What does the word "propaganda" make you think of?

1. 66

   ThompsonPenposted 11 years ago

   What does the word "propaganda" make you think of?
   
   Does it stir negative meanings? Is it just another means of bring convincing, truthful or otherwise, arguments to the table?

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2. 84

   Mmargie1966posted 11 years ago

   Automatically, the words, "brain washing" come to mind.  I truly believe the media spins stories, or broadcasts selected soundbites to persuade the public to believe the incident in a way that isn't completely accurate.

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3. 61

   ALURposted 11 years ago

   Deception: to sway one in favor of an opinion/idea that the person wants regardless of the means to achieve their end.

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4. 76

   shampa sadhyaposted 11 years ago

   It always gives me a feeling of unwanted marketing. Constantly speaking about something is very disappointing. Thus, the word propaganda gives me to some extent a negative feeling.

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5. 0

   JThomp42posted 11 years ago

   Politics. Pure and simple politics. This is what it exactly makes me think of.

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6. 0

   Justsilvieposted 11 years ago

   The current round of Super Pac Ads!!! Lies, deception, and truth stretching aimed at those who won't look further for information!

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7. 86

   krillcoposted 11 years ago

   The current presidential race. Both sides. It is a travesty of democracy and republic.

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8. 57

   NotPCposted 11 years ago

   When I hear the word "propaganda," I get chills and can hear the stories of North Korean defectors replay in my mind. What horrors they live with every day, yet they have no choice but to love and adore The Great Leader who lived in outrageous luxury while they suffered. Sometimes when I let my mind wander a bit farther, I wonder if they feel the same about Americans. There is no denying that the United States has its own flavor of propaganda.

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   1. 60

      Forsrilposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      It is not really much different from the idea of political correctness,
      
      I often wonder why I have to be politically correct?
      http://forsril.hubpages.com/hub/Why-do- … ly-correct

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   2. 57

      NotPCposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I think you are onto something Forsril!

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9. 71

   LauraD093posted 11 years ago

   Two words that come immediately to mind are control and manipulation. It also reminds me of how the German-people were saturated with it during Hitler's regime.

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10. 63

    SportsBetterposted 11 years ago

    Propaganda, is the illusion that is put in front of us.  Most people can't understand what is really going on because they are only shown this world from one perspective.
    
    The illusion goes further than we can comprehend.

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11. 75

    910chrisposted 11 years ago

    The current state of our media. They no longer report the news, they make it and cover "fluff" pieces that have no business being in the news in the first place. I also think of that word when I look at my sons school work. It is also something the White House is very good at.

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12. 67

    marwan asmarposted 11 years ago

    As one Nazi once said propaganda is the repetition of something so many times that people actually become to believe in it.

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13. 73

    MrMaranathaposted 11 years ago

    Propaganda is as old as nations fighting... to one extent or another... it and the art of Subterfuge have been "Force Multipliers" in many ancient military campaigns.  Today however Propaganda has taken on far more sinister uses than merely misleading the enemy into fighting somewhere else... or causing their army to fear and make mistakes...
    Today's propaganda is even used by private interest groups to promote their own agendas against unsuspecting victims... the public.  In Brazil a few years ago the media Came out of the Closet and admitted the use of what is called "The Sabido Method" ( http://www.populationmedia.org/what/sabido-method/ )  to promote "Social Values" that the owners of the major networks wanted to promote... In other words.. to redefine the Family and Marital Values and promote lifestyles that were previously looked down upon... things which 10 years or so later are in fact becoming accepted in society... even as the traditional family values of the nation are Crumbling.
    Propaganda by any name is a fancy word that means "MENTAL RAPE"

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14. 0

    BethDWposted 11 years ago

    Two words: Fox News. They're a massive political organism masquerading as a 'news' channel, aimed at promoting a conservative agenda. It amazes me what they get away with. They were actually banned from expanding their network into Canada (where I am from) because we have laws against reporting false information on the news.

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    1. 60

       Forsrilposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       That would mean none of our news agencies would be allowed in Canada. 
       Especially ABC,
       http://www.businessinsider.com/oops-abc … nth-2012-8

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15. 71

    Conservative Ladyposted 11 years ago

    Political agenda - liberal media spreading Obama's propaganda and proliferating his socialistic plans for our Country.

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    1. 66

       ThompsonPenposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Ironically, how you worded that counts as propaganda as well

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    2. 39

       ChristinSposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       yes the irony here indeed.

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    3. 71

       Conservative Ladyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       You asked what the word Propaganda made me think of -  therefore I told you.....

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    4. 83

       AlexK2009posted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Actually I have shown, elsewhere, that modern capitalism is socialism, because it is corporatism.  It was a clever trick  of language. Also socialism/communism is what Christianity was before it had a priesthood and got perverted by money and power

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16. 60

    BobMongerposted 11 years ago

    Propaganda serves no useful purpose to an open and educated society. The pity of it is most people who are neither of the above will believe just about anything if they're told it often enough, regardless of how ridiculous or dangerous it might be. From what I've been seeing and hearing from the media the master of propaganda, Joesph Goebbels, would be justly proud.

