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Spiral of silence - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Noelle-Neumann describes the spiral of silence as dynamic process, in which predictions about public opinion become fact as mass media's coverage of the majority opinion becomes the status quo, and the minority becomes less likely to speak out (Miller 2005:278). The theory, however, only applies to moral issues, not issues that can be proven right or wrong using facts.
Right.

We have met the enemy, and he is us — Pogo
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sat Dec 29th, 2007 at 06:14:59 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Well, I didn't write the Wiki, and it's been a good long while since I studied the theory, but my hunch is that the disclaimer is overstated, and may be referring to what Noelle-Neumann studied vs. what she didn't study, not an indication that they theory is "untrue" of particular issues, however they might be defined.
by the stormy present (stormypresent aaaaaaat gmail etc) on Sat Dec 29th, 2007 at 06:22:06 AM EST
[ Parent ]
I found the wiki article extreme in its reassurance to the reader that this is only about moral issues. They make the point in just about every paragraph.

We have met the enemy, and he is us — Pogo
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sat Dec 29th, 2007 at 06:24:00 AM EST
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