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Whose useful idiot are you?
Politics and propaganda in 2021.
A thread.
Politics and propaganda in 2021.
A thread.
The "useful idiot" is one of the best new terms of recent years.
It's a neat term for people who whole heartedly believe the lies and misinformation of the enemy.
People who genuinely believe the US election was stolen are Trump's "useful idiots", for instance.
It's a neat term for people who whole heartedly believe the lies and misinformation of the enemy.
People who genuinely believe the US election was stolen are Trump's "useful idiots", for instance.
Useful idiots are innately funny. Like anyone lost and confused, if you're feeling uncharitable, watching them flail around can be hilarious.
They are also annoying as hell. Because a useful idiot full believes they are right, they will never be convinced by, say, facts.
They are also annoying as hell. Because a useful idiot full believes they are right, they will never be convinced by, say, facts.
But the best thing about useful idiots, is watching somebody call somebody else a useful idiot, when they themselves are also a useful idiot.
Because at this moment in time and space, as we head into the chaos and confusion of 2021, we are all somebody's useful idiot
the real question is
whose useful idiot are you?
the real question is
whose useful idiot are you?
We're in a propaganda war
that's a good thing, in as far as it means we're not in a shooting war
but we're in an intense power struggle, and it's getting ever tenser
the battlefield is public opinions, the armies are the media, the weapon of choice?
propaganda
that's a good thing, in as far as it means we're not in a shooting war
but we're in an intense power struggle, and it's getting ever tenser
the battlefield is public opinions, the armies are the media, the weapon of choice?
propaganda
Propaganda's best trick in the 20th century was to rebrand itself
as public relations
that's not a joke, it's a documented fact
Edward Bernays (he who wrote the book on propaganda)
literally renamed it after leaving the CIA to found the first PR agency in New York
as public relations
that's not a joke, it's a documented fact
Edward Bernays (he who wrote the book on propaganda)
literally renamed it after leaving the CIA to found the first PR agency in New York
Public relations, advertising agencies, think tanks, political consultancies etc etc these are all propaganda professionals
we have a HUGE propaganda industry
but unlike N.Korea, the Western propaganda machinery is for hire
to anyone with the cash to pay for its services
we have a HUGE propaganda industry
but unlike N.Korea, the Western propaganda machinery is for hire
to anyone with the cash to pay for its services
Corporations, governments, billionaires, celebrities, charities
any power with a need to influence public opinion can pay for a propaganda campaign, and they do, billions of $$$ every year
any power with a need to influence public opinion can pay for a propaganda campaign, and they do, billions of $$$ every year
You, I, all of us, are being constantly firehosed with powerful propaganda.
And the propaganda works. It shapes our opinions. We're all guilty of repeating it.
And we all end up as somebody's useful idiot.
And the propaganda works. It shapes our opinions. We're all guilty of repeating it.
And we all end up as somebody's useful idiot.
Now the propaganda is driving us CRAZY
look at the useful idiots who stormed congress today
these idiots have been targeted with decades worth of propaganda
Anti-communism. Cold war. Vietnam. Iraq. War on terror. On and on.
Their brains are mashed potato.
look at the useful idiots who stormed congress today
these idiots have been targeted with decades worth of propaganda
Anti-communism. Cold war. Vietnam. Iraq. War on terror. On and on.
Their brains are mashed potato.
But this is true of all of us
Whatever you think you believe, unless you're a deep expert who has done the real reading, your opinion is largely the outcome of decades of overlapping, inter-dependent propaganda campaigns
Whatever you think you believe, unless you're a deep expert who has done the real reading, your opinion is largely the outcome of decades of overlapping, inter-dependent propaganda campaigns
We're all somebody's useful idiot.
Our task in 2021 isn't to triumph over our ideological enemies
it's not to defeat the evil in the world
it is to figure out whose useful idiot we are
and stop being it
Our task in 2021 isn't to triumph over our ideological enemies
it's not to defeat the evil in the world
it is to figure out whose useful idiot we are
and stop being it
Here are some signs you have been propagandised and made into a useful idiot
1. You think you're in a Good vs Evil struggle.
This is the classic propaganda technique. Define an enemy, engage people in a crusade to defeat them.
1. You think you're in a Good vs Evil struggle.
This is the classic propaganda technique. Define an enemy, engage people in a crusade to defeat them.
2. You believe civilisation will collapse if you lose.
The threat of the "end of the world" is how propaganda traps you. Because of course, such a serious issue can have no middle ground.
The threat of the "end of the world" is how propaganda traps you. Because of course, such a serious issue can have no middle ground.
3. Any divergent opinion is demonised.
You should always be reading the people who disagree with you. Deeply, to really understand the opposition. If that's not allowed by your "side", your side want you as a useful idiot.
You should always be reading the people who disagree with you. Deeply, to really understand the opposition. If that's not allowed by your "side", your side want you as a useful idiot.
