# 23. Media-Techno manipulation ## 23.5. Methodology/Refinements/Sub-species ### 23.5.2. Grandstanding This occurs when an individual, usually a politician or party abuses public office to make an ostentatious display to an audience, usually via the conventional mass-media. Typically, this is done for public relations purposes, such as to shore up the manipulator's image, communicate values to the political "base" or to create a veneer under which to covertly work at cross-purposes to the official public message of the political party. ### 23.6.2 Avoidance of Grandstanding The use of ostentatious behaviour or language is not the action of someone who feels confident that they can persuade you by means of a calm, rational presentation of facts and an accompanying argument. Grandstanding, and the politicians that do it, cannot be taken seriously and should be ignored.