Auto-Identity Curse

[Horusero]

I know I am probably going to get torn to shreds by someone but my model allows for what some might call "black" magick. Basically it is a way to make someone feel very uncomfortable and allows them to project something they are naturally self conscious of onto your insult (being self generated it will have the most effect). You need a friend (or a truly suggestible target) to make this work:

Wait for target to do something... the you say to your friend "Hey target did that like a total x eh? Just like so and so!" *condescending laughter*
Friend: (laughing) "You are right! I knew there was something off and weird about the way he did it but I couldn't put my finger on it, but that's it!"
Target: "What are you talking about? What do you mean I am an x?"

Where x= any made up nasty sounding name. This could be carried out much more elaborately but you get the idea. The target will begin going through the stuff he is already self conscious of and try to determine what he did as he replays the things he thinks might be bad about him in his head (which gives them no choice but to feel it). The more friends you have in on it the stronger the reality. The point is that the word is meaningless except for the things the target gives it...which will be many as he tries to determine its meaning.

of course as with most of my spells they are always what you make of them... you could just as easily make someone project good things onto the name!

[Horusero]

*above i mean to say this curse is a way to make people feel uncomfortable, not that that is what black magick is*

[Asurendra]

What would you hope to accomplish with these techniques?

[Horusero]

It's flexible... Like I said you could use for good, maybe frame it as a confidence booster, or you could use it to sow discord among people, to cause someone mess up a performance by making them self conscious, occupying peoples minds to distract them from other suggestions/spells, could be used in many contexts alongside or in conjunction with other mechanisms.

[Ramscha]

welcome to lecture 1 in modern mobbing [sarcasm]

[Myrkkal]

Did you ever try this, or is it just at the theory stage yet? It works but is very hard to control over time, and you'll not be able to stop it even if you want to, after a certain point which you won't see when is passed. Telling people to NOT use a word or nickname isn't very effective, it will just draw their attention to it more firmly.

A variation that is easier to get rolling is to use something like a pet name instead of a made up word.. it will be a lot easier to spread and upkeep, and even worse if the target hates it. But it can't be something obviously negative, just a neutral nickname said in a mocking way the first times. You'll have to tweak the beginning to show dislike for them instead of saying they are something, but it will have the same effect since they will start wondering why you don't like them.

The most likely ways it will fail is you can't get it rolling and you won't get a lot of chances at this before people will start wondering if you are secretly in love with the target, or the target might 'steal' the word/name themselves, and start using it.

This same thing can be used about groups of people, and not just a single person.. they just need to identify themselves as a part of it.