5 ms·

There would not be a hundred billion dollar ad industry if propaganda didn't work. We wouldn't run multi-million dollar presidential campaigns if propaganda di

There would not be a hundred billion dollar ad industry if propaganda didn't work. We wouldn't run multi-million dollar presidential campaigns if propaganda didn't work. The whole field of social psychology and public relations would be a useless exercise if propaganda didn't work. This is the fundamental problem with democracy: people are easily influenced. The antecedents of the current Chinese communist party, the Bolsheviks knew this and they decided that the inner party must be the vanguard of the proletariat in order to prevent the proletariat from being easily led astray by the faith of the masses in the monarchs. Of course, they were wrong, for different reasons, but objective truth is a hard thing and often a weak voice amid the bullhorns blasting propaganda. Anyone interested in this topic should watch the great documentary "The Century Of The Self"[1] that goes into the history of the public relations industry and mass persuasion in general. [1] http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2d29tf_the-century-of-the-self-part-1-of-4-happiness-machines_school http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2d29tf_the-century-of-the-...

unexistance 10y ago
even the wiki entry on Edward Bernays is very interesting :D https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Bernays https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Bernays
studentrob 10y ago
> This is the fundamental problem with democracy: people are easily influenced That's not a problem with democracy. It's how people learn. We learn something and form an opinion about it. The problem comes when only certain media sources are allowed. In that case, it's harder for people to discuss alternate viewpoints
- TeMPOraL 10y ago
  No, the problem isn't when only certain media sources are allowed - honestly, the problem is when any media sources are allowed at all. Frankly, I think Amercians are as deceived by propaganda as the Chinese. Did we somehow forget in this thread that in western press, one can rarely find an article that isn't full of bullshit? Even if the reasons differ (western media do this for profit), the end result is the same.
  - studentrob 10y ago
    > honestly, the problem is when any media sources are allowed at all Lol. Yes let's just stop all people from communicating. That will solve everything. > in western press, one can rarely find an article that isn't full of bullshit There's plenty of good reporting in the West. The way to get informed is to read many viewpoints and form your own opinion. Stopping all non-government press would be terrible for a country's education, economic development, and general happiness.
    - Mikushi 10y ago
      A vast majority of people do not have the time to do any of that, simple as that. And the mainstream press is not to be counted on the good reporting side of things so while good reporting is out there, it is not accessible to the mass. That being the reason why good reporting still exists, because in the grand scheme of things, it does not matter.
      - studentrob 10y ago
        > A vast majority of people do not have the time to do any of that A quality education is not spoon fed. It is the responsibility of the individual to educate him or herself. Making media available is only half of the equation
        ZenoArrow 10y ago
        > "A quality education is not spoon fed." It can be, you just have to be picky about the spoons. It's also useful to avoid relying on a single source of information, a diet of opposing views is healthy. Self-directed education is probably the best overall, but nobody has time to keep up with everything going on in the world, at some point you have to find trustworthy news sources if you want to be aware of activity outside of your main interests.
        studentrob 10y ago
        > nobody has time to keep up with everything going on in the world Exactly. Self directed education is as much about ignoring information you don't need as it is about absorbing information. > at some point you have to find trustworthy news sources if you want to be aware of activity outside of your main interests At many points we need to re-examine already-trusted news sources. For example, the Discovery Channel which lost its ability to be scientific. To hear even more different perspectives, learn a foreign language so you can read their news or talk to foreigners.

unexistance 10y ago

even the wiki entry on Edward Bernays is very interesting :D https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Bernays https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Bernays

studentrob 10y ago

> This is the fundamental problem with democracy: people are easily influenced That's not a problem with democracy. It's how people learn. We learn something and form an opinion about it. The problem comes when only certain media sources are allowed. In that case, it's harder for people to discuss alternate viewpoints

TeMPOraL 10y ago
No, the problem isn't when only certain media sources are allowed - honestly, the problem is when any media sources are allowed at all. Frankly, I think Amercians are as deceived by propaganda as the Chinese. Did we somehow forget in this thread that in western press, one can rarely find an article that isn't full of bullshit? Even if the reasons differ (western media do this for profit), the end result is the same.
- studentrob 10y ago
  > honestly, the problem is when any media sources are allowed at all Lol. Yes let's just stop all people from communicating. That will solve everything. > in western press, one can rarely find an article that isn't full of bullshit There's plenty of good reporting in the West. The way to get informed is to read many viewpoints and form your own opinion. Stopping all non-government press would be terrible for a country's education, economic development, and general happiness.
  - Mikushi 10y ago
    A vast majority of people do not have the time to do any of that, simple as that. And the mainstream press is not to be counted on the good reporting side of things so while good reporting is out there, it is not accessible to the mass. That being the reason why good reporting still exists, because in the grand scheme of things, it does not matter.
    - studentrob 10y ago
      > A vast majority of people do not have the time to do any of that A quality education is not spoon fed. It is the responsibility of the individual to educate him or herself. Making media available is only half of the equation
      - ZenoArrow 10y ago
        > "A quality education is not spoon fed." It can be, you just have to be picky about the spoons. It's also useful to avoid relying on a single source of information, a diet of opposing views is healthy. Self-directed education is probably the best overall, but nobody has time to keep up with everything going on in the world, at some point you have to find trustworthy news sources if you want to be aware of activity outside of your main interests.
        studentrob 10y ago
        > nobody has time to keep up with everything going on in the world Exactly. Self directed education is as much about ignoring information you don't need as it is about absorbing information. > at some point you have to find trustworthy news sources if you want to be aware of activity outside of your main interests At many points we need to re-examine already-trusted news sources. For example, the Discovery Channel which lost its ability to be scientific. To hear even more different perspectives, learn a foreign language so you can read their news or talk to foreigners.