Reading recommendation: Rand Corp, "The Russian Firehose of Falsehoods Propaganda Model," includes advice on how to counter a rapid and continuous stream of lies.
rand.org/pubs/perspecti…
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rand.org/pubs/perspecti…
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https://twitter.com/McFaul/status/1338434530378596352
The liar has a “shameless willingness” to tell outrageous lies that lots of people know are lies.
The liar doesn’t care about consistency.
He doesn’t care if it’s obvious he’s lying.
rand.org/pubs/perspecti…
In fact, that's the whole point.
Putin perfected the method.
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The liar doesn’t care about consistency.
He doesn’t care if it’s obvious he’s lying.
rand.org/pubs/perspecti…
In fact, that's the whole point.
Putin perfected the method.
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It seems to come naturally to Trump.
@TimothyDSnyder tells how reporters were often so astonished by Putin's outrageous lies, that they focused on the lies instead of Putin's latest atrocities.
The lies became the news.
The actual news gets pushed off the stage.
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@TimothyDSnyder tells how reporters were often so astonished by Putin's outrageous lies, that they focused on the lies instead of Putin's latest atrocities.
The lies became the news.
The actual news gets pushed off the stage.
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The goal is the “disruption of truthful reporting and messaging.”
rand.org/pubs/perspecti…
That's why Trump really wants an actual trial, and why he was so annoyed with the Supreme Court (and other courts) refusing to hear the case.
He wants a stage for the lies.
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rand.org/pubs/perspecti…
That's why Trump really wants an actual trial, and why he was so annoyed with the Supreme Court (and other courts) refusing to hear the case.
He wants a stage for the lies.
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From the Rand study: The Firehose of Falsehood technique “entertains, confuses and overwhelms the audience.”
I think the "entertainment" part applies to the GOP leadership who know Trump is lying but cheer the lies because they are so destructive.
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I think the "entertainment" part applies to the GOP leadership who know Trump is lying but cheer the lies because they are so destructive.
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OK, so how to we combat this?
From the Rand study: While we must refute the falsehoods, “retractions and refutations are seldom effective.”
“Don’t expect to counter the Firehose of Falsehood with a squirt gun of truth.”(p.9)
rand.org/pubs/perspecti…
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From the Rand study: While we must refute the falsehoods, “retractions and refutations are seldom effective.”
“Don’t expect to counter the Firehose of Falsehood with a squirt gun of truth.”(p.9)
rand.org/pubs/perspecti…
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Instead, put raincoats on the population. When people expect the lies, they more easily roll off.
Another remedy: counter the effects of the lies.
The effect of Trump’s lies is to undermine democracy.
So we move quickly to strengthen democracy and institutions.
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Another remedy: counter the effects of the lies.
The effect of Trump’s lies is to undermine democracy.
So we move quickly to strengthen democracy and institutions.
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That's what Obama was getting at here ⤵️
There is also @GeorgeLakoff's "truth sandwich." He has a few books explaining.
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https://twitter.com/BarackObama/status/1227337897692495873
There is also @GeorgeLakoff's "truth sandwich." He has a few books explaining.
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Here you go. The Truth Sandwich.
Had journalists used the Truth Sandwich before 2016, the lie "her emails" might not have sunk so deeply into the public consciousness that even people who knew it was a lie felt a nagging doubt.
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https://twitter.com/GeorgeLakoff/status/1219380428521398272
Had journalists used the Truth Sandwich before 2016, the lie "her emails" might not have sunk so deeply into the public consciousness that even people who knew it was a lie felt a nagging doubt.
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One debate during the Trump presidency was how much was the application of tactics and how came from mental illness.
Why not both? Trump isn't stupid.
Psychiatric professionals have made the second argument.
I'll argue the other side. . .
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Why not both? Trump isn't stupid.
Psychiatric professionals have made the second argument.
I'll argue the other side. . .
https://twitter.com/Bozack16/status/1338467579761991681
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Steve Bannon described the method as "flood the zone with shit."
Bannon coached Trump.
Bannon also went to Brazil to coach Bolsonaro (the Brazilian Trump) to do the same thing.
It's not hard to watch Putin and see how well it works.
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Bannon coached Trump.
Bannon also went to Brazil to coach Bolsonaro (the Brazilian Trump) to do the same thing.
It's not hard to watch Putin and see how well it works.
https://twitter.com/brianstelter/status/963076380505370624
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I think there's overlap between the methods of fascism (like the Firehose of Falsehoods) and certain kinds of mental illness: It takes someone sort of unhinged to be able to DO the things that fascists do.
That paragraph was a layperson venturing into psychiatry⤴️
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That paragraph was a layperson venturing into psychiatry⤴️
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To embrace the Leadership Principle from the viewpoint of the Leader ("everything I say is the Truth" and "I embody the mythic destiny of the nation") I'd think it's more effective when the Leader actually believes that everything he says is the truth.
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Some lies are comforting. Trump tells the Proud Boys they're at the top of the hierarchy.
But lies in the public sphere destroy democracy.
Some people knowingly want to destroy democracy. Really, they do. Democracy is hard and can be frustrating.
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But lies in the public sphere destroy democracy.
Some people knowingly want to destroy democracy. Really, they do. Democracy is hard and can be frustrating.
https://twitter.com/tommy60430/status/1338467976970969090
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The spread of disinformation is the greatest threat to democracy. It isn't easily solved.
The people who live on conspiracy theories?
For now, we have to just outvote them.
Thanks, Ayelet, for drawing more excellent points from the article⤵️
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The people who live on conspiracy theories?
For now, we have to just outvote them.
Thanks, Ayelet, for drawing more excellent points from the article⤵️
https://twitter.com/EveryVoiceNC/status/1338475939446071296
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