Fourth Entry - Propoganda & more!

Ahh, propoganda! Today’s class discussion about propaganda was actually really interesting because it made me realize how often we see it in everyday life without even thinking about it. I also really enjoyed having our guest reader in class today. He did such a great job keeping us involved, and I thought it was really cool that he incorporated the card activity. When he pulled out the five of hearts, it definetely caught everyone's attention! 

When we were talking about propaganda and how people use different tactics to persuade others, I immediately thought about those “exclusive deals” you get approached with while you are on vacation. They make it sound like you have this amazing, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but then they give you a limited amount of time to decide. That pressure to make a quick decision can make people agree to something they normally would have taken more time to think about. It also reminded me of pyramid schemes.

I actually experienced this firsthand when I got involved with Amway selling beauty products. Luckily, I was able to get out of it but that experience really opened my eyes to how easily people can be persuaded when they are presented with something that sounds like a great opportunity. Looking back, I think that experience taught me a lot. It helped me learn to recognize when someone is using pressure or incentives to influence my decision. Now I feel like I am pretty good at spotting it and not falling for the schemes. Who knows, they may get me again. Let's hope not though! 

Comments

  1. williams.dan76September 15, 2026 at 7:17 AM

    Good blog post, thanks. Reviewing the techniques of propaganda does remind us not only that we can be easily persuaded but also that we aren't really aware of what's happening. Propaganda can be like a silent killer. We aren't aware until it's too late. That's why the simple steps in the phishing presentation are helpful: stop, think, and verify. I try to use these steps everyday in most situations with unknown communications.

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