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"It's not true. It's not true. It's not true. "... "It's old news." I'm loosely quoting a source I can't remember, but I think it was ridiculing a repeated t

by rz2k 13y ago

"It's not true. It's not true. It's not true. "... "It's old news." I'm loosely quoting a source I can't remember, but I think it was ridiculing a repeated tactic of some candidate. It's a dynamic that seems to play out a lot if you know to look for it in issues that involve a lot of public relations games. I think you are right to emphasize how little we remember when we learned what. That's why the above tactic works so well. It lets politicians' dance around their tactical mistakes and change positions without undermining their own base. It is also how disingenuous people can now able to talk about "welcoming debate" and have a large portion of the population perceive this as advocating some reasonable middle ground.

a3n 13y ago
"It's not true. It's not true. It's not true. "... "It's old news." Anyone older than 22 or so who doesn't recognized that as a time-worn and common tactic hasn't been thinking critically.
- alttab 13y ago
  Not sure why this continues to work myself.
  - a3n 13y ago
    I think people get into rhythms and follow the script they've learned. This plays out in the large and in the small. We've all probably had multiple arguments where A says one thing, and B automatically retorts in defense rather than thinking about what we're talking about or even just letting it go. I think a lot of marriages run like that. People unfortunately think a well spoken response is the same as a truthful response. If the PR flack or representative or CEO seems otherwise calm and unflustered - smooth - then that serves the "reasonable response and explanation" part of that scenario's script. We are very, very easily lead.
  - crag 13y ago
    Because it's easy. And most people are lazy; don't have the time or care to think it though. It's PR. And it isn't just politicians who run it.
mgunes 13y ago
"It's not true. It's not true. It's not true. "... "It's old news." This also sums up how the underhanded defense of the status quo by hiding behind Hanlon's razor has worked in much internet discourse, including HN discussions, on mass surveillance and cryptography so far. Of course, it's not going to work any longer.

by rz2k 13y ago

a3n 13y ago

"It's not true. It's not true. It's not true. "... "It's old news." Anyone older than 22 or so who doesn't recognized that as a time-worn and common tactic hasn't been thinking critically.

alttab 13y ago
Not sure why this continues to work myself.
- a3n 13y ago
  I think people get into rhythms and follow the script they've learned. This plays out in the large and in the small. We've all probably had multiple arguments where A says one thing, and B automatically retorts in defense rather than thinking about what we're talking about or even just letting it go. I think a lot of marriages run like that. People unfortunately think a well spoken response is the same as a truthful response. If the PR flack or representative or CEO seems otherwise calm and unflustered - smooth - then that serves the "reasonable response and explanation" part of that scenario's script. We are very, very easily lead.
- crag 13y ago
  Because it's easy. And most people are lazy; don't have the time or care to think it though. It's PR. And it isn't just politicians who run it.

mgunes 13y ago

"It's not true. It's not true. It's not true. "... "It's old news." This also sums up how the underhanded defense of the status quo by hiding behind Hanlon's razor has worked in much internet discourse, including HN discussions, on mass surveillance and cryptography so far. Of course, it's not going to work any longer.