Last week, I discussed the numerous types of fallacies that exist in advertising, however the bombardments of persuasion occurs in more than just the marketplace.  In light of the recent Virginia gubernatorial election, politics is a major area where people try to persuade the public.  From debates to speeches, politicians utilize many of the same strategies to induce votes.  From the bandwagon effect to the appeal to the emotions, politics is enamored with fallacies.

Another example is in a corporate setting.  Many companies hire motivational speakers to encourage their workers to improve performance and raise morale.  Whether they persuade people of their own potential or of the important role of the company, these tactics are enabled to persuade.  These speakers use tons of fallacies including: hasty generalization, false analogy, false cause, false dilemma, ad hominem, etc.

Simply from taking a macroscopic perspective on persuasion, it is hard to recount an area where we are not being convinced or influenced to make certain decisions or actions.

Lonelygirl15

Persuasion transforms to manipulation when a person is deceived based on false information.  In pop culture, if people are convinced of an idea based on truthful facts, then this is classified as persuasion.  However, when manipulation occurs, as in Lonelygirl15’s case; the YouTube audience falsely believed the show based on the fake narrative they provided.  To better understand these two concepts, it is important to analyze lies vs fallacies.  A fallacy is a tool that takes truths and repackages them to justify a claim, as opposed to a lie that completely makes something up.  For Lonleygirl15, there is no truth whatsoever- the people are actors, the bedroom a decorated set, and the drama scripted.  Audiences were convinced to follow this story when in fact it was a disguised manipulation.

Signing off,

Delectable Danielle