I'd like to add to your argument about the media creating the "culture" as opposed to operating in it or reporting on it, but my example is a little different. Have you ever noticed the New York Times book bestsellers section isn't based on pure numbers of book units sold? It's a curated list of books the times views as important books.
And people just assume that those books are popular and important and will read them to be in the know. The books themselves will advertise they are on the NYT Bestseller list and the normies go, it must be good everyone seems to enjoy it. Is it the biggest conspiracy in the world, no but it is the media subtly influcing the public with insinuation.
Your example is the NYT blatantly lying, not subtly influencing public opinion. The funny thing is they could name the list something with no objective standard ("best" or "most impactful" are just 2 examples that come to mind here) like the various Pedowood award shows and it would achieve its purpose of conning normies into consuming their slop.
I'd like to add to your argument about the media creating the "culture" as opposed to operating in it or reporting on it, but my example is a little different. Have you ever noticed the New York Times book bestsellers section isn't based on pure numbers of book units sold? It's a curated list of books the times views as important books.
And people just assume that those books are popular and important and will read them to be in the know. The books themselves will advertise they are on the NYT Bestseller list and the normies go, it must be good everyone seems to enjoy it. Is it the biggest conspiracy in the world, no but it is the media subtly influcing the public with insinuation.
I 'member
https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/ca-supreme-court/1843273.html
Your example is the NYT blatantly lying, not subtly influencing public opinion. The funny thing is they could name the list something with no objective standard ("best" or "most impactful" are just 2 examples that come to mind here) like the various Pedowood award shows and it would achieve its purpose of conning normies into consuming their slop.