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Is there a problem with propaganda and brainwashing in the US

Is there a problem with propaganda and brainwashing in the US

  • Yes.. I am republican btw.

    Votes: 2 15.4%

  • No.. I am republican btw.

    Votes: 2 15.4%

  • Yes.. I am democrat btw.

    Votes: 5 38.5%

  • No.. I am democrat btw.

    Votes: 4 30.8%
  • Total voters
    13
Maximus Zeebra

Maximus Zeebra

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Just a poll.. About brainwashing and propaganda directed at the people of the US by their government and media.

But the again, if you were brainwashed you probably wouldn't know it.


PS. choose the party who's politics you are closest to if independent or belong to another party.
 
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Have you ever said anything positive about the USA? I mean, ever? You seem to have made it your life's work to put this country and it's people under a microscope to criticize every facet of our existence.

I'll answer a poll when it addresses something like "Is there a problem with government and media brainwashing around the world"? As worded it implies that there certainly is no problem with government and media brainwashing in Europe, UK, Australia, hell anywhere but the US. And that, of course, is utter hogwash.
 
DiAnna said:
Have you ever said anything positive about the USA? I mean, ever? You seem to have made it your life's work to put this country and it's people under a microscope to criticize every facet of our existence.

I'll answer a poll when it addresses something like "Is there a problem with government and media brainwashing around the world"? As worded it implies that there certainly is no problem with government and media brainwashing in Europe, UK, Australia, hell anywhere but the US. And that, of course, is utter hogwash.
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I am asking this question as a result of what I have seen on this forum, not what I saw when I was in the US, (which was a long time ago).

I definetely concur that there are the same problems around the world, but by far most severe in the US.


You for example dont seem to be brainwashed.
 
Maximus Zeebra said:
Just a poll.. About brainwashing and propaganda directed at the people of the US by their government and media.

But the again, if you were brainwashed you probably wouldn't know it.
Click to expand...


Your poll is inappropriate because the responses force people to choose a party whether or not they are a member.

Is this an oversite or just shameful behavior?

The answer to your question is "NO". We are allowed to think for ourselves here. Our opinions are our own.
 
Vader said:
Your poll is inappropriate because the responses force people to choose a party whether or not they are a member.

Is this an oversite or just shameful behavior?

The answer to your question is "NO". We are allowed to think for ourselves here. Our opinions are our own.
Click to expand...

Ahh, I anwered democrat even tho I am not.. Choose the party you are closest to.

I wrote the party there because I think a much larger part of Democrats will concur than Republicans.
 
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You can't just split an entire country between democrats and republicans. It doesn't work that way. I'm neither. I'm an Independent, along with about 1/3 of the entire electorate. So I couldn't vote in this poll even if I wanted... which I don't, given the wording... because my opinion is apparently unimportant anyway! :)

And how, pray tell, can someone who doesn't even LIVE in the USA responsibly cast judgment on the entire breadth of the millions of media outlets here?

When do I get to vote on Europe. After all, I don't read all the European media publications and I don't live there; therefore, I'm the perfect candidate to decide whether or not the people are brainwashed.
 
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Maximus Zeebra said:
Ahh, I anwered democrat even tho I am not.. Choose the party you are closest to.

I wrote the party there because I think a much larger part of Democrats will concur than Republicans.
Click to expand...

Oh.

Fair enough.
 
Yes I think there is undoubtedly a problem with brainwashing in the US although I do not think it is limited to the USA at all.

Although I do not think the term ´brainwashing´is a particularly helpful one, prehaps ´conspiracy of silence´ in certain issues in the press, it is a bgger problem in the UK and USA because people belive and are told that we have the freest press in the world, this may be the case but it does not mean that they dont have an agenda, they are (of course) in most cases privately owned organizations. If there is indeed a revolving door between politics and business (which I believe there is) how can privately owned media institutions be expected to ´dish the dirt´ on politicians who will be employing their CEOs next quater, or who 51% of their shareholders paied to get into office.

