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Do You Use Propaganda Every Day?
By One Eyed View | July 5, 2007
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I recently had a disagreement with someone and rather than come to an agreeable solution, it seems that on this particular subject, we have two completely different views and neither person could convince the other to believe in their viewpoint. Was this faulty logic?
I was thinking about this and wondering why it is that we were trying to convince each other that either of us were “right”. Isn’t it OK just to say your peace and move on? Is it human nature? Is it ego? I don’t know. I do know that communicating with someone effectively is very difficult, especially when either person is passionate about the subject.
As I was mulling this over, I came across some information about how we all use propaganda against each other. Propaganda against each other? I thought that was relegated only to governments, corporations, and advertising agencies?
Read through the list of descriptions below and think about what techniques you have used…
Recognizing Propaganda Techniques
and Errors of Faulty LogicPropaganda 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.
This all had me thinking hard about how I communicate with people, but is it really possible to have a conversation without employing one of these techniques? Is it even advisable?
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Topics: Community, Men and Women, Public Questions |
July 6th, 2007 at 8:23 pm
Hey Adam. Found your blog through Traci’s site. I love this entry. I teach HS English and have talked about propoganda on several occassions. The most pervasive form of propoganda in their lives is advertising. But, it is part of their lives in so many other ways too. Words have far-reaching influence. Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Hope all is well. There is a link to my blog on Traci’s site too…if you are interested.
Peace,
Kelly
May 8th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
Hello. Google the phrase “wondering about the future of humankind” and you get this article as second in the list behind the movie “12 monkeys”, the third being a plot line reference to a request for “a good movie to watch”. I don’t know that propaganda has all the answers for sustaining human existence indefinitely, but at a glance it looks as though the person or persons behind this website may actually ponder these things as well. I’d like to know the recipients thoughts on how the future of humankind, though not referenced in this article at all, ended up brining me to this page, and I am now deeply curious about what the argument was about in the first place that began this article.
I am not a highly educated guy by any means, although I feel that I have questions that far exceed the intelligence of those I’ve met, and also feel that problem resolution is a strong point of mine. Hence the interest in the future of our existence, but those problems will not be solved alone. So I hope I may have intrigued you enough for a response to the afore mentioned questions, if not, repond to me about where I’m wrong in this - it is NOT possible to have a conversation without the use of some form of propaganda, as the very definition of propaganda is the conveyance of one persons thoughts and beliefs to another, which in turn is not all, but the largest part, of conversation itself. Look forward to hearing back.