PR, Advertising, Astroturfing and Propaganda

[izabsmiling]

Environment editor Sandi Keane exposes the shadowy world of PR, where astroturfing and propaganda is used to coerce the public into sacrificing their own interests for those of big corporations.

. Experienced PR practitioners now coerce you through astroturfing and other socially engineered forms of brainwashing to sacrifice your interests for those of their clients – especially those with the biggest war chest – the fossil fuel industry.

Indeed, it was the rise of citizens groups in the US opposing action on global warming that ledGreenpeace to discover that these so-called grassroots uprisings were organised and funded by the fossil fuel lobby.

Public opinion is a precious commodity. It’s what elects governments and governments can deliver profit and power to those whose largesse it enjoys.Americans pay more for healthcare than any other Western nation, but the Hands Off My Healthcare campaign duped credulous Americans into believing Obama’s healthcare reform was a socialist plot. It was funded by “free marketeer” mining billionaires — the Koch Brothers.

Today’s PR supremos are making serious money out of commodifying public opinion, manipulating it and touting it to this ready market. PR spin is gradually replacing old fashioned journalism as the number of mainstream journalists dwindles, according to a 2010 report by the Pew Centre of Journalism.

The onslaught of suasion in the last few years has been unrivalled in tricking or swaying people to do the unthinkable:

To put corporate interests before their own!

http://www.independentaustralia.net/business/business-display/deception-is-our-product,3942

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=aX2kMAfJggU

Manipulating the mind used to be the weapon of choice of totalitarian regimes. But the last decade has seen an unprecedented rise in corporate funded propaganda in our so-called “beacons of democracy”, USA and Australia.

Modern age PR illusionists, today’s digital age snake oil salesmen, are reeling you in by evermore shameful and unethical means.  They display no regard for possible tragic consequences. The most despicable are the climate skeptic spinmeisters, whose crowning achievement may well be the end of the planet.

Following our last story “Deception is our Product” posted on February 7, Indy Oz has compiled “A Practical Guide to Trickery & Fakery in the Digital Age” to help you sort the shill from the sham and spin from the scam.

In the humbug peddler’s SHAM BAG, you’ll find:

Phony Grassroots Groups or Astroturfers

as well as

Multiple Fake IDs - using Persona Management Software, Avatars, Shills, Sockpuppets, Fake Blogs (Flogs) and Trolls.

Of these, the most effective at manipulating public opinion is the

Phony Grassroots Groups or Astroturfers

http://www.independentaustralia.net/environment/environment-display/how-to-spot-an-astroturfer-or-an...

[k0llectable5]

---

@the_great_she_elephant wrote:

The problem is that whatever position we are upholding or denouncing, it is always "THEY" who are doing the manipulating and astroturfing and "WE" who have this Godlike understanding of the real  truth.

---

I dont think anyone claims Godlike understanding.  The problem with most topics is the more one delves into the "nitty gritties" of the subject the more unbelievable the official narrative becomes.  

It is "they" that are doing the manipulating.  The average person posting on forums or searching for truthful information has no need to engage in astroturfing.  It is big business who pays off advertising agencies, news outlets, research companies, industry people, astroturfers and others to push their products and agendas.   

[k0llectable5]

---

@j*oono wrote:

---

@icyfroth wrote:

---

@j*oono wrote:

What is this thread really about?  

The nutty quack that professes that children shouldn't be immunised?

---

Your post is a  perfect example, thanks Joono.

---

Well derr.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

So the point was...?

[j*oono]

I guess the point is that some self professed experts are called quacks and nutty because they are.

What was the point of dragging up a one year old thread?  I was so pleased, thinking that Iza B was back.

[k0llectable5]

---

@j*oono wrote:

I guess the point is that some self professed experts are called quacks and nutty because they are.

What was the point of dragging up a one year old thread?  I was so pleased, thinking that Iza B was back.

---

And you're in a position to diagnose someones medical and mental capabilities?  That must make you either a doctor or phd in something medical as well as a psychologist or psychiatrist? 

Because I find the topic interesting and was wondering what others thought about it.  I wanted to share the video as well (which I and others have found interesting) and upon typing astroturfing into new message, this thread popped up, so rather than start a whole new thread.... 

[the_great_she_elephant]

But whose astroturfing is the average person supposed to believe?

Are we to assume it is ONLY  people with products or agendas to push who are manipulating us.

Is it not possible that there are also vested interests opposed to those  prroducts or agendas who are also doing the same thing?

For example, do we know who was paying the speaker in that video clip?  Can we be certain she wasn't part of an astroturfing exercise by homeopaths or naturopaths  to discredit mainstream medicine?

How do we know she was not the one pushing propaganda?

[youcandoityoucandoityoucandoit]

I get your point she-ele.

The journalist giving the TED talk is well known: Sharyl Attkisson...check her out, shes old school.

[cherry*135]

---

@secondhand-wonderland wrote:

---

@j*oono wrote:

I guess the point is that some self professed experts are called quacks and nutty because they are.

---

And you're in a position to diagnose someones medical and mental capabilities?  That must make you either a doctor or phd in something medical as well as a psychologist or psychiatrist? 

Because I find the topic interesting and was wondering what others thought about it.  I wanted to share the video as well (which I and others have found interesting) and upon typing astroturfing into new message, this thread popped up, so rather than start a whole new thread.... 

---

Self professed are the key words there. People witn no recognised medical qualifications. Also people who may have medical qual's but are spouting/promoting  something that has had no medical/scientific PROVEN studies done to support it . Just one person's theory. = quacks

[cherry*135]

"The journalist giving the TED talk is well known: Sharyl Attkisson...check her out, shes old school."

Controversial now though. Alleges her computer hacked by the Justice Dept (sueing them) but has no proof. Quit CBS (after two decades) because they wouldn't publish her stories that were critical of Obama. Thinks she was under surveillance. Thinks she's on an 'enemies' list.

[icyfroth]

---

@secondhand-wonderland wrote:

---

@icyfroth wrote:

---

@j*oono wrote:

What is this thread really about?  

The nutty quack that professes that children shouldn't be immunised?

---

Your post is a  perfect example, thanks Joono.

---

Thats exactly what I was thinking Icy, but you had the b4lls to say it lol. 

Then I also couldn't help but think maybe joono is taking the p with that comment, why would someone want to be so obvious? 

---

Which is why my response can be taken either way, lol.

[icyfroth]

---

@j*oono wrote:

---

@icyfroth wrote:

---

@j*oono wrote:

What is this thread really about?  

The nutty quack that professes that children shouldn't be immunised?

---

Your post is a  perfect example, thanks Joono.

---

Well derr.

---

Well der you too lol