[andrewprock]

Democracies use direct persuasion extensively, typically on non-majority groups, for obvious reasons.

[mirimir]

You're using "direct persuasion" differently from parent. And I have no clue which is accepted. Parent seems to equate "direct persuasion" with "charismatic persuasion", but for you it seems more like coercion.

Right?

[andrewprock]

I read "direct persuasion" as a reference to "authoritarian control" as quoted from the Wikipedia article.

[mirimir]

OK, makes sense.