[Ads-l] information / low-information

[Z S]

About a year ago, I noticed "information" being used with notable frequency
in political contexts in which the definition was not exactly "propaganda"
- the meaning to which I was accustomed.

The latest version I've noted is "low-information", a sort of slur and/or
euphemism for "ignorant", "uneducated", "working class", "not assimilated",
"not conforming" etc.

Prior to "low-information", I heard the phrase "X doesn't have enough
information" with notable frequency, which seems related to the
"low-information" usage I hear today.

Each time that I encountered the above expressions, they were directed
toward Black people, and usually with some condescension. Those using the
aforementioned expressions were all media-affiliated (CNN, and the NY Times
were the most memorable examples for me). Each time that I've heard it
used, it was directed toward "ordinary" folk whose thoughts, values, or
beliefs were not in line with a specific monied and politically dominant
class of Black people.

I feel as if I've also seen "low-information" used in the past few months
to refer to white rural Americans, if I remember correctly. Again, with
condescension, as an explanation for their political views, with a higher
economic class referring to those of a lower economic class with views that
did not align with those of their more monied and politically dominant
peers, and by a news outlet.

ZS

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org