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Category: Emotion

Social media outrage mob falsely accuses professor of racism, calls for his firing

Social media outrage mob falsely accuses professor of racism, calls for his firing

Social media outrage led to amateurs falsely identifying a University professor as participating in the Charlottesville, VA mob, leading to people publicly calling him a racist and calling upon the university to fire the professor of engineering. He was verified and confirmed at University event 1,100 miles away at the time of the riot. Imagine if this happened to any of us – and we did not happen to be at an event providing us with an alibi. Social media…

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Photo said to be from August 12 – Charlottesville, VA, circulating on social media is not from August 12

Photo said to be from August 12 – Charlottesville, VA, circulating on social media is not from August 12

The following photo is now circulating widely on social media as shown in this screen capture from Twitter:  The image used here appears, currently, in Google Image search results spanning an astounding 15 pages. The above tweet has alone been shared 227,000 times on social media. This is not the only social media copy, either. It is likely this has now been shared tens of millions of times on social media. The photo, while from Charlottesville, is of a different…

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Using Questionable Statistics to Drive Up Wedding Costs?

Using Questionable Statistics to Drive Up Wedding Costs?

What is the claimed average cost of a wedding in the U.S.? $35,329 in 2016, says “The Knot” (not including costs of a honeymoon trip). More on their press release. This value is *widely* distributed in the media, on social media, and in online forums. Other estimates come from Conde Nast Bridal Infobank and The Fairchild Bridal Group. How can an average wedding cost $35,329 when 62% of American have less than $1,000 in their savings account and only 10-20% have…

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Context matters – “Allah is the only god”

Context matters – “Allah is the only god”

  TL;DR Summary Conservative social media protested that school children were ordered to write “Allah is the only god” for a school assignment. The incident did happen, but context matters! This is just one tiny part of a multi-part course segment on issues in world history. And specifically, on the role that religion has played in major historical events. On 1 day of a 3 week period, students examined the Five Pillars of Islam to learn the role they played…

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The firestorm over "transgender" bathroom access

The firestorm over "transgender" bathroom access

The past few weeks have been a media fire storm over “transgender rights” and access to public and privately owned bathroom facilities labeled “Women” or “Girls” or “Men” or “Boys”. But there is a bigger issue to address in terms of our locker room style, gender specific bathrooms. Parents with young children, and anyone assisting a disabled person  encounter the problem of gender specific bathrooms all the time.

Why is the media ignoring “this”?

Why is the media ignoring “this”?

TL;DR Summary The media is ignoring that Sanders has attracted someone’s estimate of 45,000 people to a rally in NYC. Truth: The story is covered by MSNBC, NY Times, CNN and others. Why spread the false statement that the media are ignoring this?

Panama Free Trade Agreement propaganda video is accurate and effective

Panama Free Trade Agreement propaganda video is accurate and effective

TL;DR Summary In 2011, Bernie Sanders spoke forcefully against a free trade agreement with Panama because Panama operates as a tax haven with secret bank accounts. True-Sanders did speak forcefully against the PFTA. True-Panama does have low corporate tax rates, tax havens and banking secrecy. This is an effective propaganda poster (video) because it is topical, makes good use of facts (not false assertions or logical fallacies), and is conveyed simply and directly. It is also unusual for a propaganda…

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Same country, different data – the ease of creating propaganda posters

Same country, different data – the ease of creating propaganda posters

TL; DR Summary All true. Illustrates the ease of creating propaganda posters. Share if you agree! As I continue to cross-check the very popular (on social media) Denmark propaganda posters, I created one of my own!     Points that did not fit on this poster: Denmark has the highest taxes in the world Denmark has the highest personal debts in the world with household debt equal to 321% of disposable income. Banks pay negative interest rates – meaning that…

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Transferring dislike for one on to another using a false quote

Transferring dislike for one on to another using a false quote

TL;DR Summary Poster suggests that Hillary Clinton is advocating the same policies as Adolf Hitler by pairing up alleged quotes from both. There is no evidence that Clinton said this. The quote comes from a book whose author admits he made up quotes. The goal is to transfer one’s dislike for Hitler to Clinton via logical fallacy.

How pro sports uses the national anthem for promotional propaganda

How pro sports uses the national anthem for promotional propaganda

TL;DR Summary Why do we play the national anthem at sports events? Why do we have the emotional re-uniting of families with a service member returned from overseas at sports events? These seemingly spontaneous events of joy and patriotism are often paid endorsements from the marketing budget of the the US Department of Defense. In the case of the Superbowl, the symbolism is taken to an extreme to link pro sports with patriotism, military and nationalist pride.