Hey what’s up Thinkers! Kathy Gibbens here…
As you guys know, I’m working on finishing up Season 1 and I realized that even though I’ve covered some of the propaganda tactics in the past, I still have a pretty good-sized list of other tactics that I want to teach you! So I’m going to start a mini-series on these different Propaganda tactics and try to get through this list over the next few weeks.
It might be a good idea to start by reviewing what Propaganda is. In simple terms, propaganda is tactics used in an attempt to get you to buy into an idea or a belief. Brittanica.com defines propaganda as “the dissemination of information—facts, arguments, rumors, half-truths, or lies—to influence public opinion.” If you want to listen to the episode I did on this early in this season, go back and listen to episode 22. Now, there are lots of different tactics that are used in varying ways to help create & spread propaganda that we’re going to cover in this little mini-series, and I feel like learning them will help you to recognize them and filter through the things that people are saying so you won’t get fooled as easily.
The first tactic we’ll talk about is called Adding Qualifiers. Adding Qualifiers is when someone adds an extra word or phrase to a response in an attempt to distract or divert attention. A qualifier is a word that limits or expands another word's meaning. These extra words make what they’re saying ultimately meaningless, but still leaves a certain, intended impression. Qualifiers can be used to make a statement sound less certain or absolute. It's like when someone says, "Some people think" or "It's possible that," to make an idea seem less definite. This is often done to influence opinions by making information appear more reasonable or open to debate, even when it’s not.
Now, are qualifiers ALWAYS manipulative propaganda? No, absolutely not. Sometimes people use qualifiers as filler words because they’re hesitant or unsure of what they’re saying. Sometimes, it’s just a habitual way of talking. And sometimes, people are legitimately unsure and it’s their way of presenting something that they think might be true, but they aren’t completely sure. So, I’m not saying that Added qualifiers are always propaganda, that’s where we have to use discernment and think through things. But, for purposes of this episode, let’s dive into ways that added qualifiers can be manipulative.
For example, Let's say there's a new student in school, and some classmates want to spread rumors about them. They might say, "I heard from someone that the new student might have cheated on their last test, but I'm not sure if it's true." In this case, the classmates are using qualifiers like "I heard from someone" and "I'm not sure if it's true" to make the rumor sound less like a direct accusation. By doing this, they’re likely going to harm the new student's reputation without taking full responsibility for spreading false information. This manipulation tactic can be really harmful because it's an attempt to damage someone's reputation while pretending to be uncertain about the claim.
Another example would be Senator Harrison declaring that he doesn't support adding more justices to the Supreme Court "at this point”. The phrase “at this point” is an added qualifier that essentially means that he might support adding more justices at some other point in the future.
Or, how about an advertisement that says, "Make up to $6000 per month working from home." Ok, you hear the qualifier ‘Up to’? Why the upper limit? Why not a lower limit? Why don't they advertise, "Make at least $3000 per month working from home"?
Here’s another example. A bank advertises: "We can close your loan in as little as two weeks. Guaranteed." That isn't a guarantee. That open-ended qualifier, "In as little as" means that they might close your loan in two weeks, or two months, or two years, or whenever...
The problem with adding qualifiers, especially in a manipulative or deceptive way, is that it can distort the truth and mislead others. Here are six problems behind the tactic of Adding Qualifiers:
* * 1. Misrepresentation of Information: Qualifiers can be used to misrepresent facts or make an unsupported claim seem more credible, which can lead people to believe something that may not be true.
* * 2. Creating Doubt: Qualifiers can create unnecessary doubt and confusion, especially when the evidence is actually really strong. This can make it hard for people to make well-informed decisions.
* * 3. Manipulation: Adding qualifiers with malicious intent can be a form of manipulation, as it allows individuals or groups to spread rumors, discredit others, or promote their agenda while appearing less responsible for their statements.
* * 4. Reduced Accountability: Using qualifiers may make it harder to hold people accountable for their statements. They can later claim that they were only expressing an opinion or that they weren't making a definitive statement, even if their intent was to influence others.
* * 5. Erosion of Trust: Overuse or misuse of qualifiers can erode trust in communication, making it difficult for people to distinguish between genuine information and speculation.
* * 6. Confirmation Bias: When people encounter information with qualifiers, they might interpret it in ways that confirm their existing beliefs or biases, leading to further polarization and division.
This is why it's so important to notice statements that use these added qualifiers, especially when they are intended to persuade or influence opinions.
So, the question to ask yourself when you hear these added qualifier phrases is this: "Is this qualifier being used to make the statement sound less certain than it should be?" *repeat*
Remember: When you learn HOW to think, you will no longer fall prey to those who are trying to tell you what THEY want you to think and it all starts with asking one simple question: “Is that really true?”
