re: This is for the GUMPS!!!

This is simple Psychology. 5 Steps to changing a persons mind. I may not have changed your mind completely but your responses say it all.

SIMPLICITY: Keep your message short, sharp, and simple to convince people it's true.

[me] I succeeded in this part. While my actual text in the message was not short, the Subject "This is for the GUMPS!!!" and my message were relatively simple.

PERCEIVED SELF-INTEREST: Con men agree it's the key to getting us to do something we didn't think we wanted to. (So be sure to focus on the benefits to the person whose mind you want to change, rather than emphasizing your own wants and wishes and emotional history. NOT: I'll be sad if you don't, BUT: You'll be happy if you do.)

[me] I succeeded in this part. While I understand the "L" has too much talent and I would love to have all that talent at LSU, It's not about what I want, it's about what Alabama wants. Great players from the "L". Admit you guys are happy to get great Louisiana recruits.

INCONGRUITY: Surprise people -- tell them your cupcake is 400 cents rather than four dollars and they're far more likely to buy it.

[me] I succeeded in this part. I think I more than surprised everyone!

CONFIDENCE: The more confident you are, the more we believe you're right -- even when we know your facts are wrong. (Think aggressive politicians and other salespeople.)

[me] I succeeded in this part. I definitely displayed pure confidence even when the facts may be wrong or skewed.

EMPATHY: Look people in the eye, nod when they nod, tell them you're from the same small town they are -- we trust people like ourselves. (We prefer to work with those who happen to come from a similar tribe, whether that means the same town or perceiving some other form of connection.)

[me] I succeeded in this part. Some of your "Star Players" are from the "L", so the perception is definitely there that Players from the "L" have been nothing but stars for your team! And when Saban took over you got our former coach, so there is definitely a connection there.

Seems as though this Psychological experiment worked just fine. Thank you for proving it.