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They can be, thats what the whole concept of memes is all about. It happens.

Dictated? No. Profoundly influenced? Yes, yes I do.

I think that I'm more than capable of detecting most forms of propaganda, but I hold no illusions as to my ability to judge _everything_ that comes my way in a fully informed manner.

I can look back and see cases where too little information, bad information, or even just a misunderstanding lead me to believe in things that just weren't true. And I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one.

It's not about the technically educated minority (though even they are vulnerable to falsehoods perpetrated via propaganda), but the vast majority of people who aren't aware of how computer security works and believe that the government is always working only in their interests.