Originally Posted by Ankesh

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I've never argued against persuasion. Modes of persuasion - yes. But have never said that people can't be influenced.

Anyways...



Yes demand can be created.

Look at Fedex. No one wanted speedier transportation of good at premium prices before he showed up. In fact - everyone told him its not something they would pay more for. And yet - Fedex worked.

Look at Steve Jobs - he always aims at delivering technologies that have no current demand. Who wanted firewire ports instead of USB ports? And a rotor instead of buttons on their mp3 players?

There was no demand for such things before Apple went ahead and invented the product and than pitched the product in ways that the demand was created and caught on.