Noam Chomsky
Necessary Illusions
Thought Control in Democratic Societies
A paragraph from a book by: Noam Chomsky: Media Control.
"The issue is whether we want to live in a free society or whether we
want to live under what amounts to a form of self-imposed
totalitarianism, with the bewildered herd marginalized, directed
elsewhere, terrified, screaming patriotic slogans, fearing for their
lives, and admiring with awe the leader who saved them from destruction,
while the educated masses goose-step on command and repeat the slogans
they’re supposed to repeat and the society deteriorates at home. We end
up serving as a mercenary enforcer state, hoping that others are going
to pay us to smash up the world."
STRATEGY OF MANIPULATION POPULATION BY MASS MEDIA :
1. DIVERTING ATTENTION
Divert public attention from important to unimportant issues. Overtask public
with flood of irrelevant information, that people wouldn't think and acquire
basic knowledge in understanding the world.
2. CREATING A PROBLEM
This method is called "problem-reaction-solution". You need to create
a problem, that the public reacted to it. For example: cause and transfer
violence with the intent that public more easily accept restriction of liberty,
economic crisis, or to justify the demolition of the welfare state.
3. GRADUAL CHANGE
That the public has agreed to some an unacceptable extent, you need to be
introduced gradually, "the scoop", months and years. The changes,
which could cause resistance, if they should be performed rapidly and in a
short
time, in this way they will be implemented by policy of small steps. In this
way the world has so changed over time, but not be aware of the changes.
4. DELAY
Another way to prepare the public for unpopular changes is to be announced much
earlier, in advance. On that way people do not feel all weight of a sudden
change, because previously accustomed the very idea of change.
Besides that, "a common hope for a brighter future" facilitates their
acceptance.
5. USE OF CHILDREN'S LANGUAGE
When you are talking to adults like you are talking to children, they achieve
two benefits: the public suppresses their critical awareness and the message
has a stronger impact on people. This suggestive mechanism largely be used in
advertising.
6. AWAKENING OF EMOTIONS
Misuse of emotions is a classic technique used in causing a short circuit in
situation of reasonable judgment. Critical awareness is replaced with emotional
impulses (anger, fear, etc.). Use emotional register to access the unconscious,
and later can be implemented at this level ideas, desires, worries, concerns,
or coercion, or cause certain behaviors.
7. IGNORANCE
The poorer classes should be disabled access to understanding the mechanisms of
manipulation their consent. The quality of education of the lower strata of
society should be as weak or below average, that gap between higher education
and lower layers remained unbridgeable.
8. GLORIFYING NONSENSE
The public should be encouraged to accept mediocrity. It is necessary to
convince people that (in, in fashion) is desirable to be stupid, vulgar and
ignorant. At the same time to induce resistance to culture and science.
9. MAKE THE FEELING OF GUILT
You need to convince everyone that it is only and exclusively on their own
responsibility and guilty for their misfortune, due to the scarce of knowledge,
limited ability, or lack of effort. So insecure and underestimated individuals,
burdened by guilt, forsaking the search for causes of their position and
rebellion against the economic system.
10. ABUSE OF A KNOWLEDGE
The rapid development of science in the last 50 years creating a growing gap
between public knowledge and those who possess and use, the ruling elite.
"System", due to biology, neurobiology and practical psychology, has
access to advanced knowledge of the man on the physical and mental level.
Manufacturing Consent - Noam Chomsky and the Media
