What’s the next step beyond anonymous, anti-Obama emails? Anonymous, anti-Obama texts!
2October 31, 2012 by Qina Liu
Remember how we were talking about anonymous anti-Obama emails in yesterday’s class discussions? Well, apparently, the latest development: anti-Obama texts from anonymous sources.
So what do these texts say? Well…
Like anonymous emails, these short text messages are not credible. Where’s the evidence that electing Obama puts Medicare at risk? Also, it’s not clear where these texts were sent from. When CNN’s Spellman tried replying to the text, it wasn’t delivered.
So far, these texts are limited to the D.C. area, but I’m wondering if these texts could be forwarded? (e.g. instead of chain emails, you get chain texts) Like our discussions yesterday involving emails, I’m sure if one of your friends texted something like this to you, you would at least give it a read even if you didn’t agree with the viewpoints presented in the text. Your thoughts?
For more information, please refer to this Atlantic article. (I also find it interesting that since unsolicited, automated texts are illegal, whoever is organizing this has sent these messages through email addresses.)
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In response to Qina’s post I have something to add. These scare tactics use the methods defined by the FUD factor. Its intent and use is given context in page 26 of Unspun, “Fear has been a staple tactic of advertisers and politicians for so long… fear and insecurity can still cloud our judgement… if it’s scary, be wary” These texts say negative things about Obama in order to make us question our president. In addition to these scary texts, I personally have received phone calls regarding the election. Before I hung up something along the lines of “we can’t afford four more years” was said. By using new media technologies, both campaigns are attempting to change our opinions and make us have particular views.
By using texts to scare the voting public, the parties are clearly reaching out to the younger generations of voters. Since the younger generation overwhelmingly supported Obama, the use of the FUD factor through texts clearly didn’t work well. For those people who are informed, this type of scare tactic does not seem to work. But perhaps for those not following the election so closely, a text scaring people to vote one way or another may work.