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Month: April 2017

Oregon’s Pamplin Media goes full fake news

Oregon’s Pamplin Media goes full fake news

This news report is 100% fake and was created by an advertiser. Pamplin Media does not disclose this is a paid product promotion – one that is also making false claims implying it is against the law to buy third party printer ink cartridges. This is propaganda intended to confuse customers into not even considering alternatives. The primary methods it uses are fear (fear of violating the law!), appeal to authority (Epson, industry, the legal system), assertion and straight out…

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Oregon's Pamplin Media goes full fake news

Oregon's Pamplin Media goes full fake news

This news report is 100% fake and was created by an advertiser. Pamplin Media does not disclose this is a paid product promotion – one that is also making false claims implying it is against the law to buy third party printer ink cartridges. This is propaganda intended to confuse customers into not even considering alternatives. The primary methods it uses are fear (fear of violating the law!), appeal to authority (Epson, industry, the legal system), assertion and straight out…

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Weaponized social media may rein in abusive practices

Weaponized social media may rein in abusive practices

The viral video of a ticketed passenger dragged forcefully off a United flight is only the latest example of bad behavior exposed in the age of social media. Source: Smartphones and social media are turning consumers into whistleblowers It has been said we should write every email with the assumption it will be printed on the front page of tomorrow’s newspaper. That concept may be extended – every customer interaction – good or bad – may end up on Youtube…

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Using lies to spin a story

Using lies to spin a story

Lies work because people are absurdly trusting of others and surprisingly trusting of authority figures. We saw this during the past week as both Chicago Aviation Police and United Airlines told lies to defend unlawful actions against a paying customer. Much of the media bought the United story without skepticism, reporting initially that a belligerent passenger refused to get off an overbooked flight and then injured himself as police were forced to remove him from the plane. Except none of…

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How bureaucrats use passive language to escape responsbility

How bureaucrats use passive language to escape responsbility

Long article (link below) explains how corporations and governments torture language to escape culpability. By carefully crafting the message, these organizations use propaganda to intentionally mislead the target audience – and they get away with it because it works and rarely does anyone call them out for their malfeasance and lies. What became clear to me in this exchange is that the passive voice is itself unsuited for the lexical landscape of United’s email, which itself is part of a…

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