Recognizing fake news now a required subject in California schools::undefined

  • nucleative@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    10
    ·
    edit-2
    10 months ago

    I learned how to identify propaganda in an English class in high school. Propaganda is such as evil sounding word, but Wikipedia calls it “communication that is primarily used to influence or persuade an audience to further an agenda”

    That agenda might be widely accepted as correct - “killing innocent people is not good” - propaganda

    Or of course it might be horrific - “xyz group of people is less worthy than everyone else and should be exterminated” - also propaganda

    Or obvious - Posters that exclaim “Ice cream is delicious!” - still propaganda

    It’s crucial to recognize it quickly when material is influencing or persuading you, and to then give it a critical look. A good citizen will always be informed and able to recognize material that attempts to convince them to believe something as true.

      • killeronthecorner@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        10 months ago

        I mean, it actually is because they left out the rest of the quote:

        which may not be objective and may be selectively presenting facts to encourage a particular synthesis or perception

        It’s also an example of Contextomy, which is sometimes a form of propaganda.

    • daltotron@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      10 months ago

      communication that is primarily used to influence or persuade an audience to further an agenda

      I always found this kind of funny. As opposed to, what, communication that’s just for the speaker to assuage their own self-doubt? Is that really even a distinction that’s possible to make, anyways?