Ask Lemmy

A lot of people are in here saying propaganda and manipulation are inherently bad. And while I agree that in the current media landscape it's used in an overwhelmingly negative way, it doesn't have to be.

Consider that everyone is a victim of propaganda. Literally. Everyone. You probably don't realize all of your own biases because that's how the system works.

Imagine you see two posters / articles / memes or whatever side by side about vaccines. One says "vaccines cause autism, protect your loved ones," and the other says, "get vaccinated, protect your loved ones." They're both propaganda. However, the latter is much more grounded in truth than the other.

If a doctor offers a child a lollipop if they're brave during their vaccination, that's manipulation. But it's still a good thing because the kid gets vaccinated.

Anyhow, manipulation and propaganda (particularly in the modern sense of the word) are typically used as the tools of bad people. And if people become very entrenched in their views, they no longer listen to reason. Sometimes propaganda and manipulation might be the only way to get someone to change their harmful views.

I'd obviously prefer to live in a world where people do the right thing because it's the right thing, and not because they've been tricked into it. But sadly that isn't the world we live in.

I do think there's nuance to be had. "Vaccines protect against disease," is a truthful statement and will stand up to scrutiny. "Vaccines add two inches to your dick," might be a more effective way to get people to try a vaccine. But when an antivaxxer tries it and discovers that their unit did not, in fact, double in length, then they'll turn back around to antivaxxing with a new fervour.

Anyway, I prefer that my biases are grounded in truth. Show me the data, teach me the science, reach out and help me. Unfortunately, for many people they prefer their biases to be grounded in social inclusion. Peer pressure is a hell of a drug.