The following terms and definitions are important to know and will help the reader comprehend the analysis of the posts on this site.

Anecdotal Evidence:

This is evidence based upon a person’s casual observations, personal experiences and or their personal opinions rather than rigorous or scientific analysis. Even if the anecdotal evidence is true, it’s weak and without verifiable facts.

Coercion:

The threat to use punishment, including physical violence or vindictive strategies, against a person or group of people, to force them to do things that they would not do if they were not being threatened.

Ethos, Pathos & Logos:

These are the three forms of logic that can be used to persuade people. The words come from the ancient Greek study of language and communication. The forms break down simply as follows:

Ethos is persuasion based upon the expert.
An “Expert” would be a person with a high degree of skill in or knowledge of a certain subject. While experts have experience in a subject they may unethically present their persuasive arguments with personal bias. It’s a good idea to investigate or study the motivation of the expert before simply agreeing with them based upon their expertise.

Pathos is persuasion based upon emotion.
This is the least credible form of persuasion. It plays upon weakness and the empathy of an audience. Often, guilt is used in the Pathos persuasion process. It can be very effective and is often used in advertising.

Logos is persuasion based upon physical evidence and real facts.
Persuasion using logos is the most credible, but the facts presented may be challenged or changed if new legitimate data can be presented.

Facts:

Knowledge or information that is based upon real occurrences. Facts may be pieces of information presented that are based in objective reality. Facts may include something that has been demonstrated or proven to exist or even be known to have existed. Facts are not theories, because they are things that have been done.

Gaslighting:

A dishonest type of manipulation and psychological control.

When a person is “Gaslighted” they are deliberately and regularly fed false information that makes the victim question what they know to be true. This manipulation often makes the victim doubt what they know about themselves or what they have experienced. A person that has been “Gaslit” may end up doubting their perceptions, doubting their reality in the current moment, and sometimes even doubting their own mental condition.

When a person experiences this form of manipulation for an long period of time their confusion can increase to the point that the victim may no longer be able to identify truth. This gives power to the person doing the Gaslighting and may allow the victim to believe something false to be their reality.

The term itself originates from an early 20th century drama of the same name, but the use of this word to describe this type of manipulation is recent. Gaslighting can occur in both personal and professional relationships. Victims often trust the offenders responsible for Gaslighting them.

Over the past few years, there have been several examples of Gaslighting done by the mainstream media and directed at the information consuming public. Many examples can be found in the recent Covid experiences and in the data surrounding the “covid vaccine.” This term may be found in many of the stories analyzed on this website and examples of Gaslighting will be identified.

Ideology:

An ideology is a collection of beliefs or opinions that are held by a person, or by a group of people, often related to a social or a political philosophy. The term ideology is most often associated with a rigid political belief system or to ideas that characterize a particular culture. Capitalism, communism, socialism, and Marxism are all forms of ideologies.

Prejudice:

The act of or state of holding judgments or conviction that are made before evidence may be presented. This may also be judgment or an opinion formed unfairly, or without knowledge, of the facts. It may appear as irrational suspicion or hatred of a particular social group, such as a race or a religion. In legal terms it indicates extra harmful judgement against someone.

Truth:

The observance and acknowledgment of a fact. Truth is based in reality. Truth is the reality of a situation.