Mainstream press stories are increasingly constructed and ´spun´ to increase viewing figures and divert attention from unhelpful news stories especially financial ones, which are increasingly treated as the preserve of business men, things which the layperson would not understand or be intrested in.

the USA and the UK also have not only the highest adversising saturation in any society but also the most sophistocated methods. A state run media system is a crude tool, often blatant and untrustworthy. Corporate advertising saturation has however reached almost covert methods affecting every sphere of our lives. This would not be such an issue if the messages represented a plethora of views and diverse opinions but it inceasingly does not, the messages are the same, buy, consume, want, conform.

Recent yeas have seen a blurring of the line between politics and entertainment, most notably in the rise of celebrity based shows which have entertainers, ex politicians, businessmen (and women), and moral leaders clubbed togther.

In my opinion the oft cited quote runs true today, ´none are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free´.
 
I don't believe that we have a problem so much with propaganda, as with piss-poor education that does not prepare children and young adults to critically examine that propaganda and their own belief systems.
 
DiAnna said:
You can't just split an entire country between democrats and republicans. It doesn't work that way. I'm neither. I'm an Independent, along with about 1/3 of the entire electorate. So I couldn't vote in this poll even if I wanted... which I don't, given the wording... because my opinion is apparently unimportant anyway! :)

And how, pray tell, can someone who doesn't even LIVE in the USA responsibly cast judgment on the entire breadth of the millions of media outlets here?

When do I get to vote on Europe. After all, I don't read all the European media publications and I don't live there; therefore, I'm the perfect candidate to decide whether or not the people are brainwashed.
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Yes I can.. You certainly do that in your elections. Most independents vote for either the republicans or the democrats.

You should try to follow European media and Europe in general, maybe then you will see how ill the things that are going on in the US really are. I mean, if you see things from more than just the American perspective.. Personally I follow media from around the world.
I am not uttering my opinion on ALL us media, but the mainstream media I have seen, some of which is quite unreal in nature.
 
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Korimyr the Rat said:
I don't believe that we have a problem so much with propaganda, as with piss-poor education that does not prepare children and young adults to critically examine that propaganda and their own belief systems.
Click to expand...

Propaganda is not this issue here, the issue is advetising saturation, permiating all levels of society, from the moment your alarm clock wakes you up with adverts or music made by people affiliated with products, to when you fall asleep infront of the TV. prehaps you dont watch it, but millions of Americans and British live it, and whats more they choose it as their primary source of information. This is a particularly effective form of stealth controll.

Also the unprecidended profileration of private schools in New Orleans post Katrina is an excellent example of corporate controll of US belife systems. If the same people who educate your children and run the TV station down the road also paied for the senators campaign who got them the rights to educate your children what do we have?

Corporate conspiracy is a reality, penientary systems, education systems, health systems, and media insitutions should not be floated on the stock market, and should not all be owned by the same people, with as little controll as they have had.

Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power - supposedly Mussolini
 
Korimyr the Rat said:
I don't believe that we have a problem so much with propaganda, as with piss-poor education that does not prepare children and young adults to critically examine that propaganda and their own belief systems.
Click to expand...

Thats more the thing I am talking about. People not having any opinion of their own.. Thats very unhealthy, when people adopt the opinions of others without questioning it. I even always question myself, my conclusion for example as to the reason of this thread is that I am angry with some of the people here and that the question came as a result of that. But those people are really rather brain.... and completely one sided in their focus, missing any big picture there is in favor of petty issues to support their fanaticism.

I think I will take a break for awhile from this forum, this thread is one step too far in a direction I do not want to take.. I get very angry with people here for the way they conduct the debate and for the "one side against the other with no compromise" positions they take..

So long for now..
 
cheat3 said:
Yes I think there is undoubtedly a problem with brainwashing in the US although I do not think it is limited to the USA at all.
Click to expand...

This is also true... I am aware of this, but the main problem is the US right now. its suppose to be a beacon of hope(in its own words), but its more a beacon of misery.
 
cheat3 said:
Yes I think there is undoubtedly a problem with brainwashing in the US although I do not think it is limited to the USA at all.

Although I do not think the term ´brainwashing´is a particularly helpful one, prehaps ´conspiracy of silence´ in certain issues in the press, it is a bgger problem in the UK and USA because people belive and are told that we have the freest press in the world, this may be the case but it does not mean that they dont have an agenda, they are (of course) in most cases privately owned organizations. If there is indeed a revolving door between politics and business (which I believe there is) how can privately owned media institutions be expected to ´dish the dirt´ on politicians who will be employing their CEOs next quater, or who 51% of their shareholders paied to get into office.

