Bifalgorithm post · Infotech governance policy ethics and law · Appendix E: Propaganda techniques

Authority Appeals

Authority Appeals (Infotech governance policy ethics and law · Appendix E: Propaganda techniques) — "The Transfer technique tries to extend the authority and a…

Ideas in this flowchart

  • Propaganda techniques: Transfer, Testimonials, and Plain Folks
  • Transfer extends the authority or approval of a respected person or symbol to another proposal, person, or product.
  • Testimonials apply Transfer when the respected or authoritative person personally gives the approval.
  • Plain Folks presents a spokesperson as humble, decent, trustworthy, and similar to ordinary people.
  • Symbols such as flags or idealised images of womanhood and manhood stir emotions and win approval.
  • The Transfer defence is to examine the pitch, its meaning, its merit, and its legitimate connection independently of existing convictions.
  • In Testimonials, authority is used as an ethical appeal to encourage the audience to follow the authority figure’s example.
  • The Testimonial defence is to question the authority figure’s qualifications, the proposal’s merit, and the reason for believing the recommendation.
  • Testimonials fail when the person lacks real authority, has a secret agenda, or faces disagreement from other experts.
  • Plain Folks uses everyday speech and mannerisms to create identification and encourage acceptance of the spokesperson’s viewpoint.
  • The Plain Folks defence is to assess the person’s trustworthiness outside the situation, possible concealment, and the facts.
  • The proposal’s ideas should be considered separately from the personality of the presenter.
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Authority Appeals

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Infotech governance policy ethics and law

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"The Transfer technique tries to extend the authority and approval of something or someone we respect to something the propagandist would have us believe. Symbols play an important role with this technique, for example flag waving or idealised images of womanhood or manhood, anything that can stir the emotions and win our approval. The best defence is to calmly ask yourself what exactly is the speaker trying to pitch? What does it mean? Is there a legitimate connection between the suggestion and the person or product? Does the proposal have any merit by itself? Try to do this independently of the convictions you already have about other persons or ideas. Testimonials are an implementation of the Transfer technique, but where the respected or authoritative person themselves seeks to make the transfer rather than a third person. The respected person gives something their stamp of approval, essentially making an ethical appeal based on their authority as an expert to encourage the audience to follow their example. The best defence is to calmly ask yourself who exactly is this authority figure? Is there a good reason we should believe they are qualified to make this recommendation? Is there any merit to what is being proposed? The technique falls apart if you can see that the person is not actually an authority but somebody with a secret agenda, or show that other experts disagree with them. The Plain Folks technique presents a spokesperson from humble origins, a simple, decent, good-natured person who has our best interests at heart. The spokesperson uses common, everyday speech and mannerisms to get people to identify with them and so accept their point of view. The best defence is to calmly ask yourself is this person believable and trustworthy when removed from the situation being discussed? Are they trying to cover up anything? What are the facts of the situation? Try to consider the ideas contained in the proposal separately from the personality of the presenter."

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