4. You gain advantage from your opinion.
Is it easier to get along at work or home if you believe this? Propaganda exploits our general desire to believe what is convenient. That's HOW you are targeted.
Is it easier to get along at work or home if you believe this? Propaganda exploits our general desire to believe what is convenient. That's HOW you are targeted.
5. The issue could be easily agreed.
How much do we actually disagree on most of our disagreements? If we're killing each other over what are basically regulatory issues, that's a sure sign both sides are useful idiots of the people who stand to profit or lose out.
How much do we actually disagree on most of our disagreements? If we're killing each other over what are basically regulatory issues, that's a sure sign both sides are useful idiots of the people who stand to profit or lose out.
I could go on.
There are literal books of propaganda techniques, and if you read them you can quickly see the signs of useful idiothood in others
the real task is to see them in ourselves
There are literal books of propaganda techniques, and if you read them you can quickly see the signs of useful idiothood in others
the real task is to see them in ourselves
Social media has weaponised propaganda into the cracks of our social interactions
People with big social media followings?
Many of those people are terrifyingly good at propaganda
in fact that's probably they central way to get twitter followers
People with big social media followings?
Many of those people are terrifyingly good at propaganda
in fact that's probably they central way to get twitter followers
You know those people, one moment they're tweeting cat pics and home cooking
the next they've declared War on Evil
and they need you
to step right over to their Patreon
and help them DEFEAT THE EVIL
the next they've declared War on Evil
and they need you
to step right over to their Patreon
and help them DEFEAT THE EVIL
Most of the people who have built substantial Twitter followings (as ooposed to being famous for other things) are relentless propaganda machines.
And the people RTing them are, essentially, their useful idiots.
And the people RTing them are, essentially, their useful idiots.
Propaganda isn't evil.
It's a tool. Many entirely valid issues need to win over public opinion.
But in yet another tragedy of the commons, it's a tool we're massively over using. And widely abusing.
We're saturated with propaganda, and it's driving us
bat
shit
crazy
It's a tool. Many entirely valid issues need to win over public opinion.
But in yet another tragedy of the commons, it's a tool we're massively over using. And widely abusing.
We're saturated with propaganda, and it's driving us
bat
shit
crazy
We have to defuse the propaganda landmines now scattered over our culture
and that has to start with ourselves
so I ask again, whose useful idiot are you?
I mean it, as a serious line of enquiry, that we should all be asking right now
and that has to start with ourselves
so I ask again, whose useful idiot are you?
I mean it, as a serious line of enquiry, that we should all be asking right now
Because the only way we're going to regain some sanity is if, as individuals and a collective, we develop our immunity to propaganda
Propaganda is a playbook. It's all obvious, once you know the moves.
Propaganda is a playbook. It's all obvious, once you know the moves.
But that starts with smacking down the out of control propaganda peddlers on our own side
not sharing the latest doom laden story that happens to fit out personal Good vs Evil narrative
not sharing the latest doom laden story that happens to fit out personal Good vs Evil narrative
not RTing that Twitterati who just hit your End Of The World buttons inbetween cat pics
not watching the rolling news laced with expert propaganda bites that confirm you're one of the Good Guys
not watching the rolling news laced with expert propaganda bites that confirm you're one of the Good Guys
One of the early documented modern propaganda campaigns targetted the British before WW1. Stories were planted to tell us the Germans killed babies...literally.
Entirely fake news.
Millions died, in part because of it.
We have got to miss the repeats of this drama.
Entirely fake news.
Millions died, in part because of it.
We have got to miss the repeats of this drama.
We all need to spend a lot less time being reactive, screaming IN ALL CAPS INTO THE TWITTERSPHERE
and a lot more time shrugging, being uncertain, admitting we don't know and keeping our own counsel...
and a lot more time shrugging, being uncertain, admitting we don't know and keeping our own counsel...
...in the face of complex matters where conflict only benefits those who are paying for the PR campaigns that incite it.
Less useful idiot, more neutral observer.
Less useful idiot, more neutral observer.
Whose useful idiot are you?
This is the most important political act you can take in 2021
figure out the people and media outlets that are propagandising you
and cut them off
you'll be happier, and the world will be better
This is the most important political act you can take in 2021
figure out the people and media outlets that are propagandising you
and cut them off
you'll be happier, and the world will be better
Balance your news sources across the political spectrum
aggressively criticise your own side, even if its only to test how they respond
deep read the issues that matter to you, and avoid taking sides on anything you only partially understand
aggressively criticise your own side, even if its only to test how they respond
deep read the issues that matter to you, and avoid taking sides on anything you only partially understand
How not to be a useful idiot...1,2,3
If we could defuse the propaganda machinery that drives our public discourse we could resolve most public policy easily
then move on and do better, more interesting things
If we could defuse the propaganda machinery that drives our public discourse we could resolve most public policy easily
then move on and do better, more interesting things
Instead we're caught in a cycle of propaganda warfare
in which we're the armies of of useful idiots
in which we're the armies of of useful idiots
