"You're the Puppet"
This⤵️is the "you're the puppet" propaganda technique.
We will see a lot more of in the coming year.
“Fascists always deny what they are and ascribe their own features and their own totalitarian politics to their enemies.” Prof. Frederico Finchelstein
This⤵️is the "you're the puppet" propaganda technique.
We will see a lot more of in the coming year.
“Fascists always deny what they are and ascribe their own features and their own totalitarian politics to their enemies.” Prof. Frederico Finchelstein
1/ Some people call this (Trump & pals calling others what they are and accusing others of what they do “projection.”
But projection is when you unconsciously see your own bad qualities in someone else.
healthline.com/health/project…
The fascist technique, OTOH, is deliberate.
But projection is when you unconsciously see your own bad qualities in someone else.
healthline.com/health/project…
The fascist technique, OTOH, is deliberate.
2/ C’mon. Trump knew HRC wasn’t Putin’s puppet. The very idea was ludicrous. She was disdainful of Putin. Putin hated her.politico.com/story/2016/07/…
What makes me so sure the Trump-GOP deliberately uses this techniques?
What makes me so sure the Trump-GOP deliberately uses this techniques?
3/ The "you're the puppet" technique being used now by the Trump-Fox-GOP goes like this:
"The House is denying Trump due process and thus denying him a fair trial," they say.
Meanwhile, they openly obstruct, tamper with witnesses, and taint the "jury" pool.
"The House is denying Trump due process and thus denying him a fair trial," they say.
Meanwhile, they openly obstruct, tamper with witnesses, and taint the "jury" pool.
4/ It's effective because it creates an illusion of "bothsidesism"
They want to make both sides look the same. People not paying close paying attention can't tell the rule-followers from the rule-breakers.
This leads to the kind of cynicism that kills democracy . . .
They want to make both sides look the same. People not paying close paying attention can't tell the rule-followers from the rule-breakers.
This leads to the kind of cynicism that kills democracy . . .
5/ . . if both sides are alike, it doesn't matter who you vote for, or whether you even vote.
It also creates tribalism by creating this mentality:
"Our Leader is a lying crook, but the other side are also a lying crooks. So let's stick with OUR lying crook."
It also creates tribalism by creating this mentality:
"Our Leader is a lying crook, but the other side are also a lying crooks. So let's stick with OUR lying crook."
6/ It's effective because when the rule-following side is accused of rule breaking, they defend themselves.
When you defend yourself, you repeat the original accusation, thus giving it more air time.
It overlaps with what the Rand Institute calls the "Firehose of Falsehoods."
When you defend yourself, you repeat the original accusation, thus giving it more air time.
It overlaps with what the Rand Institute calls the "Firehose of Falsehoods."
7/ Oops I left out a link.
The reason I know this is intentional is because Steve Bannon was in Brazil coaching Bolsonaro (the Brazilian Trump) to do the same thing.
mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-…
They’re all buddies and study each others techniques.
The reason I know this is intentional is because Steve Bannon was in Brazil coaching Bolsonaro (the Brazilian Trump) to do the same thing.
mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-…
They’re all buddies and study each others techniques.
8/ Link about Bannon in Brazil:
mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-……
The Firehose of Falsehoods works by creating a “rapid and continuous” stream of lies.
It works because “retractions and refutations are seldom effective.” Quotations from the Rand study:
rand.org/pubs/perspecti…
mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-……
The Firehose of Falsehoods works by creating a “rapid and continuous” stream of lies.
It works because “retractions and refutations are seldom effective.” Quotations from the Rand study:
rand.org/pubs/perspecti…
9/ “Don’t expect to counter the Firehose of Falsehood with a squirt gun of truth" say the researchers. (p.9)
The person spewing lies has the advantage of giving the public the first impression.
It's hard to counter that later.
rand.org/pubs/perspecti…
The person spewing lies has the advantage of giving the public the first impression.
It's hard to counter that later.
rand.org/pubs/perspecti…
10/ The researchers also give the solution: Put raincoats on the people.
If people expect to be drenched in lies, they can better withstand the effects.
When Trump trolls run around the Internet and cable news complaining about how unfair the process is to Poor Donald . . .
If people expect to be drenched in lies, they can better withstand the effects.
When Trump trolls run around the Internet and cable news complaining about how unfair the process is to Poor Donald . . .
11/ . . . because the House Democrats are breaking rules, people need to think to themselves: "There they go again."
We need to train people to recognize propaganda techniques when they're happening.
That's how they wear raincoats to protect against the firehose of lies.
We need to train people to recognize propaganda techniques when they're happening.
That's how they wear raincoats to protect against the firehose of lies.
12/ And yes, Trump is smart enough to use this propaganda technique.
1) It isn't hard: lie shamelessly and lie big, and
2) Trump been doing it all of his life. He was never a successful businessman. Gimmea break.
He's a natural. That's why he was Putin's choice.
End/
1) It isn't hard: lie shamelessly and lie big, and
2) Trump been doing it all of his life. He was never a successful businessman. Gimmea break.
He's a natural. That's why he was Putin's choice.
End/
Inoculate people.
Adding: This is an excellent articulation of the problem.
We have to recognize how effective these techniques are.
I have also talked about the Outrage Dilemma, which poses a similar problem . . .
We have to recognize how effective these techniques are.
I have also talked about the Outrage Dilemma, which poses a similar problem . . .
. . . Each time Trump does something outrageous, he accomplishes 4 things:
(1) He keeps his base excited by presenting himself as a fighter,
(2) He batters democratic institutions,
(3) He keeps his opponents riled and spinning so that they can't effectively plan . . .
(1) He keeps his base excited by presenting himself as a fighter,
(2) He batters democratic institutions,
(3) He keeps his opponents riled and spinning so that they can't effectively plan . . .
(4) He creates a self-fulfilling loop. The angrier the "libs" get, the more excited his base becomes.
. . . but what do you do?
If you ignore the outrage, you "normalize" it.
If you respond, you feed the beast.
. . . but what do you do?
If you ignore the outrage, you "normalize" it.
If you respond, you feed the beast.
All my threads are also blog posts. You can view this one here: terikanefield-blog.com/the-puppet/
