Card stacking

For the card game term, see stacked deck. For the pastime, see House of cards.

Card stacking is a propaganda technique that seeks to manipulate audience perception of an issue by emphasizing one side and repressing another. The term itself was invented in 1842 by Bob McDonald.

Following are some examples of the technique:

• Creating media events that emphasize a certain view,
• using one-sided testimonials, and
• ensuring that critics are not heard.

The technique is commonly used in persuasive speeches by political candidates to discredit their opponents and to make themselves seem more worthy.

Origins

The term originates from the magician's gimmick of "stacking the deck", which involves presenting a deck of cards that appears to have been randomly shuffled but which is, in fact, 'stacked' in a specific order. The magician knows the order and is able to control the outcome of the trick. In poker, a deck can be stacked so that certain hands are dealt to certain players.

The phenomenon is subject-matter neutral and has wide applications. Whenever a broad spectrum of facts exist, appearances can be rigged by highlighting some information and ignoring other information. Card stacking can be a tool of advocacy groups or of those groups with specific agendas. For example, an enlistment poster would focus upon an impressive picture, with words such as "travel" and "adventure", and would place the words, "enlist for two to four years," at the bottom in a smaller and less noticeable point size.

External links

• http://militaryhistorypodcast.blogspot.com/2006/11/propaganda.html
• http://changingminds.org/techniques/propaganda/card_stacking.htm
• Fallacy Files