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The Secret Playbook of Internet Trolls
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guess my name
What’s confusing you
Is the nature of my game
- The Rolling Stones
The reason that Internet trolls are effective is that people still don’t understand their game.
There are 15 commonly-used trolling tactics to disrupt, misdirect and control internet discussions.
As one interesting example, trolls start flame wars because – according to two professors – swearing and name-calling shut down our ability to think and focus.
And trolls will often spew divisive attacks so that people argue against each other, instead of bad actions and policies of the powers-that-be. For example, trolls will:
Start a religious war whenever possible using stereotypes like “all Jews are selfish”, “all Christians are crazy” or “all Muslims are terrorists”.
Yesterday, the alternative news site Common Dreams caught a troll using scores of different user names to spew anti-Semitic bile. (Common Dreams discovered that the same troll was behind the multiple user names by tracking their IP addresses. And the troll confessed to Common Dreams.)
The troll is a “a Jewish Harvard graduate in his thirties who was irritated by the website’s discussion of issues involving Israel”.
He posted anti-Semitic diatribes – such as Hitler should have finished the job and killed all Jews – using one alias. Then – a couple of minutes later – he’d post an attack on the first poster using a different alias, claiming that criticism of Israel is the same thing as anti-Semitism. (Note: Holocaust survivors and Israeli ministers say it’s not.)
Why would a Jew post vile anti-Semitic comments? Because normal people are offended by – and don’t want to be associated with – pure, naked anti-Semitism, and so they will avoid such discussions. If the discussion was originally criticizing a specific aspect of Israeli policy, the discussion will break down, and the actual point regarding policy will be lost.
Similarly, anti-Semitic posts weaken websites by making them seem less reputable. Indeed, Common Dreams says that the troll’s anti-Semitic comments drove away many of that site’s largest donors … dealing a severe blow to its continued viability. That’s exactly what trolls spewing anti-Semitic bile are trying to do: shut down logical discussion and discredit and weaken sites which allow rational criticism of policy.
It is well-known that foreign governments and large companies troll online. See this, this this, and this. For example, the Israeli government is paying students to post pro-Israeli comments online.
And American students are also attempting to influence internet discussion.
While the Common Dreams troll claims that he’s not sponsored by the state of Israel, government agencies have manipulated Internet discussion for years. This includes the use of multiple “socket puppet” aliases. The potential for mischief is stunning.
Unless we learn their game …
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came across Zero Hedge while digging into financial issues, and got hooked, what great info about a hidden industry that is driving this train....wreck.
'To know that you don't know is knowledge.'
I thank ZH for the education and the WB7 and the real commentors for the 'fight club' moshpit. the humor.
signed
Snarky, nincompoop,redneck,moron,idiot,douche, (okay I get it)
Ali
Ancient Astronaut and Contrails Theorists agree that FUKUSHIMA WILL ROAST US ALL 111!!!!111ELEVENTY!!!!
It was AUSTR-aliens
How to Recognize Propaganda http://www.rickety.us/2008/11/how-to-recognize-propaganda/ is a short and sweet article I have found useful. Many people who comment really don't seem to be interested in forming a logical argument. Perhaps it is time constraints or lack of true interest. Is there a site where one can engage in a meaningful exchange of ideas? I truly believe if honest discourse was undertaken we could solve some of these ongoing problems. Does anyone know who came up with the caveat that polite conversations avoid religion and politics? The two systems that are responsible for more death and destruction have been left off the table too long. There has got to be answers- no one side is totally right, nor wrong. There must be more people like me who want to see a meaningful resolution to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. I have never been to Israel. Is land scarce- is this why settlements are going up? Or is existing Israeli land expensive and that's why the expansion into occupied territory? If you have been to Israel and have any first hand information- please reply. Thank you.
Here's an explanation from an Episcopalian who has been to Israel -- just my $0.02.
Israel is a wee country -- about the size of New Jersey. You can drive across it in less than two hours. The drive from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is down a highway with tall walls and huge rolls of razor wire separating the Jews from the Arabs who are also Israelis.
