The Carvi Seafood Restaurant Scandal

THE CARVI SEAFOOD RESTAURANT SCANDAL
Fish Restaurant Fiasco

A study in Journalism, Propaganda, Spin ... take your pick ...

Please remember as you plod through this that all of these news articles were based on one and only one *fellow diner* at the Carvi restaurant. The *fellow diner* is important! He or she was used by the British Press to significantly manipulate public opinion against the Portuguese police.

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Good Quality Wristbands: Our Day Will Come

Good Quality Wristbands: Our Day Will Come

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Techniques of Propaganda used in the Madeleine McCann case

Sources:
SourceWatch
Wikipedia-Propaganda

Examples from the Madeleine McCann case
More to follow - suggestions and insights are welcome.

(Please note: I am breaking these up into individual posts and it is taking some time. Thanks for your patience.)

A number of techniques are used to create messages which are persuasive, but false. Many of these same techniques are by definition logical fallacies since propagandists use arguments which, although sometimes convincing, are not necessarily valid.

It is essential to have some knowledge of the following techniques for generating propaganda. (In other words - this knowledge is very helpful when trying to sort the wheat from the chaff.):

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Propaganda - General Information

Types of Propaganda

Excerpts from SourceWatch

Propaganda shares many techniques with advertising or public relations; in fact, advertising and PR can be said to be propaganda promoting a commercial product. ...  In a narrower and more common use of the term, propaganda refers to deliberately false or misleading information that supports a political cause or the interests of those in power.

The propagandist seeks to change the way people understand an issue or situation, for the purpose of changing their actions and expectations in ways that are desirable to the interest group. In this sense, propaganda serves as a corollary to censorship, in which the same purpose is achieved, not by filling people's heads with false information, but by preventing people from knowing true information.

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Appeal to Authority

Appeal to Authority:
Authority is evoked as the last word on an issue.
Appeals to authority cite prominent figures to support a position idea, argument, or course of action.

This sort of reasoning is fallacious when the person in question is not an expert. In such cases the reasoning is flawed because the fact that an unqualified person makes a claim does not provide any justification for the claim. The claim could be true, but the fact that an unqualified person made the claim does not provide any rational reason to accept the claim as true. Since people have a tendency to believe authorities, this fallacy is a fairly common one.

Continue Reading... Labels: CEOP, Jim Gamble, Madeleine McCann, propaganda

Common Man / Plain Folks

Common man

The "plain folks" or "common man" approach attempts to convince the audience that the propagandist's positions reflect the common sense of the people. It is designed to win the confidence of the audience by communicating in the common manner and style of the target audience.

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Euphemisms

Euphemisms

When propagandists use glittering generalities and name-calling symbols, they are attempting to arouse their audience with vivid, emotionally suggestive words. In certain situations, however, the propagandist attempts to pacify the audience in order to make an unpleasant reality more palatable. This is accomplished by using words that are bland and euphemistic.

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Stereotyping or Labeling

Stereotyping or Labeling:

This technique attempts to arouse prejudices in an audience by labeling the object of the propaganda campaign as something the target audience fears, hates, loathes, or finds undesirable.

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Testimonial

Testimonial:

Testimonials are quotations, in or out of context, especially cited to support or reject a given policy, action, program, or personality. The reputation or the role (expert, respected public figure, etc.) of the individual giving the statement is exploited.

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Scapegoating

Scapegoating

Assigning blame  to an individual or group, thus alleviating feelings of guilt from responsible parties and/or distracting attention  from the need to fix the problem for which blame is being assigned.

Continue Reading... Labels: Find Madeleine Fund, propaganda, Robert Murat

False Comparison or Analogy

False Analogy

In this technique, two things that may or may not really be similar are portrayed as being similar.

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"Either / Or" also called "Black and White"

EITHER / OR

This technique is also called "black-and-white thinking" because only two choices are given. You are either for something or against it; there is no middle ground or shades of gray. It is used to polarize issues, and negates all attempts to find a common ground.

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Transfer

Transfer:

In this technique, an attempt is made to transfer the prestige of a positive symbol to a person or an idea.

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Straw Man

Straw Man

Because it is easier to demolish a man of straw than to beat a live opponent fairly, propagandists sometimes pretend that they are responding to the views of their opponents when they are only setting up a type of artificial opposition which they can easily prove to be wrong.

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Name calling

Name calling:

This techniques consists of attaching a negative label to a person or a thing. People engage in this type of behavior when they are trying to avoid supporting their own opinion with facts. Rather than explain what they believe in, they prefer to try to tear their opponent down.

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Appeal To Fear, Scare Tactics

Appeals to fear
seeks to build support by instilling fear in the general population - for example Joseph Goebbels exploited Theodore Kaufman's Germany Must Perish! to claim that the Allies sought the extermination of the German people.

