Political Manipulation Through Implicit Premises
Friday, May 1st, 2009Note: This post on political manipulation is a quick rewrite of a page from my website www.RadicalNewThoughts.com
There is an old joke that starts by asking you, “Have you stopped beating your wife yet?” Whether you answer yes or no it sounds like you are admitting to being a wife beater. It’s a practical joke based on the use of an implicit premise - that you beat your wife. The technique is used for more than a laugh though. It’s also a favorite of politicians, who use it to manipulate public opinion.
You see, political manipulation is accomplished by (more…)