Mainstream press stories are increasingly constructed and ´spun´ to increase viewing figures and divert attention from unhelpful news stories especially financial ones, which are increasingly treated as the preserve of business men, things which the layperson would not understand or be intrested in.

the USA and the UK also have not only the highest adversising saturation in any society but also the most sophistocated methods. A state run media system is a crude tool, often blatant and untrustworthy. Corporate advertising saturation has however reached almost covert methods affecting every sphere of our lives. This would not be such an issue if the messages represented a plethora of views and diverse opinions but it inceasingly does not, the messages are the same, buy, consume, want, conform.

Recent yeas have seen a blurring of the line between politics and entertainment, most notably in the rise of celebrity based shows which have entertainers, ex politicians, businessmen (and women), and moral leaders clubbed togther.

In my opinion the oft cited quote runs true today, ´none are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free´.
Click to expand...


All this is exactly what I mean. Most people are blind about it because its such complicated and intricate and part of every day life. Like nationalism in the US for example and the media, movies and entertainment especially..

Media, election and entertainment I just find horrible, it makes me cry in my sleep.
 
I think you'd need to define "brainwashing" as well. It's not a precise term.
 
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'Brainwashing' is a heavy term. It implies massive, organized, controlled conspiracy. To that extent, I don't believe we have a problem with 'brainwashing' (bah baaah i'm a sheeple lololol).

That being said, elements of what we might call 'propaganda' permeate every facet of American life; it is complex, subversive and ubiquitous. I could go on forever on my opinions about this, but I'll try to keep it succinct.

It is not unique to any certain ideology. Propaganda(I use the word lightly) is inherent to any organized political, social or philosophical movement. Most often those responsible for delivering it believe it entirely, or believe the basic tenets and have exaggerated their beliefs or constructed small and large lies as a means to an end. It manifests itself in an infinite number of ways: Op-ed columns, talk radio, chats with friends and co-workers, independent and mainstream film, fiction, non-fiction, news media big and small, from CNN to prisonplanet.tv, religion, advertising, internet messageboards. It succeeds through charm, anger, repetition, appeals to cleverness, appeals to tradition, appeals to fear, appeals to majority and minority, forceful screams and delicate whispers, pop culture of today and yesterday and counter-cultures of today and yesterday.

We are all susceptible to it. We do our best to be aware, skeptical, cautious and open-minded.
 
SWM said:
'Brainwashing' is a heavy term. It implies massive, organized, controlled conspiracy. To that extent, I don't believe we have a problem with 'brainwashing' (bah baaah i'm a sheeple lololol).
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Think about it tho. How much fo the media is owned by so few? Rupert Murdoch is a giant. And there are a few others. But they al share very simmilar world views, and provide very simmilar coverage of world events.

And the national anthem, pledge of allegance etcis surely propoganda (let us drop the entirely negative conotations to thew ord and view it for what it is). Designed to encourage the development of certain outlooks on life and attachments to nation and state.

Churches are propoganda, designed to encourage a certain world view and attachments to church and/or 'spirituality' (whatever this may be for the person at hand).

Schools are propoganda. They tell you what they think you need to know to be a functional human being.

Your parents lessons are propoganda, leading you to believe certain things over others and respond in certain ways to situations.

Anywhere there is information there is subjectivity. Even if this subjectivity is only that you learn one factual thing, instead of another. It is the influencing of the mind in a manner that controls its thought process, often in a pre planned manner.

Is there propoganda in the U.S. ? Yes. And I beleive many parts of it are a real problem.

But is there any where where there is not propoganda? The answer is no. What we need to be insuring is that people get the best access to high quality and relevant data as possible. Holding a state guilty for the existance and significance of propoganda is very problematic, as altho it is a valid excercise, one invariably does so from a glass house.
 
Maximus Zeebra said:
Yes I can.. You certainly do that in your elections. Most independents vote for either the republicans or the democrats.

You should try to follow European media and Europe in general, maybe then you will see how ill the things that are going on in the US really are. I mean, if you see things from more than just the American perspective.. Personally I follow media from around the world.
I am not uttering my opinion on ALL us media, but the mainstream media I have seen, some of which is quite unreal in nature.
Click to expand...