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Labeling

Labeling

Labeling is the propagandist technique of using a EUPHEMISM to increase the perceived quality, credibility, or credence of a particular ideal. The propagandist uses a DYSPHEMISM to discredit, diminish the perceived quality, or hurt the perceived righteousness of "the Mark". By creating a "label" or "category" or "faction" of a population, it is much easier to make an example of these larger bodies, because the propagandist can uplift or defame "the Mark" without actually incurring legal-defamation.

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Faulty Cause and Effect

Faulty Cause and Effect
(See also: Fallacy: Confusing Cause and Effect)

This technique suggests that because B follows A, A must cause B.

Remember, just because two events or two sets of data are related does not necessarily mean that one caused the other to happen. It is important to evaluate data carefully before jumping to a wrong conclusion.

In order to determine that a fallacy has been committed, it must be shown that the causal conclusion has not been adequately supported and that the person committing the fallacy has confused the actual cause with the effect. Showing that the fallacy has been committed will typically involve determining the actual cause and the actual effect.

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Obfuscation, intentional vagueness, confusion

Obfuscation, intentional vagueness, confusion

Generalities are deliberately vague so that the audience may supply its own interpretations. The intention is to move the audience by use of undefined phrases, without analyzing their validity or attempting to determine their reasonableness or application.

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Ad Hominem

Ad Hominem
Translated from Latin to English, "Ad Hominem" means "against the man" or "against the person."

Attacking the person instead of attacking his argument.
(For an excellent explanation of this technique, see Fallacy: Ad Hominem
A common form is an attack on sincerity.

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Rationalization

Rationalization:

Favorable generalities are used to rationalize questionable acts or beliefs. Vague and pleasant phrases are often used to justify such actions or beliefs.

Examples:

• "like dining in your garden"
• responsible parents
• (More to follow...)

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Glittering Generalities, Euphemisms and Slogans

Glittering Generalities: 
This technique uses important-sounding "glad words" that have little or no real meaning. These words are used in general statements that cannot be proved or disproved. Words like "good," "honest," "fair," and "best" are examples of "glad" words.

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Card-stacking

Card-stacking
Sources: Changing Minds

This term comes from stacking a deck of cards in your favor. Card stacking is used to slant a message. Key words or unfavorable statistics may be omitted, leading to a series of half-truths. Keep in mind that an advertiser (spokesperson, PR person) is under no obligation "to give the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."

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Bandwagon

Bandwagon
(A good source for more information: Fallacy: Bandwagon)

The "bandwagon" approach encourages you to think that because everyone else is doing something, you should do it too, or you'll be left out. The technique embodies a "keeping up with the Joneses" philosophy. The basic theme of the Bandwagon appeal is that "everyone else is doing it, and so should you."

The Bandwagon is a fallacy in which a threat of rejection by one's peers (or peer pressure) is substituted for evidence in an "argument."

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Red Herring

Red Herring

The propagandist technique of presenting data or issues that, while compelling, are irrelevant to the argument at hand, and then claiming that it validates the argument.

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Ad nauseam

AD NAUSEAM

The propagandist technique of using the tireless repetition of an idea. An idea, especially a simple slogan, that is repeated enough times, may begin to be taken as the truth. This approach works best when media sources are limited and controlled by the propagator.

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Errors of Faulty Logic / Logical Fallacies

Errors of Faulty Logic / Logical Fallacies

In addition to other propaganda techniques, logical fallacies are often used by those who seek to convince or misinform. Here are some of the logical fallacies you are likely to see in propaganda campaigns:

ACCIDENT

• Someone fails to recognize (or conceals the fact) that an argument is based on an exception to the rule.

EXAMPLE: 

• Madeleine was abducted by a stranger. (Stranger abductions are extremely rare. The vast majority of missing children were taken by family members or people known to the child.)

BEGGING THE QUESTION: 

• A person makes a claim then argues for it by advancing grounds whose meaning is simply equivalent to that of the original claim. This is also called "circular reasoning."

EXAMPLES:

To follow...

CONTRADICTION:

• Information is presented that is in direct opposition to other information within the same argument.

EXAMPLES:

• We are responsible parents. / We left the children alone in the apartments and were drinking wine with our adult friends.
• There was only a tiny window of opportunity to "abduct" Maddie. / The abductor must have sedated the twins and Maddie, picked Maddie up and tidied the bed covers while holding her, then carried her out the bedroom window or handed her to a waiting accomplice, managing not to be seen by Gerry and Jess Wilkins as they stood chatting outside the apartment.
• Kate screamed "They've taken her" when she "discovered" Madeleine was missing.  / A stranger has taken Madeleine. (The argument being that "they've" implies knowledge of the identity of the persons involved and therefore they could not have been "strangers" to Kate.)

EVADING THE ISSUE:

• An issue is sidestepped by changing the topic.

