If propaganda didn't work, no one would get rich quick. Gross amounts of wealth wouldn't exist in the first place.
http://virtuallibrary.cincinnatilibrary.org/virtuallibrary/vl_photos.aspx?ResTypeID=30
PROPAGANDA
(NOT MONEY)
Is the ROOT of all evil.
Dear Bible Thumpers,
Please don't waste your time trying to plead your case. The point of this article is to present you with some things that might make you reconsider some things you might have missed, in the world of modern technology.
I would like to start by making something clear:
Propaganda is the root of all evil, but not all propaganda is evil.
We've learned to ignore much of the barrage of information thrown at us every day. Corporations and governments prey on basic human psychology to rule and own the masses. How do I know this? Research. Lots and LOTS of research. Most people only listen to the headlines for a few minutes during their day. Some watch the evening news regularly. The status quo for politically informed individuals is SO LOW many people don't even know who our vice president is. I suppose you could say there's no status quo at all. How in the world is that even possible in 2013? Things like twitter have allowed people to instantly and simultaneously become 'news reporters'. This has allowed an alternative media to take form. After decades of lurking in the shadows, the truth is finally gaining popularity in underground circles. Sadly, the majority of people are still living in the dark. They follow the trends, and their favorite sports teams. At the end of the day there isn't much time left to ponder the 'bigger' things in life, let alone obsessively research them. Even people who regularly catch the headlines are wickedly under informed about the state of the world today. (The media is privately owned by a small group of people. They work closely with government and corporations.) What makes it even worse is the fact that many of those people have a false sense of being informed. You tell them you've been researching something incredible, and they reply with something like: "If ______(fill in the blank) was that amazing, I would have already heard about it."
This mentality seems to exist at epidemic levels in modern society.
I hope to shed some light on just how easy it is to confuse, mislead, sell, and manipulate people's "individualism."
Propaganda is the root of all evil, but not all propaganda is evil.
We've learned to ignore much of the barrage of information thrown at us every day. Corporations and governments prey on basic human psychology to rule and own the masses. How do I know this? Research. Lots and LOTS of research. Most people only listen to the headlines for a few minutes during their day. Some watch the evening news regularly. The status quo for politically informed individuals is SO LOW many people don't even know who our vice president is. I suppose you could say there's no status quo at all. How in the world is that even possible in 2013? Things like twitter have allowed people to instantly and simultaneously become 'news reporters'. This has allowed an alternative media to take form. After decades of lurking in the shadows, the truth is finally gaining popularity in underground circles. Sadly, the majority of people are still living in the dark. They follow the trends, and their favorite sports teams. At the end of the day there isn't much time left to ponder the 'bigger' things in life, let alone obsessively research them. Even people who regularly catch the headlines are wickedly under informed about the state of the world today. (The media is privately owned by a small group of people. They work closely with government and corporations.) What makes it even worse is the fact that many of those people have a false sense of being informed. You tell them you've been researching something incredible, and they reply with something like: "If ______(fill in the blank) was that amazing, I would have already heard about it."
This mentality seems to exist at epidemic levels in modern society.
I hope to shed some light on just how easy it is to confuse, mislead, sell, and manipulate people's "individualism."
There are numerous respectable underground news sources available these days. New ones seems to pop up all the time. There are numerous respectable whistle blowers, but society writes them off as "conspiracy theorists."
Why? Because there are MOUNTAINS of disinformation out there. Hoaxers, people hunting for 15 minutes of fame, and honestly, it wouldn't surprise me if some of the disinformation wasn't planted by the government in the first place. Does that sound crazy? Maybe you should check out these WWII propaganda posters again...
Why? Because there are MOUNTAINS of disinformation out there. Hoaxers, people hunting for 15 minutes of fame, and honestly, it wouldn't surprise me if some of the disinformation wasn't planted by the government in the first place. Does that sound crazy? Maybe you should check out these WWII propaganda posters again...
Since "memes" are so freaking popular these days, and attention spans are short, I'll make the past easier to picture. Literally. I'm going to use "pictures." (Sorry if I sound a bit redundant. Apparently newspapers are written on a 5th grade reading level, because the masses are a little slow. This is to help wake them, and maybe even you, up.)