Early on, much of the land was bought from the Turks. The Turks were in control of Israel, then the Brits ... long story. Some land, however, was stolen when Arabs were literally driven off by Jews. The two sides of the story are this: The jews were constantly harassed and often killed by the Muslims around them -- the Muslims were threatened and intimidated by the Jews who were setting up kibbutzes (spelling?) So the Jews, in part to protect themselves, and in part because they needed a land buffer between themselves and the Arabs, simply drove the Arabs off. Note, however, that the number of Arabs treated in such way was not large, certainly not as large as the Palestinians claim.
Arabs reproduce at a much higher rate than Jews. So the notion that the Jews need land because they're reproducing like rabbits is stupid, silly rabbit. The orthodox Jews reproduce at a rate like the Arabs, but they're a small minority of the country.
Much of the country is secular, not religious. No practice of Judaism at all. Tel Aviv reminds me of Paris. Its a swinging town. Very western and secular.
THe orthodox need more land, I suppose, because they're crammed into crappy apartments in Jerusalem. Many of the settlements have the orthodox in them, mainly because they're undesirable and the only people who will go there are the extreme jews.
The end.
Spotting propaganda is easy. It's biased, it's dressed like turkey & smells like garbage.
As for Settlers in Israel it's genocide: Israel has a policy of "right of return" where any fool who can pretend to be a Jew is entered, unless you're a real semite with dark skin from Ethiopia then you have to be forced birth control, and a policy like the Vatican's for children, so everyone's expected to have 3 more kids than there is land for.
Hence pushing the people of Palestine (not just Gaza, a part of Palestine) out requires population pressure: too many entering Israelis, no where for them to live. The expansion is forever, so once Palestine is filled they'll take over other nations too.
There is no "right of return" for the people of Palestine they've already pushed out & those who won't leave, just like you wouldn't abandon Arizona or Texas and let Mexico just ATTACH ITSELF to it, they are punished with genocidal murders.
> I truly believe if honest discourse was undertaken we could solve some of these ongoing problems.
Almost all the "problems" have already been solved. It seems bread and circuses stop any real progress. The solutions all require sacrifice of some kind, and no one is willingly going to sacrifice.
M. Fukuoka, Howard Finnel, and P.A. Yeomans had our water/agriculture problems hammered out damn near 100 years ago. B. Mollison and D. Holmgren furthered those solutions (swales, on contour) into what became Permaculture. Today people like Brad Landcaster and Geoff Lawton are using these techniques to show how "all the world's problems can be solved in a garden". http://vimeo.com/13323213
A lot of people talk about Tesla, but I never hear anything about the Electric universe theory. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwOAYhBuU3UfklHQ8Rb1sOzkSAw50fCfc
Want to fix the health problem? Re-connect with the idea that food is medicine and then do some basic yoga/exercise.
Currency manipulation is probably countered with freegold floating freely against local currencies. If a currency inflates, it shows up in the price of gold in that currency; that is - gold should be an independent metric by which all currencies are measured.
Education is solved with the trivium.
Seriously, the problems have all been solved, but the solutions are "uncomfortable".
Its not so much that they're uncomfortable, but unprofitable. As with all issues, ask yourself 'cui bono?'
Propaganda is not necessarily bad, as opposed to disinformation.
Propaganda is always disinformation utilized to mold an opinion based upon incomplete information.
Propaganda is dishonest at the core. Dishonesty is the worst form of EVIL. That is the core from which every other evil spawns.
Of course you ascribe to Nietzsche's, "Beyond Good and Evil". That is the reason why that writing is so unworthy of the trust necessary for a cohesive society.
You will reap the Societal Breakdown which you have sown.
We are at the point where significant portions of the population here and around the world, cannot even agree upon some of the most basic observable 'facts.' There are too many historical parallels suggesting the outcome.
WE are at a point in History where significant populations WILL NOT agree upon basic, obeservable fact because DISHONESTY RULES THE DAY.
