this post was submitted on 05 Jan 2025
814 points (95.1% liked)

Memes

46009 readers
3324 users here now

Rules:

  1. Be civil and nice.
  2. Try not to excessively repost, as a rule of thumb, wait at least 2 months to do it if you have to.

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
 
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] JohnDClay@sh.itjust.works 4 points 2 days ago (33 children)

From the first one

The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country. We are governed, our minds are molded, our tastes formed, our ideas suggested, largely by men we have never heard of.

Sounds like it's referring to any marketing or public communications from any company government or individual. I'd qualify that as overly broad.

[–] davel@lemmy.ml 11 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (19 children)

In some languages “advertising” and “propaganda” are the same word, and not for nothing. Bernays worked in both advertising and politics. It’s the same set of tools whether its to sell cigarettes or war.

[–] JohnDClay@sh.itjust.works -3 points 2 days ago (18 children)

Would all rhetoric (persuading people) be propaganda? I think that makes the word useless.

[–] nsrxn@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

it's not useless if it describes something.

[–] JohnDClay@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

It's describing all communication, good and bad. This conversation we're having right now would be propaganda.

[–] PolandIsAStateOfMind@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

You're trying to influence someone's understanding of the term propganda, which makes it propganda.

[–] JohnDClay@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

And you're communicating, which makes your comment propaganda. Or is it only propaganda when it's to political ends?

[–] nsrxn@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

turns out, everything is political, so, yes, it's all propaganda.

[–] JohnDClay@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

So I think that definition is useless, since there's nothing that isn't propaganda.

[–] nsrxn@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] JohnDClay@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] nsrxn@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] JohnDClay@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] nsrxn@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I wanted to see if it was worth continuing this conversation

[–] JohnDClay@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

You thought I'd have read it?

[–] nsrxn@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I thought if you had read it this might be a worthwhile conversation.

[–] JohnDClay@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] nsrxn@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

this hasn't been a conversation for hours

[–] JohnDClay@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 day ago

Should I set up a bot, we can just trade trivialities back and forth forever?

load more comments (16 replies)
load more comments (16 replies)
load more comments (29 replies)