Yes, of course. Americans should be more like Europeans, then we would see how brainwashed we really are... as opposed to Europeans, who are exposed only to rational, fair, reasonable, superior media reports devoid of brainwashing.

Nope, no USA-bashing bias here. None whatsoever.

Gag me. I'm choking on the fumes of "we are perfect, you suck" that permeate this thread. And some wonder why we might find some Europeans to be pompous, smug, narcissistic blowhards.
 
Maximus Zeebra said:
Ahh, I anwered democrat even tho I am not.. Choose the party you are closest to.

I wrote the party there because I think a much larger part of Democrats will concur than Republicans.
Click to expand...

I'm a Democrat, and I think that you're a ****ing idiot.
 
The way it works in the USA is through constant repitition of describing an event. The description will have little to do with truth. It is used to bombard people with , terrible things that John Kerry did, for example. Tis repeated over, over, over, over, over, over, and over etc. Soon people will have heard the misinformation so many times that people come to believe it. It repeated on television, Radio, and the internet over and over. Soon people will think that Kerry was traitor and was responsible for the civil war.

So called think tanks, use this tactic to bombard the airwaves with lies and BS

Even though it is not true the negative event will be repeated over and over.
After hearing a lie a hundred times, people begin to think that maybe it is true.

Look at the doubts that are created about the falsely interpreted events in Obama's campaign and now after, by Republicans.
 
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Maximus Zeebra said:
Just a poll.. About brainwashing and propaganda directed at the people of the US by their government and media.

But the again, if you were brainwashed you probably wouldn't know it.


PS. choose the party who's politics you are closest to if independent or belong to another party.
Click to expand...

I would have to say yes there is brainwashing propaganda going on. It mostly goes on with the media and education institutions. Thats how someone ****ed up like McCain won the republican primaries and how someone who went to a church of a racist and anti-American and hung out with a known anti-American terrorist. Schools do it all the time with their homosexual indoctrination of the kids.They are probably same ass wipes who would sue a school over alleged religious indoctrination that are doing the homosexual indoctrination of our children.
 
Oftencold said:
I think you'd need to define "brainwashing" as well. It's not a precise term.
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Its not suppose to in this thread. Suppose to be a general term.
I can specify a bit, what I mean is that government "brainwash" the people to blindly follow them, or to blindly obey them or something similar, that the government is doing something to the people in which they aren't aware of to benefit the government and different agendas.
 
Not a bad imitation Stinger poll. :rofl
 
Real Talk said:
Think about it tho. How much fo the media is owned by so few? Rupert Murdoch is a giant. And there are a few others. But they al share very simmilar world views, and provide very simmilar coverage of world events..
Click to expand...
This is one problem.

Real Talk said:
And the national anthem, pledge of allegance etcis surely propoganda (let us drop the entirely negative conotations to thew ord and view it for what it is). Designed to encourage the development of certain outlooks on life and attachments to nation and state.
Click to expand...

This is another problem, the inability in FOR EXAMPLE the US to look at reality in favor of a tainted positive view.
This is often a problem in "nationalistic" countries, where nationalism stands strong. Russia would be another prominent example, there is more plain and straight forward though. Over time this type of propaganda makes people loose the ability to look realistically and objectively at individual things and the broader picture in favor of something they were teached to believe.

Real Talk said:
Schools are propoganda. They tell you what they think you need to know to be a functional human being.
Click to expand...

Dont underestimate propaganda in the education system, its here that we learn that things are ONE specific way and no other way, its here we learn to our views and opinions, and schools and education sure isn't free of forced opinion.

Real Talk said:
Is there propoganda in the U.S. ? Yes. And I beleive many parts of it are a real problem.
Click to expand...

It has become a more severe problem the last decades.

Media in my home country for example report with a pre-set way of thinking, in which if you disagree you will be unable to watch the news because its peppered with forced opinions that you have to accept in order to accept the news story. (in Norway for example subtly we learn "we are best" in every context, its pushed onto everything. In the UK on the other hand everyone subtly learn "the EU is bad", its pushed in all contexts).. Such small things, yet so important even tho they are just a fraction of propaganda and brainwashing.


I perceive propaganda as a modern day nuclear bomb(slow one of course)..
 
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