Loose talk, or what?

From Greg Williams (920903)

Bill Powers (920830.1545):

Controlling "a person" means controlling the value of some variable
associated with that person. Some of those variables (the amounts and kinds
of actions) are controllable if the controlled variable is known. Others
(perceptions, controlled variables) are not.

Bill Powers (920903.0800):

([replying to] Chuck Tucker (920902.1223))

... the term 'control' cannot be used to describe any activity that
goes on between "self-regulating systems".

That puts my view succinctly.

Say what??? Talk about major contradictions....

Please elucidate if possible.

Greg