The Art of Deceptive Camouflage

In today's world, a technique of behavior camouflage can serve as a powerful tool for reducing others' vigilance and achieving one’s own goals. An analysis of the provided materials reveals that instances of pretense are depicted through various scenarios: from attempts to create the appearance of genuine enthusiasm to manipulations aimed at gaining trust. However, none of the excerpts offer clear recommendations on when exactly one should resort to strategic pretense, much like the occasional reference to a “hose.”

The focus is on how characters employ appearances—whether to seem less suspicious during an unexpected encounter or to deliberately play on trust in exchange for personal gain. A separate mention of violence, where a rubber hose is used as a weapon, is not an example of consciously adopting a camouflage role; rather, it illustrates the extreme application of physical force in a conflict situation. Thus, the overall conclusion is that pretense can be an effective way to lower vigilance, yet the provided texts do not include specific instructions on when and how to employ this tactic.

In conclusion, it is worth noting that certain aspects of behavior may be utilized to achieve a desired effect, but it is important to keep in mind the thin line between strategic masquerading and outright deception. This balance requires fine-tuning and an understanding of the context, allowing one to gain an advantage without unnecessary cruelty or misinterpretation.

In which situations is it appropriate to pretend to be a “hose” and how should it be done correctly?

From the provided materials, there are no direct recommendations or strategies on when and how to pretend to be a “hose.” All the quotes related to pretense refer to other scenarios—for example, one excerpt shows how characters, when meeting someone, try to use pretense to appear less suspicious or, on the contrary, to inspire trust (“let’s pretend that we are completely thrilled…” from file link ), while another example describes a situation where someone decides to pretend to be a Christian to obtain benefits (file link ).

The only mention associated with the word “hose” is found in a story about an investigator, where a rubber hose is used to beat an arrested individual (file link ). However, this is not an example of someone consciously choosing to “pretend to be a hose”; rather, it refers to the application of violence, not strategic or covert behavior.

Thus, if one were to extract an overall conclusion from the materials, it can be noted that while pretense may serve as a useful tool to lower others’ vigilance or mask true intentions, the cited excerpts do not provide specific guidelines or descriptions of situations in which it is appropriate to pretend to be a “hose” or how exactly to do so.

Supporting citation(s):
"Actually, the plan wasn’t entirely hopeless. Sometimes it’s easier to sneak out of the house in broad daylight than at midnight. The doors and windows will most likely be open, and if we get caught, we can always pretend that we just wanted to take a stroll. – We need to lull their vigilance, – declared Ersh. – Pretend that we absolutely love it here and that we are dying with anticipation for their autumn feast. – He’s coming tomorrow evening, – said Luzhekhmur. – I overheard a conversation among those monsters. – Understood, – added Dzhel. – Let’s act completely thrilled and bombard them with questions, so they take us for simpletons." (source: link )

"Sent to a special intelligence school, and at the beginning of 1942, they were dispatched beyond Smolensk for the first time. ... But now Voronets appeared as a different person: Come on, confess, sign here, give me a word. I refused, they led me to some block, stripped my trousers, underwear, threw me onto a cement floor, back to the wall, spread my legs and started beating me with a rubber hose." (source: link )

Thus, the materials do not provide direct recommendations on pretense as a “hose.”