I want you to step back and take a look at history. (History that wasn't very long ago.) The following images are actually propaganda posters from WWII. (Think of them as "vintage paper memes posted online.")
I want you to step back and take a look at history. (History that wasn't very long ago.) The following images are actually propaganda posters from WWII. (Think of them as "vintage paper memes posted online.")
"If there were so many secrets the truth would get out."
Um, how can I say this nicely? "THE TRUTH DOES GET OUT." The fact of the matter is, no one (well, hardly anyone) is really listening. It's written off as loony, conspiracy, tin foil hat wearing, ignorant stereotypes.
"We Must Fight For Peace."
What IS propaganda?
Here's a commonly accepted summary.
What IS propaganda?
Here's a commonly accepted summary.
propaganda
noun (Concise Encyclopedia)
Manipulation of information to influence public opinion.
The term comes from Congregatio de Propaganda
Fide (Congregation for the Propagation of the
Faith), a missionary organization established by the pope
in 1622. Propagandists emphasize the elements of
information that support their position and deemphasize
or exclude those that do not. Misleading statements and
even lies may be used to create the desired effect in the
public audience. Lobbying, advertising, and missionary
activity are all forms of propaganda, but the term is
most commonly used in the political arena. Prior to the
20th century, pictures and the written media were
the principal instruments of propaganda; radio,
television, motion pictures, and the Internet later joined
their ranks. Authoritarian and totalitarian regimes use
propaganda to win and keep the support of the populace.
propaganda aimed at the enemy is an element of psychological warfare. "
I'm pretty sure this is common knowledge: Anything can can be weaponized WILL be weaponized. It's kind of human nature. I think we'll all be better off if I save that rant for another day. Perhaps a rainy Thursday in late November would set the proper mood. Well, I'm getting off topic again. Let me get back to the subject at hand.
So now I would like you to ask yourself a serious question. "When has history proven we could actually trust the government?"
Go ahead... Take all the time you need. Go take a walk. Call a friend. Masturbate. Whatever you need to do. Seriously though. Think about it. When HAS history proven we could trust the government?
Don't expect me to answer that question here. That's something you have to think of on your own.
Critical thinking is a fading art form in this country. When the capacity to think independently dies, the 'zombie apocalypse' will begin.
Propaganda was ILLEGAL in the U.S. Until:
July 2nd, 2013.
According to an article appearing on RT:
"US ends ban on 'domestic propaganda'
Until earlier this month, a longstanding federal law made it illegal for the US Department of State to share domestically the internally-authored news stories sent to American-operated outlets broadcasting around the globe. All of that changed effective July 2, when the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) was given permission to let US households tune-in to hear the type of programming that has previously only been allowed in outside nations. "
I'm not trying to say that ALL 'propaganda' is 'bad.' Some of it has other applications.
"Recognizing Propaganda Techniques
and Errors of Faulty Logic
Propaganda Techniques
What are Propaganda Techniques? They are the methods and approaches used to spread ideas that further a cause - a political, commercial, religious, or civil cause.
Why are they used? To manipulate the readers' or viewers' reason and emotions; to persuade you to believe in something or someone, buy an item, or vote a certain way.
What are the most commonly used propaganda techniques? See which of the ten most common types of propaganda techniques you already know.Types:
Name calling: This techniques consists of attaching a negative label to a person or a thing. People engage in this type of behavior when they are trying to avoid supporting their own opinion with facts. Rather than explain what they believe in, they prefer to try to tear their opponent down.
Glittering Generalities: This technique uses important-sounding "glad words" that have little or no real meaning. These words are used in general statements that cannot be proved or disproved. Words like "good," "honest," "fair," and "best" are examples of "glad" words.
Transfer: In this technique, an attempt is made to transfer the prestige of a positive symbol to a person or an idea. For example, using the American flag as a backdrop for a political event makes the implication that the event is patriotic in the best interest of the U.S.
False Analogy: In this technique, two things that may or may not really be similar are portrayed as being similar. When examining the comparison, you must ask yourself how similar the items are. In most false analogies, there is simply not enough evidence available to support the comparison.