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17. 77

    FitnezzJimposted 11 years ago

    The older you are, the more likely the word 'propaganda' is going to cause folks to remember World War II, gas chambers, Hitler, and other evils.  When I hear of 'propaganda' I always remember the kid in my high school class who, when answering the question 'what do you want to be when you grow up?' answered that he wanted to be a politician.  He wanted to eventually rule the world, and he saw control of propaganda as his path to power.  Fortunately, we in the class were not the only ones who regarded this as a bit crazy.
    Nowadays, the term is more likely to be synonomous with phrases like "cool-aid", "political advertising", "brainwash", "mainstream news", "liberalism", "conservativism", or any other kind of "dogma", "ism", or any other belief that has a fanatic based following.  It is also the term that each side uses when referring to the arguments of the other, and has become an accepted methodology for avoiding rational discourse.

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    1. 39

       ChristinSposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Great answer - I totally agree and couldn't have said it better myself.

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18. 60

    Forsrilposted 11 years ago

    It makes me think of an effort to coercion.

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19. 67

    Rebecca2904posted 11 years ago

    I think it depends on the circumstances.
    For me personally, the word 'propaganda' will always make me think of history because we don't really use that word anymore? I usually hear words like commercials, advertising or media used instead? Obviously they mean different things but I think a lot of the time they are referring to a kind of propaganda effect.
    
    Thinking about history, in particular WWII, say 'your country needs you' in the UK, US, or any of the allied countries and it's 'hurray! we're off to fight the Nazis!' say it in Germany and it has an entirely different connotation. As I said, I think it depends on the circumstances.

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20. 83

    belleartposted 11 years ago

    History-like Hitler and Joseph Geobbels. 
    When I learned about that in history class I was horrified.  I couldn't believe how things like that were happening and was astounded that it was let happen.  Until I grew up and realised it's everywhere, not just in history.  Its in advertisements, magazines, internet, Everywhere! 
    You cant walk two steps outside the front door without running into some form of propaganda.

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21. 53

    whonunuwhoposted 11 years ago

    Propaganda is an attempt to persuade a group of people to think or accept a special statement as fact or truth. This may be in truth, factual, or false in  nature, and depends upon how forceful, how tactful or cautiously it is done by the perpetrator. Propaganda is done in politics, on news media presentations, in books, magazines and newspapers, or anywhere the public eye and ear is available to behold the information. It is a proposal to the public of a communication about a matter of interest that those who want, may convince a public or people to accept in a sense of what is right and proper. It has been associated with Communism, socialism and many other negative affiliations, over the years, and well in the public eye, about its use and by whom. As a people we are exposed to some form of propaganda, be it in advertising of home products, to political candidates and their qualifications,and the importance of accepting some rule or law that may not be in the best interest of all involved, all of the time. Unfortunately, it is a part of our daily lives and inevitable that we are commonly exposed to it in some fashion.

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22. 59

    34th Bomb Groupposted 11 years ago

    The Soviet Union - negative all the way.
    Also, if it weren't for Josef  Goebbels and Leni Reifenstahl, would the world have had a Hitler? She "made" him.

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    1. 59

       34th Bomb Groupposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Oops - Riefenstahl.

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    2. 83

       AlexK2009posted 11 years agoin reply to this

       You can never be sure but the likelihood is another right-wing nut-job would have taken control in Germany. The holocaust would probably  never have happened, and WW II might never have happened.
       
       Hitler was almost a political genius. He made himself

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23. 90

    MarleneBposted 11 years ago

    Yes. the word, in and of itself stirs up negative meanings. Whenever I hear people use the word propaganda, I take it to mean someone with a "cause" states a lie and then publishes or sources falsified "facts" to swing people's opinion in the liar's direction.

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24. 82

    Author Cherylposted 11 years ago

    Propaganda has always had a negative meaning.  It is meant to spread rumors, help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, nation, or other similar entity. There is no other way of describing it.  It is bad news for sure.

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25. 82

    lrc7815posted 11 years ago

    I use to only think of communist/dictatorship countries when I heard the word propaganda.  Now though, my first thought is mainstream media.  How sad that is.

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26. 83

    AlexK2009posted 11 years ago

    To me it means lies and spin, treating the target audience as machines to manipulate not people with brains.

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27. 65

    maxoxam41posted 11 years ago

    Goebbels and Berneys, the masters of propaganda. One was German, the other less famous in the collective minds, was American!

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28. 60

    DAWNEMARSposted 11 years ago

    Political spin to win opinion. A perspective which is often distorted or twisted to serve governing powers. Hitler demonised Jews. He did this by depicting them as scary foreigners who were keen to lead German women astray. Rebels are now named: 'insurgents' as though 'rebel' is no longer a fitting term for protecting your own land.

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    Sherry Hewinsposted 11 years ago

    The first image that comes to mind is Nazi Germany. However, if you look at the posters supporting the Allied war effort in WWII, they are propaganda as well. These days both political parties tend to define the rhetoric coming out of the other party as "propaganda." The truth is, every government or political interest puts their own spin on things to try to lead the people to their point of view. There is not one source that is going to give the whole, unbiased truth.

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30. 68

    A Happy Manposted 11 years ago

    The attempt to persuade, or force, one to accept that which they may often times not believe in their heart.

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31. 64

    leroy64posted 11 years ago

    The word makes me think of George Orwell's book "1984." and  the 1930's international art scene.  In that order.

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32. 75

    James-wolveposted 11 years ago

    the word "propaganda" makes  me think of a lie said to deceive the masses .

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33. 61

    lostdogrwdposted 11 years ago

    lies, false tale,made up stories, adding false information with  the truth, prop up bull s

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