r/pcmasterrace • u/Abuelofierrero • Jun 17 '26

News/Article Ubisoft is celebrating

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u/BrainOnBlue Jun 17 '26

TIL that in English "lobbying" directly refers to that kind of corruption, and not industry relevant input on laws to be passed.

It doesn't, people just only hear about the corrupt kind. The definition I was taught in Political Science 101 absolutely included both the legal bribery kind and the legitimate informational kind.

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u/nelflyn Jun 17 '26

okay, I might need a more reliable source then, before I am completely confused 🫠 I just checked up some definitions and it pretty much aligns with the legal bribery.

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u/BrainOnBlue Jun 17 '26

I was taught it is basically anything anyone does to try to influence how politicians (or a specific politician) votes.

An environmental charity publishing an open letter for or against legislation is lobbying, a guy from a company or a trade group taking a politician to dinner is lobbying, and you calling your representative/MP/equivalent is lobbying.

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u/nelflyn Jun 18 '26

Thanks, that kinda checks out with how I learned about it 😶 but when it comes to other languages, I know it's not always the same, so I was insure about that.

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u/OldWorldDesign Jun 18 '26

I might need a more reliable source then

https://www.etymonline.com/word/lobby

It doesn't mean "only bribery". That technically predates Reagan but accelerated when he gutted the State Department (which, before him, was in charge of vetting and investigating corruption related to lobbying). It's also the kind of lobbying most headlines are written about because it's not the legal and ethical, thus boring kind. Headlines aren't (usually) written about boring, competent people doing what they are supposed to.

Few people heard about lobbying to reintroduce wolves to Yellowstone, but that's how ecologists did it. Just going to politicians and arguing their case over and over until landing a few who decided the cost was low and benefits were worth it. According to recent studies, biological diversity has been increasing thanks to deer and other local animals having their natural predators return.