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Where to list propaganda problem

moderator — Fri, 08/10/2007 - 21:32

Forum topic related to:

Thanks a lot for posting!

I would think this problem could be listed in two places in our directory of issues, right off the bat: under "corporate influence," because that is the net result of the propaganda you're talking about -- inordinate influence by corporate entities on the thoughts and attitudes of the populace; and "mass media," because that is the primary mechanism through which the propaganda is delivered. What do you think about listing this in those two places, so people concerned with those two issues will come across your problem?

Are there any other places you think it should be listed? We can definitely add issues to the list -- we don't assume that we've thought of everything!

‹ More information about prisons What prevents multiple parties? ›
Fri, 08/17/2007 - 10:52 — stvjns

listing category for propaganda issue

My thought is that people who are not looking at "media" or "corporate influence" may not be aware of the role propaganda is playing in their subject of inquirey, while people looking into Media" and "Corporate influence" may feel they are already informed about this issue and miss the crucial deeper points revealed in the documentary videos I suggest, OR that listing in these areas would be preaching to the choir.

Of course these are great places to link this post, BUT I am more interested in contributing to the awareness of those focusing on ECONOMICS/JOBS, CIVIL RIGHTS, DEFENSE, ALTERNATIVE ENERGY, EDUCATION, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, FOOD... others because of the highly significant behind-the-scenes (hidden) role of the effects of propaganda technologies in these areas. (All areas are deeply connected and interdependent)

But ultimately I gladly defer to your feelings in organizing your wonderful site.
cheers!
--- stvjns
http://www.etgstores.com/bookcafe/
http://www.earthfiles.com/

Fri, 08/17/2007 - 11:35 — moderator

There are two challenges

There are two challenges here, as I see it, and I think I have a way to deal with both.

  • You want to present the propaganda problem to people who are concerned with other issues, because they may be unaware of it's influence.
  • I need to maintain a usable index. My guess is that when a person is centrally concerned with a particular problem, they tend to see how that problem connects to all other problems and issues. Therefore, I suspect that most people will be drawn, as you are, to listing their problem in many issues, for largely the same reason (e.g. "Sure pollution is an environmental issue, but there isn't enough being taught about it in the schools, so it should be an educational issue also, and it disproportionately effects people of color (because they are more likely to be poor), so it's also a civil rights issue, etc."). I think these connections are real and valid, but I don't know how to keep the index meaningful if everything is listed everyplace.

So I think the best solution is to list a problem under the issues that it is directly connected to, and not to all the other issues that it also effects. I will talk to our developer about the possibility of setting up a second category -- perhaps something like "other related issues" -- for people to draw lines between problems and these other areas they impact.

What you could do to help educate people, though, is post your problem in several places, each time modified to suit that place. As written, your problem makes a vivid connection to the issues of mass media and corporate influence -- but the connection to civil rights and defense is not explicit and therefore less clear. So if you want to present this problem in a civil rights context, you could post a new problem under that issue, explaining the connection to that issue specifically. How is propaganda a civil rights issue? In what ways does it shape the ways we think about that issue? This would be far more likely to attract the attention of your intended target audience -- the person not aware of the power of propaganda -- than just listing this problem in all those places.

What do you think?

Thanks again for posting this -- it really is an important contribution!