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China increases spending 500% to influence America

axios.com

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Re: China increases spending 500% to influence America

#71

Post by [deleted] »

dalbasal wrote: post #43
scarmig wrote: post #10

Chinese propaganda is just so... Tone deaf. Give me a couple million dollars and a couple interns and I'm pretty sure I could do better than any of its existing organs. This isn't a particularly high bar: you could probably do better just by doing nothing.

This is similar to the common sentiment people have about advertising: It's so stupid... never works on anyone I know. I don't know why companies waste their money. Meanwhile, advertising is an industry that rivals energy, shipping and such. If that's not markt proof of efficacy, IDK what is. From the advertiser side of the advertiser-consumer relationship, there's no doubt of efficacy. You open an online business. N…

[deleted]

Re: China increases spending 500% to influence America

#72

Post by dalbasal »

scarmig wrote: post #51
dalbasal wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is similar to the common sentiment people have about advertising: It's so stupid... never works on anyone I know. I don't know why companies waste their money. Meanwhile, advertising is an industry that rivals energy, shipping and such. If that's not markt proof of efficacy, IDK what is. From the advertiser side of the advertiser-consumer relationship, there's no doubt of efficacy. You open an online business. N…

The structural kind of propaganda is one thing: make sure American cultural products have to respect Chinese sensibilities, and that's huge. I'm speaking strictly of the hamfisted Twitter accounts and silly press releases that are meant for international consumption.

I think the most hamfisted ones stand out the most, so we might be underestimating mean quality. Not sure it matters though.

Twitter sockpuppeting is a recurring red herring, not just regarding china. For all the attention it receives, it's not a major component of any major effort. FWIW, I don't think anyone's is particularly slick. It's not intended to be. At best, it's about algorithm hacks and generating a veneer of debate.

As "sentiment analysis" becomes integrated (intentionally, or accidentally) into recommendation engines and such... these may be more about fooling machines than people. Not saying this is a factor now (or ever, necessarily), just that stuff can look lame but still work.

This article seems to be referencing registered lobbyist budgets, which is another relatively minor component. It's also relatively easy to obscure, or act through proxies. In some cases, proxy can be fairly nebulous... relating to what you call structural propaganda.

The most visible parts are not necessarily good indicators, is my main point.

Re: China increases spending 500% to influence America

#74

Post by dejawu »

briefcomment wrote: post #17
scarmig wrote: post #10

Chinese propaganda is just so... Tone deaf. Give me a couple million dollars and a couple interns and I'm pretty sure I could do better than any of its existing organs. This isn't a particularly high bar: you could probably do better just by doing nothing.

What do you think are examples of Chinese propaganda? If it was good, I don't think we'd be able to tell.

This is my favorite example:

https://twitter.com/chenweihua/status/1334561058799964164

Re: China increases spending 500% to influence America

#75

Post by optimalsolver »

scarmig wrote: post #10

Chinese propaganda is just so... Tone deaf. Give me a couple million dollars and a couple interns and I'm pretty sure I could do better than any of its existing organs. This isn't a particularly high bar: you could probably do better just by doing nothing.

>Chinese propaganda is just so... Tone deaf

Ironic, seeing as Chinese is a tonal language.

Re: China increases spending 500% to influence America

#76

Post by pessimizer »

Aperocky wrote: post #42

At the risk of being accused of whataboutism, I raise you the $300 million "Countering Chinese Influence Fund" https://www.axios.com/senate-china-bill-474f96f1-467b-4c02-a...

That can't be propaganda, because it is from the US. Only the Chinese and Russians do propaganda, primarily through sneaky television stations that are openly owned by the state and think they have a right to broadcast opinions on US politics.

Re: China increases spending 500% to influence America

#77

Post by Impassionata »

scarmig wrote: post #10

Chinese propaganda is just so... Tone deaf. Give me a couple million dollars and a couple interns and I'm pretty sure I could do better than any of its existing organs. This isn't a particularly high bar: you could probably do better just by doing nothing.

Half of the country thinks the Mueller report exonerated Trump. The body politic has become completely decoupled from reality.

If it's that easy for Russians to influence our politics, why wouldn't the Chinese perceive that there is low-hanging fruit in running general disruption?

Re: China increases spending 500% to influence America

#78

Post by honkdaddy »

briantakita wrote: post #44

Aside from their hard work & valuing education, how did China rise up in modern times to get all of this social, economic, & technological power? Recent history has some interesting twists & they have had many helping hands.

Kraut has a fantastic video on the topic - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhMAt3BluAU

While its title relates to Trump, the video is much moreso about Chinese history and culture and what brought them to the position they're in today.

Re: China increases spending 500% to influence America

#80

Post by tester756 »

scarmig wrote: post #10

Chinese propaganda is just so... Tone deaf. Give me a couple million dollars and a couple interns and I'm pretty sure I could do better than any of its existing organs. This isn't a particularly high bar: you could probably do better just by doing nothing.

>Chinese propaganda is just so... Tone deaf.

So apparently it works? :)

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