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"Propaganda" is another descriptor along those lines. Neither tells you anything about the content other than the value judgment belonging to the person making

"Propaganda" is another descriptor along those lines. Neither tells you anything about the content other than the value judgment belonging to the person making the statement.

jaggederest 8y ago
There's a pretty clear definition: "information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view." Leaving aside the issue of bias, I think we can agree that if a particular piece of information, designed to mislead the public, is widely disseminated, that is propaganda. Widely disseminating facts, or privately disseminating misleading information is not propaganda.
- randcraw 8y ago
  If I may pick a nit... Propaganda is intended to change a belief or a course of action through a substantial amount of disinformation, i.e. lying repeatedly or omitting many facts. Thus the intended audience doesn't have to be big (no wide dissemination) as long as the lies / omissions are numerous and show deliberate intent to deceive. For example, a man can conduct a propaganda campaign lasting years and make many misleading statements toward only his wife. However, it'd be a stretch to refer to a single isolated lie as propaganda, even if it were intended for an audience of millions. I suggest the dividing line between persuasion and manipulation to be akin to 'assent' vs 'consent'. Persuasion requires agreement, the informed, equal, and voluntary meeting of two minds, not a un/mis-informed compliance or subservience of one mind toward another. The latter could never be called persuasion.
  - xupybd 8y ago
    Does the definition of Propaganda require that the information is disinformation? For example I consider the anti smoking packaging required in New Zealand propaganda. It’s all true but seeing a smokers lungs dissected on a packet of cigarettes to me seems like propaganda.

"Propaganda" is another descriptor along those lines. Neither tells you anything about the content other than the value judgment belonging to the person making the statement.

jaggederest 8y ago

There's a pretty clear definition: "information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view." Leaving aside the issue of bias, I think we can agree that if a particular piece of information, designed to mislead the public, is widely disseminated, that is propaganda. Widely disseminating facts, or privately disseminating misleading information is not propaganda.

randcraw 8y ago
If I may pick a nit... Propaganda is intended to change a belief or a course of action through a substantial amount of disinformation, i.e. lying repeatedly or omitting many facts. Thus the intended audience doesn't have to be big (no wide dissemination) as long as the lies / omissions are numerous and show deliberate intent to deceive. For example, a man can conduct a propaganda campaign lasting years and make many misleading statements toward only his wife. However, it'd be a stretch to refer to a single isolated lie as propaganda, even if it were intended for an audience of millions. I suggest the dividing line between persuasion and manipulation to be akin to 'assent' vs 'consent'. Persuasion requires agreement, the informed, equal, and voluntary meeting of two minds, not a un/mis-informed compliance or subservience of one mind toward another. The latter could never be called persuasion.
- xupybd 8y ago
  Does the definition of Propaganda require that the information is disinformation? For example I consider the anti smoking packaging required in New Zealand propaganda. It’s all true but seeing a smokers lungs dissected on a packet of cigarettes to me seems like propaganda.