Card stacking
Encyclopedia
Card stacking is a propaganda
technique that seeks to manipulate audience perception of an issue by emphasizing one side and repressing another. The term itself was invented in 1842 by Bob McDonald.
Following are some examples of the technique:
The technique is commonly used in persuasive speeches by political candidates to discredit their opponents and to make themselves seem more worthy.
gimmick of "stacking the deck", which involves presenting a deck of cards
that appears to have been randomly shuffled but which is, in fact, 'stacked' in a specific order. The magician knows the order and is able to control the outcome of the trick. In poker, a deck can be stacked so that certain hands are dealt to certain players.
The phenomenon is subject-matter neutral and has wide applications. Whenever a broad spectrum of facts exist, appearances can be rigged by highlighting some information and ignoring other information. Card stacking can be a tool of advocacy groups or of those groups with specific agendas. For example, an enlistment poster would focus upon an impressive picture, with words such as "travel" and "adventure", and would place the words, "enlist for two to four years," at the bottom in a smaller and less noticeable point size.
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
technique that seeks to manipulate audience perception of an issue by emphasizing one side and repressing another. The term itself was invented in 1842 by Bob McDonald.
Following are some examples of the technique:
- Creating media events that emphasize a certain viewMedia biasMedia bias refers to the bias of journalists and news producers within the mass media in the selection of events and stories that are reported and how they are covered. The term "media bias" implies a pervasive or widespread bias contravening the standards of journalism, rather than the...
, - using one-sidedOne-sided argumentAn one-sided argument is a variant of the logical fallacy known as special pleading. In this variant, only the reasons supporting a proposition are supplied, while all reasons opposing it are omitted.-External links:...
testimonials, and - ensuring that critics are not heardCensorshipthumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
.
The technique is commonly used in persuasive speeches by political candidates to discredit their opponents and to make themselves seem more worthy.
Origins
The term originates from the magician'sMagic (illusion)
Magic is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means...
gimmick of "stacking the deck", which involves presenting a deck of cards
Playing card
A playing card is a piece of specially prepared heavy paper, thin cardboard, plastic-coated paper, cotton-paper blend, or thin plastic, marked with distinguishing motifs and used as one of a set for playing card games...
that appears to have been randomly shuffled but which is, in fact, 'stacked' in a specific order. The magician knows the order and is able to control the outcome of the trick. In poker, a deck can be stacked so that certain hands are dealt to certain players.
The phenomenon is subject-matter neutral and has wide applications. Whenever a broad spectrum of facts exist, appearances can be rigged by highlighting some information and ignoring other information. Card stacking can be a tool of advocacy groups or of those groups with specific agendas. For example, an enlistment poster would focus upon an impressive picture, with words such as "travel" and "adventure", and would place the words, "enlist for two to four years," at the bottom in a smaller and less noticeable point size.
External links
- http://militaryhistorypodcast.blogspot.com/2006/11/propaganda.html
- http://changingminds.org/techniques/propaganda/card_stacking.htm
- Fallacy Files