That is what you reap using Moral Relativism as the seed. It is not that they CANNOT. It is because they REFUSE TO DO SO.
This is what Nietzsche taught.
It is being transformed into an Orwellian NIGHTMARE. Perception is Reality??? Give me a break.
When people can't even agree on what is seen it's not just moral relativism, it's perceptual relativism of the majority being so stupid they can't believe their own lying eyes.
Just look at how many Americans claim there's no global warming when we can measure it, and a global warming "pause" all the while no temperature chart actually shows such a pause.
Too much Troll hating here.
You people need to understand that Trolls are people too.
Exactly. The trolls are too much fun to let all this bad-mouthing continue. The trolls are the best part of this site! Give the trolls a break!
Well, at least they've got the asshole.
ElectronicIntifada anyone?
I've trolled the I'm Ready for Hillary facebook page a few times. Provoking those sheep is a good way to relieve stress and get a good laugh or two. Sometimes being an asshole is fun.
George? Where's Tony, or is that Infinity QE? I'm confused :)
There must be an answer to this issue, question, problem...a resolution..ah a final solution.
How many IP addresses?
What would be really funny is if both these accounts were you, the same guy.
Why the handle "Billy Sol Estes?" Are you a fraudster, too? Picking that avatar is like "Adam Clayton Powell, Jr." or "Jimmy Hoffa." Sure doesn't give one a warm fuzzy feeling about you at first meeting.
Billy was a piker, a disney character compared to what we face today.
Or
Billy was a visionary ahead of his time.
Billy.....come back Billy!
Lassie.....go find Billy.
"...Internet trolls are effective..."
Sorry, I could not read any further than that ridiculous statement.
i SECOND the motion - of irony.
Your account is one of the troll accounts.
So it is obvious that you're not a student of Bernays and have no clue on the affective use of Propaganda to mold public opinion.
Perhaps you need to read some Bernays and widen your horizons. Maybe, then, you will discover that you, too, have also been manipulated.
(Another possibility is that you are aware and are just trolling...)
Governments, Private Companies, and other agencies would not employ their use without the demonstration of effectiveness.
Unfortunately you label a statement as "ridiculous" and then fail to give the riducule that it supposedly deserves. Yet it is YOUR LOSS...NOT MINE.
Half the time you're a troller too.
I smite thee both with the Ridicule Hammer.
For example, trolls will: Start a religious war whenever possible using stereotypes like “all Jews are selfish”, “all Christians are crazy” or “all Muslims are terrorists”.
This entire story was written by a Jewish troll. Every 60 to 80 years Jewish hate grows around the world. Because Jewish bankers , tax agents and media destroy the lives of everyone. Unfortunately all jews get thrown into the same barrel as the 3 listed above. According to Jewish media the worlds problems are the fault of 2.1 billion Muslims so its okay to hate on them. If you start putting the Lois Lerner, John Corizine and Netanyahus in jail the Jews would not have to write propaganda stories on ZH.
Also global warming causes abortions to be paid for in bitcoins.
The defense has gone and done it for me. I rest my case your honor.
Are you in there Geo?
I know, I know...you're so bright and have discovered the meaning of life, along w/ GW and Tony Wilson. I don't know what to do but kill all the Jews, cause they just refuse to give up their claim to being the Masters of the Universe. Gutten Tag
If that's not Schadengoy I don't know what is!
Let me make my bones on this most illustrious site and deeply cerebral article:
Hitler was Jewish.
The subject is trolls
Ok. I call out Godwin's Law to nip this'n in the bud!
:)
I'll see your Godwin's Law & Raiser you by 1 Occam
While administering a discussion forum in the early 2000's. I watched a block of IP's from Golman Sachs, in New York, argue jew/anti-jew using several accounts on the site. Of note, the pro characters/accounts were all well reasoned and level headed, while the anti characters/accounts were ... ummmm ... characters.
Are any of those type tools ever available to the Non Admin types? In other discussion forums?
Of course, labelling those who disagree with you as "trolls" is a convenient way to dismiss critics as well.
The term is used far too often (like "racist").