In France, there is a powerful left-wing politician named Jean-Luc Mélenchon.

He was senator for decades. He was previously a minister. He has run for President multiple times. People close him describe him as a political beast.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Luc_Mélenchon

On october 3th 2023, the newspaper Le Monde published an absolutely astonishing investigation into his girlfriend. They reveal that his girlfriend SCREAMS and HUMILIATES ordinary people. And he knows that.

https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2023/10/03/pourquoi-la-justice-enquete-sur-la-deputee-lfi-sophia-chikirou_6192142_3224.html

3 days later, on october 6th 2023, Melenchon took a trip to Morocco.

Believing he was far away for any camera, he made a cynical confession to moroccan university students:

“I really don’t care what newspapers reveal. The vast majority of voters don’t read newspapers. They watch online videos”

"We are now in the great era of social media"

https://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/lfi-melenchon-prefere-sa-communication-video-qui-se-compte-en-millions-aux-articles-lus-par-des-milliers-de-personnes-20231005

Elon Musk regularly attacks the New York Times.

On social media, he urges people to not read it.

That’s because the New York Times has published incredible stories about him.

Elon Musk knowingly lied about the safety of self-driving vehicles. Multiple people were killed

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/17/magazine/tesla-autopilot-self-driving-elon-musk.html?unlocked_article_code=1.0FA.6BPE.ictTmt9kuYUM

Musk is sexually harassing SpaceX engineers

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/17/business/spacex-workers-elon-musk.html?unlocked_article_code=1.0FA.xbgX.h15uViBA8cME

The Musk Foundation is breaking the law:

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/02/us/politics/elon-musk-foundation.html?unlocked_article_code=1.0FA.WyJ4.vfnRZI725oNm

When powerful politicians and businessmen tell you “don’t read newspapers”, they aren’t trying to give you good life advice.

It’s a manipulation attempt.

  • tino@lemmy.world
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    9 hours ago

    When politicians start a sentence with “People do this…”, “People think that…”, they’re lying as well. They don’t know what people do or think, they don’t research the facts, they just tell you whatever they think. Best case scenario, they are exposed to a few “people” who support them.

    Generalization is a lie, like I just did. in generalizing what politicians do. Of course I didn’t research this, it’s just what I think.

    • huppakee@lemmy.world
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      8 hours ago

      When politicians start a sentence with “People do this…”, “People think that…”, they’re lying as well. They don’t know what people do or think, they don’t research the facts, they just tell you whatever they think.

      Or worse, they tell you what they want you to think. It’s them saying “this is what i want you to do, say and believe”.