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Comment by explaininjs | Hacker News Reader

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brainwashing:

    brainwashing - noun 
    
    1. a forcible indoctrination to induce someone to give up basic political, social, or religious beliefs and attitudes and to accept contrasting regimented ideas

    2. persuasion by propaganda or salesmanship

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The colloquial definition is 1, not as much 2, which is where the semantic bickering will come in.

Most people do not view being "convinced" as brainwashing. They see brainwashing as a sub-conscious activity. They view being convinced as a conscious one.

I think this definition is too broad myself.

Modern advertising is very sub-conscious activity.

When you talk about "modern advertising" I think you are referring to the large campaigns run by huge companies.

There is a lot of lower level advertising that is very straightforward and honest.

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