Whispering campaigns

[BrendaStarr]

There are too many of us who think that we have no voice in this election, that we cannot sway people.

That is wrong.

The whispering campaigns of the thirties and the stealth marketing of today shows that just commumicating to other people works.


What is now touted by its enthusiasts as "viral" or "buzz" marketing has its root in 1930s whispering campaigns. A typical whispering campaign worked like this: A company hired people to go out in public and secretly spread some rumor or blab about a promotion. For example, a department store hired young women to ride up and down an office elevator all day and talk loudly enough for others to hear about all the wonderful dresses on sale down at Sanfred’s. Another manufacturer hired actors to ride the subway and pretend to be businessmen. One would then "coincidentally" bump into an old friend (another actor) and talk about tires.

Whispering campaigns were largely inspired by the psychological warfare techniques used in World War I. The Allies spread false rumors–like the German atrocity stories–to win support for their cause. Not surprisingly, companies did the same thing, creating word-of-mouth campaigns designed to attack the enemy, usually the leading competition. A rival of Chesterfield cigarettes, for example, paid men along the Atlantic seaboard to run into stores and ask for cigarettes. When the clerk gave them Chesterfield’s, the men would respond, "I don’t want that kind. There’s a contagious disease in their plant." In case that wasn’t enough to scare people off, the men would add, "and the officers of the corporation are giving large sums to the Nazis." (Chesterfield responded by offering a $25,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of the parties responsible for the rumors.)

rest at: http://www.stayfreemagazine.org/archives/19/whispering.html

And it works without the stealth. Of course the Republicans are all over this with lots of paid message boarders and their lying talking points. It is a massive effort from what I've seen over the last four years. It broke down in 2003 and we regained control of the boards for a while. That was the same time that Bush's poll numbers were falling.

Now the Rs are not going to lose control of the boards without a fight between now and the election you can be sure. You know how they are. They win. They declare a mandate to do whatever they want no matter how narrow the election.

I recommend that when you are through getting your information here that you get out and spend time on the mixed message boards. Pick big ones where you will usually find support from other liberals or forums about your special interests.

Right wingers out there are specially viscious, yes. That tactic is from Mein Kampf meant to drive politically aware people into their own little groups where they won't be affecting the mind control from the fascists. Personally, that just makes me mad, as does their hidden campaign tactic of using paid message boarders.

[NMDemDist2]

1. I am spreading the "cocaine at Camp David" far and wide and

hyping Kelly's book