During any two hour period watching Fox News (opinion) you will be able to find at least one instance of all of the following, usually multiple instances:
Assertion:An assertion is an enthusiastic or energetic statement presented as a fact, although it is not necessarily true. They often imply that the statement requires no explanation or back up, but that it should merely be accepted without question.
The fix: Searching for additional information or reasoning.
Bandwagon:
Bandwagon is an appeal to the subject to follow the crowd, to join in because others are doing so as well.
The fix: We should weigh the pros and cons of joining in independently from the amount of people who have already joined. Searching for additional information or reasoning.
Card stacking:
Card stacking, or selective omission involves only presenting information that is positive to an idea or proposal and omitting information contrary to it.
The fix - Searching for additional information or reasoning.
Glittering Generalities:
Glittering generalities are words that have different positive meaning for individual subjects, but are linked to highly valued concepts. When these words are used, they demand approval without thinking, simply because such an important concept is involved.
The fix:We should weigh the pros and cons of joining in independently from the amount of people who have already joined, and searching for additional information or reasoning.
Lesser of Two Evils:
The "lesser of two evils" technique tries to convince us of an idea or proposal by presenting it as the least offensive option. This technique is often accompanied by adding blame on an enemy.
The fix : Should consider the value of any proposal independently of those it is being compared with.
Name Calling:
It is the use of derogatory language or words that carry a negative connotation when describing an enemy. The propaganda attempts to arouse prejudice among the public by labeling the target something that the public dislikes.
The fix: we should attempt to separate our feelings about the name and our feelings about the actual idea or proposal.
Pinpointing the Enemy:
This is an attempt to simplify a complex situation by presenting one specific group or person as the enemy.
The fix: An informed person is much less susceptible to this sort of propaganda.
Common man:
The Common man device is an attempt by the propagandist to convince the public that his views reflect those of the common person and that they are also working for the benefit of the common person.
The fix - We should consider the proposals and ideas separately from the personality of the presenter.
Simplification (Stereotyping):
Often reduces a complex situation to a clear-cut choice involving good and evil. This technique is often useful in swaying uneducated audiences.
The fix - When faced with simplification, it is often useful to examine other factors and pieces of the proposal or idea, and, as with all other forms of propaganda, it is essential to get more information.
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