Tag Archives: Propaganda

A Moment from the Middle Ages

Posted on October 19, 2020 by N.S. Palmer

Let’s consider a moment from the Middle Ages. Of course, people in the Middle Ages didn’t think they were living in “the Middle Ages.” That term was invented during the Renaissance to denote the era between Late Antiquity (after the … Continue reading →

Posted in Psychology | Tagged Courage, COVID-19, Fear, Freedom, History, Propaganda, Psychology, Rationality, SARS-CoV-2 | 2 Comments

A Pop Quiz About Government

Posted on October 14, 2020 by N.S. Palmer

We’ve got a pop quiz today, kids. But don’t worry: There’s only one question, and it’s multiple-guess. The authors of the U.S. Constitution were greatly influenced by a book called The Spirit of the Laws. It said there were three … Continue reading →

Posted in Political Science, Psychology | Tagged Courage, COVID-19, Democracy, Fear, Freedom, Justice, Politics, Propaganda, Psychology, Rule of law, SARS-CoV-2, Social harmony, Virtue | Leave a comment

Don’t Be Misled by Biased News

Posted on October 6, 2020 by N.S. Palmer

Note: With a presidential election coming up, the news media are full of misleading headlines, biased reporting, and less often, outright lies. Here’s how to avoid some of the most common traps. (Originally posted on my other blog in 2018.) … Continue reading →

Posted in Psychology | Tagged Belief, Bias, Fake news, News Media, Propaganda, Rationality | 2 Comments

You Have Been Deceived

Posted on August 16, 2020 by N.S. Palmer

You have been deceived. There’s no shame in that. You might even take it as an indirect compliment. Fake psychics love to have scientists “test” their powers because scientists are easy to fool. Scientists work with observable facts, so they … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Political Science, Psychology, Science, Society | Tagged COVID-19, Fear, Mass Hysteria, Panic, Propaganda, SARS-CoV-2 | Leave a comment

How Easily We Are Stampeded

Posted on June 16, 2020 by N.S. Palmer

Today, we lurch drunkenly from one moral panic to another. Last month, it was Covid Cooties. This month, it’s Killer Kops. Next month, it might be something else, just as alliterative and just as loosely connected to reality: whatever will … Continue reading →

Posted in Political Science, Psychology, Society | Tagged Democracy, Elites, Meritocracy, Moral panic, Propaganda, Public opinion | Leave a comment

One Way to Reduce Fake News

Posted on September 21, 2019 by N.S. Palmer

Regardless of their political views, most Americans think that “fake news” is a real problem. And it is. Often on purpose. Partisans flood the media with so much disinformation that it’s hard for anyone to know what’s happening. Even the … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Political Science, Psychology, Society | Tagged Chyrons, CNN, Disinformation, Fake news, Infotainment, Misleading, MSNBC, News Media, Propaganda, Rhetorical question, The New York Times | Leave a comment

What You Can Do About the World

Posted on August 7, 2019 by N.S. Palmer

The world can be a scary place. It is now. As one website commenter remarked: “We wake up, have breakfast, send the kids to school, walk the dog, go to work, come home and everything seems just fine, and then … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Relations, Life, Political Science, Psychology, Society | Tagged Fake news, Hateful rhetoric, Humility, Hysteria, Inflammatory rhetoric, Intellectual humility, Internet, Live and let live, News Media, Peaceful cooperation, Peaceful disagreement, Propaganda, Rational Argument, Social discord, Social Media | 2 Comments

How Not To Be Crazy

Posted on February 21, 2019 by N.S. Palmer

People are crazy, and it seems to be getting worse. In addition, many heavily-promoted news stories turn out to be false. The reasons are various. There’s a lot we can’t do about the situation. But there are also things we … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Psychology, Society | Tagged Bias, Clear thinking, Emotional reaction, Framing, Groupthink, News, Objectivity, Overcoming bias, Propaganda, Snap Judgment | Leave a comment

The Trouble with Politics

Posted on October 29, 2018 by N.S. Palmer

Americans disagree about a lot. But there’s one point on which we are unanimous: Our politicians are awful. Let’s be honest: Except in the haze of partisan fervor, can anyone truly believe that Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton were the … Continue reading →