Journalism: Was this intended as humor? :)
Some jokes just write themselves.
Journalism’ish
There is no such thing as nitrous dioxide.
Journalism: Does a coronavirus test cost $3,270? No, it does not.
A new report with a poorly written headline has been interpreted as the cost of a Covid19 (coronavirus) test is $3,270. In fact, the CDC is not charging for their diagnostic tests. However, this meme has taken off on social media – that a test costs $3,270 – and this claim, in turn, is used for propaganda messaging on a variety of political and health topics.
Politics: The enduring Scandinavian socialism fantasy
Some politicians and popular memes assert that Scandinavian socialism is a model for the world. Except the Scandinavian governments themselves note they are not socialist countries. They are free market economies with high taxes supporting a large social safety net; they are not socialist countries. If the U.S. had the same tax structure as Denmark, then you would pay an income tax of 55.9% above $65,000/year in income.
Begging the question fallacy: Again, company demonstrates who they are and asserts its not who they are
After firing employees for doing good deeds, the CEO of US Bank asserts “this is not who we are”. This is known as the “begging the question” fallacy, which is to assert that something is true, in spite of actual events, and assert everyone agrees with this. This method is extremely common in corporate and government propaganda efforts.
Psychology: Your brain fixates on bad things, and propagandists use that to manipulate you
A new book discusses our focus on negative news – and how negativity in all aspects of our life is not where we need to be. I’m buying the book.
Business: “Fake Diversity” used to fool consumers
Rather than hire actual diverse workforces, or recruit actual diverse student bodies, businesses and universities are using AI generated fake images of people in order to show their diversity. Seriously.
Mass hysteria: Delusions of drone sightings
The FAA and other officials, using high tech gear, are unable to locate any drones among the media reports of unknown drones cruising over the skies of Colorado, then Nebraska, and now California and North Carolina. This post includes a listing of numerous well publicized drone sightings, alleged near misses and collisions that turned out to have never occurred. But such wide spread publicity led to mass hysteria, which is itself a technique of propaganda messaging.
State of Colorado says no evidence of criminal activity, finds evidence of people confusing stars, planets and toys as a drone fleet in the sky.
Journalism: A little duct tape, some Gorilla Glue and they should be good to go
Get a good laugh at this C-130 with a destroyed left wing and left engines – and the headline saying “no major damage”. Uh huh.
Begging the Question Fallacy: Boeing, after showing us who they are, says this is not who they are
After Boeing’s internal records show employees criticizing the safety of the 737 MAX, Boeing insists “this is not who we are”. This is known as the “begging the question” fallacy, which is to assert that something is true, in spite of actual events, and assert everyone agrees with this. This method is extremely common in corporate and government propaganda efforts.