viv-albertine/women-are-constantly-taught-to-think-about-what-other-people-are/) [Viv Albertine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viv-albertine/) > [“As far back as history records people thinking, thinking people have been befuddled by the mysteries of life and existence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-n-roe/as-far-back-as-history-records-people-thinking-thinking-people-have/) [Lewis N. Roe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-n-roe/) > [“Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/your-time-is-limited-so-don-t-waste-it-living-someone-else-s-life-don/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [The prospering of God's cause on earth depends upon his people thinking well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/the-prospering-of-god-s-cause-on-earth-depends-upon-his-people/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [I realize now that people are not thinking about you and me or caring what is said about us. They are thinking about themselves-before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/i-realize-now-that-people-are-not-thinking-about-you-and-me-or-caring/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [Normally when people say they haven't decided, they're being polite but they're definitely not voting for you. I think it's different this time. People…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/normally-when-people-say-they-haven-t-decided-they-re-being-polite/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [You must not become a mere peddler of words. The thing to learn is to know what people are thinking about, not what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-anderson/you-must-not-become-a-mere-peddler-of-words-the-thing-to-learn-is-to/) [Sherwood Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-anderson/) > [Maybe that’s what love meant, both people thinking they were the lucky one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meera-syal/maybe-that-s-what-love-meant-both-people-thinking-they-were-the-lucky/) [Meera Syal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meera-syal/) ## More by John Shirley > [I do try to be of some use in the world. I sometimes do volunteer work with kids, and manage to help some people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shirley/i-do-try-to-be-of-some-use-in-the-world-i-sometimes-do-volunteer-work/) [John Shirley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shirley/) > [Weekends are a bit like rainbows; they look good from a distance but disappear when you get up close to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shirley/weekends-are-a-bit-like-rainbows-they-look-good-from-a-distance-but/) [John Shirley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shirley/) > [“If the modern world were a patient in my care... I would diagnose it suicidal." - Dr. Sofia Lamb”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shirley/if-the-modern-world-were-a-patient-in-my-care-i-would-diagnose-it/) [John Shirley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shirley/) > [“Almost anyone could be Fascist under the right circumstances. If they get scared enough. It's because, you see, most people live their lives like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shirley/almost-anyone-could-be-fascist-under-the-right-circumstances-if-they/) [John Shirley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shirley/) > [“The greater the scope in implementing an activity, the greater the need for strict attention to small details.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shirley/the-greater-the-scope-in-implementing-an-activity-the-greater-the/) [John Shirley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shirley/) > [“When you serve a beer-cock an ear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shirley/when-you-serve-a-beer-cock-an-ear/) [John Shirley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shirley/) > [I'm just the kind of person who seems designed, probably by nature, to try to make a difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shirley/i-m-just-the-kind-of-person-who-seems-designed-probably-by-nature-to/) [John Shirley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shirley/) > [“from the end of John Shirley's Black Glass, something like: "the Singularity guys don't understand, they aren't copying us, our brains, just the noise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shirley/from-the-end-of-john-shirley-s-black-glass-something-like-the/) [John Shirley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shirley/) > [A man must make of his life a ladder that he never ceases to climb -- if you're not rising, you are slipping down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shirley/a-man-must-make-of-his-life-a-ladder-that-he-never-ceases-to-climb-if/) [John Shirley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shirley/) > [I'm not quite pompous enough to think of myself as an educator or a man capable of definitive refutation of falsehoods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shirley/i-m-not-quite-pompous-enough-to-think-of-myself-as-an-educator-or-a/) [John Shirley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shirley/) > [As far as I know Misha wrote the first cyberpunk poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shirley/as-far-as-i-know-misha-wrote-the-first-cyberpunk-poetry/) [John Shirley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shirley/) > [“It was like the Iran/Contra hearings in the last century; then, too, the investigators had looked just so far and no further.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shirley/it-was-like-the-iran-contra-hearings-in-the-last-century-then-too-the/) [John Shirley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shirley/) > [“He liked living simply. And he liked living alone. He had grown to dislike physical affection. It was intrusive, and it bullied his self…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shirley/he-liked-living-simply-and-he-liked-living-alone-he-had-grown-to/) [John Shirley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shirley/) > [Innocence could be considered a discrete state of mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shirley/innocence-could-be-considered-a-discrete-state-of-mind/) [John Shirley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shirley/) > [People in extreme conditions are suddenly naked, realer than normal, perhaps even more alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shirley/people-in-extreme-conditions-are-suddenly-naked-realer-than-normal/) [John Shirley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shirley/) [Explore all 27 John Shirley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shirley/) ## More Culture quotes > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [A lot of indigenous cultures are deeply involved in working with ancestor spirits, elemental spirits, and demons. Many of these cultures feel that, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pinchbeck/a-lot-of-indigenous-cultures-are-deeply-involved-in-working-with/) [Daniel Pinchbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pinchbeck/) > [In the hearing world, I'm constantly having to lip-read and trying to understand what's going on. Sign language is so beautiful. It gives you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/in-the-hearing-world-i-m-constantly-having-to-lip-read-and-trying-to/) [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) > [I was born and raised in Orlando, where the economy and culture has been powerfully shaped by tourism, and so I've long been interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-van-den-berg/i-was-born-and-raised-in-orlando-where-the-economy-and-culture-has/) [Laura van den Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-van-den-berg/) > [Our times demand the declaration of the world's resources as the common heritage of all people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/our-times-demand-the-declaration-of-the-world-s-resources-as-the/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [The U.S.-Mexican border es un herida abierta where the Third World grates against the first and bleeds. And before a scab forms it hemorrhages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-e-anzald-a/the-u-s-mexican-border-es-un-herida-abierta-where-the-third-world/) [Gloria E. Anzaldúa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-e-anzald-a/) > [What it comes down to for me is this: Will the technologies of communication in our culture, serve to enlighten us and help us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/what-it-comes-down-to-for-me-is-this-will-the-technologies-of/) [Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/) > [I think it's useful to experience other types of dance and other cultures, and the life of a classical dancer these days is certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-bull/i-think-it-s-useful-to-experience-other-types-of-dance-and-other/) [Deborah Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-bull/) > [In the movie, the stars above the ship bear no correspondence to any constellations in a real sky. Worse yet, while the heroine bobs...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/in-the-movie-the-stars-above-the-ship-bear-no-correspondence-to-any/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [It is not my intention to explain Turkey, its culture and its problems. My literature has a universal concern: I want to bring people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/it-is-not-my-intention-to-explain-turkey-its-culture-and-its-problems/) [Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/) > [I don't think the distinction between high and low culture exists anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-scott/i-don-t-think-the-distinction-between-high-and-low-culture-exists/) [Jeremy Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-scott/) > [You get below the Mason-Dixon line and you have some of the best music, culture, the two races, the literature, and it's so rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-duvall/you-get-below-the-mason-dixon-line-and-you-have-some-of-the-best/) [Robert Duvall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-duvall/) > [It is proposed that a form of free dialogue may well be one of the most effective ways of investigating the crisis which faces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bohm/it-is-proposed-that-a-form-of-free-dialogue-may-well-be-one-of-the/) [David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bohm/) > [“Being grounded in your lifelong culture and your personal perspective, you are comfortable with the way you see things and may believe it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/being-grounded-in-your-lifelong-culture-and-your-personal-perspective/) [Susan C. 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