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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsGeorge Lakoff explains how Trump uses social media as a weapon to control the news cycle
Link to tweet
Trump uses social media as a weapon to control the news cycle. It works like a charm. His tweets are tactical rather than substantive. They mostly fall into one of these four categories.
The tweets either get his framing established first, knowing that whoever frames first tends to win. Or when things look bad for him, he diverts attention or attacks the messenger. And when he wants to test public opinion, he puts out an outrageous trial balloon.
Each tweet gets his message retweeted so he dominates social media. Reporters, social media influencers, and many others fall for it hook, line, and sinker. Every time. They retweet, share, and repeat his messages ad infinitum. This helps Trump tremendously.
They may think theyre negating or undermining him, but thats not how human brains work. As a cognitive scientist, I can tell you: repeating his messages only helps him.
First, it focuses all attention on Trumps antics. This makes his nonsense seem like the most important thing in the world. Its called the focusing illusion and its a large part of why he got elected in the first place. It makes him larger than life.
Second, constant repetition of his Trumps messages embeds them deeply in the brains of millions of people. Whether its locking up his opponents or threatening nuclear war, he has the power to control tens of millions of brains via tweets. He focuses them on his chosen topics.
Third, the constant attacks and outrage increase his credibility with his base. He can portray himself as a victim of the establishment under constant attacks (which he provokes with tweets). He acts, his opponents only react. He is in heroic control.
I understand the desire to portray Trump as childish or deranged. But do you deal with a child or a deranged person by sinking to their level? Do you mock and scorn them, or trumpet their ridiculousness on the front page? No.
Imagine if we took a different approach to Trumps social media antics. Imagine if we put them in a small, quiet corner of the newspaper. Imagine if they were only a minor throwaway item at the end of the newscast. Imagine greeting them with calm clarity, not instant outrage.
Imagine keeping a steely focus on what actually matters: the dismantling of our government; Republicans robbing the middle class and poor to pay off the rich; Robert Muellers criminal investigation into the Trump Organizations betrayal of America.
Imagine if we took back OUR power from this disgraceful man. Imagine if WE decided what was important, rather than dancing to Trumps tune. Imagine if a tweet were just a tweet (or evidence in a criminal case), rather than the dictator of our reality.
We have the power stop him. But we must stop letting him control our media -- and our minds. Its time to give Trump a Twitter Time Out. Lets shrink him down to size. Lets take this weapon out of his hands.
Think of Trump as a puppeteer, his tweets as the strings,
and anyone who retweets/shares him as the puppet. Cut the damn strings!
Two items trending on Twitter right now. One is what Trump wants you to focus on. But THIS is the REAL story he wishes to distract from. Please read it, share it, and keep it real. Release the transcripts!
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/02/opinion/republicans-investigation-fusion-gps.html
msongs
(67,347 posts)MarkMakers
(20 posts)'Splain something that I don't already know
Cha
(296,772 posts)to be passed on.. thanks for kicking the thread even though you know it all.
calimary
(81,085 posts)Sure hope some Dems are looking at things like this. They REALLY need to hire Lakoff as a senior advisor to the DNC.
I mentioned this at an Indivisible meeting with one of Dianne Feinstein's deputies. He behaved as though he'd never heard of the guy before. Judging from the "savvy" "expertise" of general Democratic "messaging," I'd believe him.
calimary
(81,085 posts)I think the DNC should hire George Lakoff as a senior advisor. The Dems need serious help with messaging!
uponit7771
(90,301 posts)... don't understand people giving up their sense of morality for such a stupid ass.
OhioBlue
(5,126 posts)I remember when I read "Don't think of an Elephant", I kept thinking after every page... Why don't the Dem's study this and hire him?
Cha
(296,772 posts)Mahalo, IT.. Bookmarked!
uponit7771
(90,301 posts)Kirk Lover
(3,608 posts)The DOTUS. And in my opinion ...all this framing and 'deflecting' isn't doing him one damn bit of good. In fact, I think he's making his situation much worse for himself. Everybody except the dumb deplorables sees right through this PATHETIC charade.
I also take exception that the author says this:
Imagine keeping a steely focus on what actually matters: the dismantling of our government; Republicans robbing the middle class and poor to pay off the rich; Robert Muellers criminal investigation into the Trump Organizations betrayal of America.
I'm sorry but what he says in the above paragraph is constantly in the news and always being talked about (He also forgot to mention healthcare) I see no problem with also addressing a 'deflective' tweet or whatever....it's like hey we can do both...and hey we realize which issues are more important.
calimary
(81,085 posts)bdamomma
(63,791 posts)LeftInTX
(25,097 posts)Trump is rewarded for behaving like a juvenile delinquent. While everyone's hair is on fire, Trump has the last laugh.
I really don't take his tweets seriously, although that button tweet was funny.
alarimer
(16,245 posts)He is incapable of this kind of well-though-out scheming. He is far too stupid.