Testimonial: This technique is easy to understand. It is when "big name" personalities are used to endorse a product. Whenever you see someone famous endorsing a product, ask yourself how much that person knows about the product, and what he or she stands to gain by promoting it.
Plain Folks: This technique uses a folksy approach to convince us to support someone or something. These ads depict people with ordinary looks doing ordinary activities.
Card Stacking: This term comes from stacking a deck of cards in your favor. Card stacking is used to slant a message. Key words or unfavorable statistics may be omitted in an ad or commercial, leading to a series of half-truths. Keep in mind that an advertiser is under no obligation "to give the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."
Bandwagon: The "bandwagon" approach encourages you to think that because everyone else is doing something, you should do it too, or you'll be left out. The technique embodies a "keeping up with the Joneses" philosophy.
Either/or fallacy: This technique is also called "black-and-white thinking" because only two choices are given. You are either for something or against it; there is no middle ground or shades of gray. It is used to polarize issues, and negates all attempts to find a common ground.
Faulty Cause and Effect: This technique suggests that because B follows A, A must cause B. Remember, just because two events or two sets of data are related does not necessarily mean that one caused the other to happen. It is important to evaluate data carefully before jumping to a wrong conclusion.
Errors of Faulty Logic
Contradiction:
| Information is presented that is in direct opposition to other information within the same argument.
Example: If someone stated that schools were overstaffed, then later argued for the necessity of more counselors, that person would be guilty of contradiction.
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Accident:
| Someone fails to recognize (or conceals the fact) that an argument is based on an exception to the rule.
Example: By using selected scholar-athletes as the norm, one could argue that larger sports programs in schools were vital to improving academic performance of all students.
|
False Cause:
| A temporal order of events is confused with causality; or, someone oversimplifies a complex causal network.
Example: Stating that poor performance in schools is caused by poverty; poverty certainly contributes to poor academic performance but it is not the only factor.
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Begging the Question:
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A person makes a claim then argues for it by advancing grounds whose meaning is simply equivalent to that of the original claim. This is also called "circular reasoning."
Example: Someone argues that schools should continue to have textbooks read from cover to cover because, otherwise, students would not be well-educated. When asked to define what "well-educated" means, the person says, "knowing what is in the textbooks."
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Evading the Issue:
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Someone sidesteps and issue by changing the topic.
Example: When asked to say whether or not the presence of homosexuals in the army could be a disruptive force, a speaker presents examples of homosexuals winning combat medals for bravery.
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Arguing from Ignorance:
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Someone argues that a claim is justified simply because its opposite cannot be proven.
Example: A person argues that voucher programs will not harm schools, since no one has ever proven that vouchers have harmed schools.
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Composition and Division:
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Composition involves an assertion about a whole that is true of its parts. Division is the opposite: an assertion about all of the parts that is true about the whole.
Example: When a school system holds up its above-average scores and claims that its students are superior, it is committing the fallacy of division. Overall scores may be higher but that does not prove all students are performing at that level. Likewise, when the military points to the promiscuous behavior of some homosexuals, it is committing the fallacy of composition: the behavior of some cannot serve as proof of-the behavior of all homosexuals.
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Errors of Attack
Poisoning the Well:
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A person is so committed to a position that he/she explains away absolutely everything others offer in opposition.
Example: Almost every proponent and opponent on the ban on gays in the military commits this error.
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| Ad Hominem: |
A person rejects a claim on the basis of derogatory facts (real or alleged) about the person making the claim.
Example: Someone rejects President Clinton's reasons for lifting the ban on gays in the military because of Mr. Clinton's draft record.
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| Appealing to Force: |  Someone uses threats to establish the validity of the claim.
Example: Opponents of year-round school threaten to keep their children out of school during the summer months.
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Errors of Weak Reference
Appeal to Authority:
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Authority is evoked as the last word on an issue.
Example: Someone uses the Bible as the basis for his arguments against specific school reform issues.
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Appeal to the People:
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Someone attempts to justify a claim on the basis of popularity.
Example: Opponents of year-round school claim that students would hate it.
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Appeal to Emotion:
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An emotion-laden "sob" story is used as proof for a claim.
Example: A politician uses a sad story of a child being killed in a drive-by shooting to gain support for a year-round school measure."
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