Example 4: Name Calling

Back in elementary school “name calling” was and still is a huge problem. According to Jowett and O’Donnell, “Words frequently used as synonyms for propaganda are lies, distortion, deceit, manipulation, mind control, psychological warfare, brainwashing, and palaver.” According to Jacques Ellul, “Propaganda is a form of information that panders to our insecurities and anxieties.” Names such as “stupid, idiot, and loser” were extremely frowned upon and took an extreme toll on the students being targeted. I was never one to participate in the name calling, but rather stick up for those who were being harassed. Names went even further attacking someone’s personal identity such as “brace-face” to those who had braces on their teeth, or “four-eyes” to those who wore glasses. At that young of an age, you do not understand what your insults are directly doing that the target. Calling someone “retarded” just for not knowing something was completely unacceptable. Calling another student these names is a form of propaganda because you are calling someone something they are not. It’s a false accusation made towards another person and really affects to person being targeted.