A closer look
French agronomist Antoine-Augustin Parmentier successfully popularized the highly nutritious potato in France by convincing Queen Marie Antoinette to wear purple potato blossoms in her hair as a high-society fashion statement. Before his clever public relations campaign, French peasants absolutely despised the tuber, legally banning it from cultivation because they believed it caused leprosy and was only fit for feeding pigs. Knowing that the starving peasantry would only want what the rich people had, Parmentier planted a field of potatoes, placed heavy armed guards around it during the day, and intentionally left it unguarded at night. Believing the crop must be incredibly valuable to warrant such intense security, locals immediately began stealing and planting the potatoes themselves, effectively ending widespread famine. It is a brilliant testament to the fact that manipulating the stubborn, deeply suspicious general public has always relied on weaponized reverse psychology
