Let's talk about propaganda which is a systematic effort to influence people’s opinions, to win them over to a certain view or side. We as Americans have been exposed to propaganda of various types for such a long time that the use of propaganda has crept into our everyday conversations and the posts we place on social network sites. Unfortunately, we do it without even thinking. At times those of us who have opinions attempt by coercion to persuade others - those of different opinions or those we view as having opposing or different opinions - to accept our view of things.

Often we spend so much time and effort quixotically opposing views that we forget to promote our own ideas, i.e., sell our own "product" or point of view. We become negative. Naysayers. We're viewed as people who tear down rather than those that attempt to build up. Never building, as in a positive endeavor. Demolition is easy. Construction is hard. Those who demolish leave a wasteland. Those who build or are constructive, produce an environment that we feel comfortable living in.

Edward Filene helped establish the Institute of Propaganda Analysis in 1937 to educate the American public about the nature of propaganda and how to recognize propaganda techniques. Filene and his colleagues identified the seven most common "tricks of the trade" used by successful propagandists. These seven techniques or pillars are: 1) Name Calling, 2) Glittering Generalities, 3) Transfer, 4) Testimonial, 5) Plain Folks, 6) Card Stacking, and 7) Band Wagon.

 Below you'll find listed explanations and examples of each of the seven pillars of propaganda. My challenge to you is simply to identify any that you may use in your day to day interaction with others. By this I mean as used in personal conversation or less personally as you reach out to the world electronically. Are you smashing or mending? Tearing down or building up?

 So here they are:

1) Name Calling: Negatively charged names are hurled against the opposing side or competitor, in an attempt to arouse feelings of mistrust, fear, and hate in their audiences. 

Political example: “Warmonger” “Loser” “Fence-Sitter”
Advertising example: “Foreign car” instead of “Imported”—foreign may have unpleasant connotations 

2) Glittering Generalities: Surrounding a product with attractive—and slippery—words and phrases, often too vague to define and may have different meanings to different people.

Political example: “Vote for change, vote for progress” (What kind of change? What kind of progress?)
Advertising example: “Luvs diapers” “Joy liquid detergent”

 3) Transfer: Trying to improve the image of a product by associating it with a symbol most people respect, hoping that the prestige of the symbol will carry over to the product

 Political example: Political ads with a bald eagle, stars and stripes, the national anthem playing softly
Advertising example: Exxon Valdez & Wildlife benefits

 4) Testimonial: Similar to Transfer, this technique capitalizes on the admiration people have for a celebrity to make a product more appealing

 Political example: Oprah for Obama
Advertising example: Jessica Simpson for Proactiv

 5) Plain Folks: An approach appealing to the everyday person, essentially saying, “Buy this or vote for me because I’m just like you.”

 Political example: Candidate riding a tractor or wearing a hardhat
Advertising example: “Not actors, these are real people” “1-800-ASK-GARY”

 6) Card Stacking: One side may suppress or distort evidence, tell half-truths, oversimplify the facts, or set up a “straw man”—a false target—to divert attention from the issue at hand 

Political example: “Candidate changed his mind five times”—we tend to accept the claim and do not wonder if the candidate had good reason for changing his/her mind
Advertising example: “4 out of 5 doctors agree” “A better product than most competitors”

 7) Bandwagon: Advertising peer pressure, suggesting that “Everyone’s doing it. What’s wrong with you?” People generally want to fit in, not be seen as different, be on the winning team…

 Political example: “Vote for the ‘winning’ candidate”
Advertising example: “America’s favorite…” “Most people prefer brand X over other brands…”

 If you use any of these day-to-day, be honest with yourself and admit it. Understand what you're doing and don't become overbearing. Realize that success is not a destination but a journey. And that journeys require safe havens and friendly rest stops. Be open and honest; a warm, allowing person - allowing others to assist in the journey.

And with their help, if it's only playing opposition, you'll still be able to accomplish your goals.