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Is there a difference between propaganda and false information? This is a practical question. If they say “propaganda” but in practice simply plant false inform

Is there a difference between propaganda and false information? This is a practical question. If they say “propaganda” but in practice simply plant false information, is that still in scope?

mrguyorama 3y ago
Actually propaganda is quite often very not false information. That's the whole point. You take a kernel of truth and surround it with false pretenses and warped context to make something that is one way seem completely different. That kernel of truth is absolutely essential for your sycophants to use to beat everyone else over the head with, pushing that the legitimacy of this one bit of truth legitimizes the rest of the bullshit.
serf 3y ago
my take: propaganda is engineered to distort a view, perhaps to advantage. 'false information' is used to throw others through a loop or get them to investigate false leads, thus slowing/tangling them. most propaganda has an obvious assumption/take included with it; "China is taking our work, so hate China." "While our troops are fighting for freedom against Evil Dictator in Etcistan." most false information has an open premise ; "could be aliens. how do you know the world isn't flat, have you seen it? she could be a lizard person.." but to be clear : both are used by governments to enact methods of power and control.
mcpackieh 3y ago
> Is there a difference between propaganda and false information? Yes, not all propaganda is false. Propaganda uses both truth and lies freely, choosing whichever is most convenient for the narrative being promoted. Often propaganda tells you things which are true, while simply omitting other truths. Propaganda also uses statements which are neither true nor false, e.g. subjective value claims. From the other angle, not all false information is propaganda. This statement is false: My hair is red. That's false, but it's not propaganda. Propaganda and false information are overlapping sets, but neither is a strict subset of the other.
dragonwriter 3y ago
> Is there a difference between propaganda and false information? Yes. Propaganda is information you are told that is crafted to inculcate a particular belief, whether or not the information and/or belief are true. (Derived from the old latin name of the institution in the Vatican bureaucracy responsible for spreading the faith, propaganda fidei.) All advertising and persuasive speech is propaganda. Some of it uses true information, and some of it is intended to spread true beliefs. False information is information which isn’t true, no matter what the purpose of it being presented to you is.
- the_optimist 3y ago
  Does this supposed distinction matter to the CIA? What are their limits when approaching this potentially black-and-white boundary?
jowea 3y ago
I mean, aren't PSAs (Public Service Announcements) propaganda?

Is there a difference between propaganda and false information? This is a practical question. If they say “propaganda” but in practice simply plant false information, is that still in scope?

mrguyorama 3y ago

Actually propaganda is quite often very not false information. That's the whole point. You take a kernel of truth and surround it with false pretenses and warped context to make something that is one way seem completely different. That kernel of truth is absolutely essential for your sycophants to use to beat everyone else over the head with, pushing that the legitimacy of this one bit of truth legitimizes the rest of the bullshit.

serf 3y ago

my take: propaganda is engineered to distort a view, perhaps to advantage. 'false information' is used to throw others through a loop or get them to investigate false leads, thus slowing/tangling them. most propaganda has an obvious assumption/take included with it; "China is taking our work, so hate China." "While our troops are fighting for freedom against Evil Dictator in Etcistan." most false information has an open premise ; "could be aliens. how do you know the world isn't flat, have you seen it? she could be a lizard person.." but to be clear : both are used by governments to enact methods of power and control.

mcpackieh 3y ago

> Is there a difference between propaganda and false information? Yes, not all propaganda is false. Propaganda uses both truth and lies freely, choosing whichever is most convenient for the narrative being promoted. Often propaganda tells you things which are true, while simply omitting other truths. Propaganda also uses statements which are neither true nor false, e.g. subjective value claims. From the other angle, not all false information is propaganda. This statement is false: My hair is red. That's false, but it's not propaganda. Propaganda and false information are overlapping sets, but neither is a strict subset of the other.

dragonwriter 3y ago

> Is there a difference between propaganda and false information? Yes. Propaganda is information you are told that is crafted to inculcate a particular belief, whether or not the information and/or belief are true. (Derived from the old latin name of the institution in the Vatican bureaucracy responsible for spreading the faith, propaganda fidei.) All advertising and persuasive speech is propaganda. Some of it uses true information, and some of it is intended to spread true beliefs. False information is information which isn’t true, no matter what the purpose of it being presented to you is.

the_optimist 3y ago
Does this supposed distinction matter to the CIA? What are their limits when approaching this potentially black-and-white boundary?

jowea 3y ago

I mean, aren't PSAs (Public Service Announcements) propaganda?