EXAMPLES:

• To follow...

ARGUING FROM IGNORANCE:

• The argument is made that a claim is justified simply because its opposite cannot be proven.

EXAMPLES:

• The McCanns argue that they could not be involved in Madeleine's disappearance because there is "no evidence" (Note: this is untrue. There is evidence of involvement, however there is not presently enough direct evidence to bring charges. The case is still open, although shelved.)
• Madeleine is alive and findable because there is "no evidence" that she has come to any harm.

COMPOSITION AND DIVISION:

• Composition involves an assertion about a whole that is true of its parts. Division is the opposite: an assertion about all of the parts that is true about the whole.

EXAMPLE:

• The McCann's spokesman has portrayed Bloggers and forum participants as being hatemongers and cruel. Using the very few examples of "inhumane" things posted about the McCanns, ALL people discussing case and disbelieving the McCann's version of events are hateful, low-lives with a need to find something to direct their innate nastiness upon. 
• Rather than accepting that some people are truly seeking justice in the case and have broader interests, ALL people questioning the McCanns on forums and blogs are hatemongers. They justify that assertion based on a tiny number of people who may have expressed hatred for the McCanns and their friends due to their parental negligence and the subsequent trauma experienced by an innocent child and the cover-up to the crime that many believe has taken place.

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Propaganda Techniques...How YOU and I are manipulated

Propaganda techniques
Excerpts from SourceWatch

(Please note: This is simply a draft, final post to follow.)

Propagandists use a variety of propaganda techniques to influence opinions and to avoid the truth. Often these techniques rely on some element of censorship or manipulation, either omitting significant information or distorting it.

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Media manipulation

Media manipulation
Source: Wikipedia

Media manipulation is an aspect of public relations in which partisans create an image or argument that favours their particular interests.

Such tactics may include the use of logical fallacies and propaganda techniques, and often involve the suppression of information or points of view by crowding them out, by inducing other people or groups of people to stop listening to certain arguments, or by simply diverting attention elsewhere.

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Distraction Techniques

DISTRACTION TECHNIQUES
SourceWatch

Some of the most effective propaganda techniques work by misdirecting or distracting the public's finite attention away from important issues. 

It's important to read between the lines of the news and see what isn't being reported, or what is reported once, quietly, and not followed up.  

 In an age of information overload, distraction techniques can as effective as active propaganda.

• One way to test for distraction is to look for items that appear repeatedly in foreign press (from neutral and hostile countries) and that don't appear in your own. But beware of deliberately placed lies that are repeated with the hope that people will believe it if it is repeated often enough.
    
  
• All active propaganda techniques can be tested by asking if they tend the target audience to act in the best interests of the distributor of the propaganda. 
   
  
• Propaganda presents one point of view as if it were the best or only way to look at a situation.
   
  
• Sometimes propaganda can be detected by the fact that it changes before and after a critical event, whereas more honest information like medicine, science or any training manual should largely remain the same after the event as before.
   
  
• If there are big disparities, or if some "valuable lesson" or "wake-up call" has occurred, it means that what was provided before the fact was not really "instruction" but "guessing," or - if there is no consistent explanation that survives - propaganda.
   

British government examples

• 15 (UK) Psychological Operations Group
• British Satellite News
• British Forces Broadcasting Service
• Central Office of Information
• Civil Contingencies Secretariat, Cabinet Office
• D-Notice Committee
• Government Communication Network
• Government Information Service
• Government Information and Communication Service
• Information Department, Foreign Office
• Information Policy, Army/Intelligence
• Information Research Department, Foreign Office
• Lobby system
• London Press Service
• London Radio Service, Central Office of Information
• Northern Ireland Information Service, Northern Ireland Office
• Public Diplomacy Policy Department, Foreign Office
• Services Sound and Vision Corporation

Continue Reading... Labels: Ireland, Madeleine McCann, propaganda

Obtain disapproval

Obtain disapproval:

This technique is used to get the audience to disapprove an action or idea by suggesting the idea is popular with groups hated, feared, or held in contempt by the target audience.

Thus, if a group which supports a policy is led to believe that undesirable, subversive, or contemptible people also support it, the members of the group might decide to change their position.

Examples:

• Media Monitoring Unit (MMU)  - British government monitoring of blogs and participation on those blogs.
• The "persecution of Kate McCann" 
• Vilifying of people participating on blogs and forums to discuss the case - stating that negative comments about the McCanns behavior or questions about their potential involvement in Maddie's disappearance bring "heartbreak" to the parents
• Kate McCann "I also think there’ll be some people who would be greatly embarrassed if Madeleine was found and that scares me. That might affect their want, or not, for Madeleine to be found."  (Fact: If Maddie were to be found alive and well, people all over the entire world, including this blogger,  would rejoice.)
• More to follow...
  

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