Apparently my new special interest is propaganda.
I am fascinated but also not enjoying the things I have *already* realized.
I think maybe I can do something useful here. I'm going to read some fucking propaganda & talk about how to recognize it & guard yourself from it (and I WILL get to those Lego videos. So much to unpack. I just need to do actual work like transcribing & making notes on the videos before in-depth analysis is possible).
My bio describes me as an "aspiring propagandist" because I do consider some of what I do "propaganda". I try to provide compelling & persuasive narratives that convince people to think & act in certain ways. I am trying to reach people emotionally & use every tool I have to persuade them
I just happen to also be committed to not persuading anyone of anything I don't sincerely believe myself, & I try to continually educate myself & think carefully to be sure I'm not leading anyone astray.
I call what I do "propaganda" because I don't actually want to deceive anyone about what I am doing.
I *am* trying to appeal to you emotionally. I *am* trying to shape how you see the world. I *am* trying to encourage you to take action.
I don't fucking lie. I don't obfuscate the truth. But I will use every persuasive tool I can use *honestly* to convince people to see what I see. No shame in it.
@artemis I need to write an essay or wiki page about how to persuade without closing off the possibility of updating your own beliefs when new evidence comes to light (i.e. maintaining a scientific, curiosity-driven, non-dogmatic approach) — which can be a difficult needle to thread.
(One big clue is to not trust people who say things that go against the evidence-based consensus without acknowledging that they're doing so. Such people are rarely arguing in good faith, and may not be capable of it. ...but I digress.)
Artemis
Woozle Hypertwin