COINTELPRO Techniques for dilution, misdirection and control of an internet forum

[robert]

It's rare to encounter a forum that is not overrun with shills. This is their modus operandi.

Posted by MikeWB at The Information Underground:


COINTELPRO Techniques for dilution, misdirection and control of an internet forum:

There are several techniques for the control and manipulation of a internet forum no matter what, or who is on it. We will go over each technique and demonstrate that only a minimal number of operatives can be used to eventually and effectively gain a control of a 'uncontrolled forum.'

Technique #1 - 'FORUM SLIDING'

If a very sensitive posting of a critical nature has been posted on a forum - it can be quickly removed from public view by 'forum sliding.' In this technique a number of unrelated posts are quietly prepositioned on the forum and allowed to 'age.' Each of these misdirectional forum postings can then be called upon at will to trigger a 'forum slide.' The second requirement is that several fake accounts exist, which can be called upon, to ensure that this technique is not exposed to the public. To trigger a 'forum slide' and 'flush' the critical post out of public view it is simply a matter of logging into each account both real and fake and then 'replying' to prepositined postings with a simple 1 or 2 line comment. This brings the unrelated postings to the top of the forum list, and the critical posting 'slides' down the front page, and quickly out of public view. Although it is difficult or impossible to censor the posting it is now lost in a sea of unrelated and unuseful postings. By this means it becomes effective to keep the readers of the forum reading unrelated and non-issue items.

Technique #2 - 'CONSENSUS CRACKING'

A second highly effective technique (which you can see in operation all the time at http://www.abovetopsecret.com) is 'consensus cracking.' To develop a consensus crack, the following technique is used. Under the guise of a fake account a posting is made which looks legitimate and is towards the truth is made - but the critical point is that it has a VERY WEAK PREMISE without substantive proof to back the posting. Once this is done then under alternative fake accounts a very strong position in your favour is slowly introduced over the life of the posting. It is IMPERATIVE that both sides are initially presented, so the uninformed reader cannot determine which side is the truth. As postings and replies are made the stronger 'evidence' or disinformation in your favour is slowly 'seeded in.' Thus the uninformed reader will most like develop the same position as you, and if their position is against you their opposition to your posting will be most likely dropped. However in some cases where the forum members are highly educated and can counter your disinformation with real facts and linked postings, you can then 'abort' the consensus cracking by initiating a 'forum slide.'

Technique #3 - 'TOPIC DILUTION'

Topic dilution is not only effective in forum sliding it is also very useful in keeping the forum readers on unrelated and non-productive issues. This is a critical and useful technique to cause a 'RESOURCE BURN.' By implementing continual and non-related postings that distract and disrupt (trolling ) the forum readers they are more effectively stopped from anything of any real productivity. If the intensity of gradual dilution is intense enough, the readers will effectively stop researching and simply slip into a 'gossip mode.' In this state they can be more easily misdirected away from facts towards uninformed conjecture and opinion. The less informed they are the more effective and easy it becomes to control the entire group in the direction that you would desire the group to go in. It must be stressed that a proper assessment of the psychological capabilities and levels of education is first determined of the group to determine at what level to 'drive in the wedge.' By being too far off topic too quickly it may trigger censorship by a forum moderator.

Technique #4 - 'INFORMATION COLLECTION'

Information collection is also a very effective method to determine the psychological level of the forum members, and to gather intelligence that can be used against them. In this technique in a light and positive environment a 'show you mine so me yours' posting is initiated. From the number of replies and the answers that are provided much statistical information can be gathered. An example is to post your 'favourite weapon' and then encourage other members of the forum to showcase what they have. In this matter it can be determined by reverse proration what percentage of the forum community owns a firearm, and or a illegal weapon. This same method can be used by posing as one of the form members and posting your favourite 'technique of operation.' From the replies various methods that the group utilizes can be studied and effective methods developed to stop them from their activities.

Technique #5 - 'ANGER TROLLING'

Statistically, there is always a percentage of the forum posters who are more inclined to violence. In order to determine who these individuals are, it is a requirement to present a image to the forum to deliberately incite a strong psychological reaction. From this the most violent in the group can be effectively singled out for reverse IP location and possibly local enforcement tracking. To accomplish this only requires posting a link to a video depicting a local police officer massively abusing his power against a very innocent individual. Statistically of the million or so police officers in America there is always one or two being caught abusing there powers and the taping of the activity can be then used for intelligence gathering purposes - without the requirement to 'stage' a fake abuse video. This method is extremely effective, and the more so the more abusive the video can be made to look. Sometimes it is useful to 'lead' the forum by replying to your own posting with your own statement of violent intent, and that you 'do not care what the authorities think!!' inflammation. By doing this and showing no fear it may be more effective in getting the more silent and self-disciplined violent intent members of the forum to slip and post their real intentions. This can be used later in a court of law during prosecution.

Technique #6 - 'GAINING FULL CONTROL'

It is important to also be harvesting and continually maneuvering for a forum moderator position. Once this position is obtained, the forum can then be effectively and quietly controlled by deleting unfavourable postings - and one can eventually steer the forum into complete failure and lack of interest by the general public. This is the 'ultimate victory' as the forum is no longer participated with by the general public and no longer useful in maintaining their freedoms. Depending on the level of control you can obtain, you can deliberately steer a forum into defeat by censoring postings, deleting memberships, flooding, and or accidentally taking the forum offline. By this method the forum can be quickly killed. However it is not always in the interest to kill a forum as it can be converted into a 'honey pot' gathering center to collect and misdirect newcomers and from this point be completely used for your control for your agenda purposes.

CONCLUSION

Remember these techniques are only effective if the forum participants DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THEM. Once they are aware of these techniques the operation can completely fail, and the forum can become uncontrolled. At this point other avenues must be considered such as initiating a false legal precidence to simply have the forum shut down and taken offline. This is not desirable as it then leaves the enforcement agencies unable to track the percentage of those in the population who always resist attempts for control against them. Many other techniques can be utilized and developed by the individual and as you develop further techniques of infiltration and control it is imperative to share then with HQ.

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[ArtyCarl]

I have long suspected something like this goes on when looking back at a few old threads at Avalon and Camelot.

It is a little depressing to think that there may be people among us who are ready to disrupt and lead us away from an important truth but I guess that is the world we live in.

[robert]

Yes ArtyCarl

"think that there may be people among us who are ready to disrupt and lead us away from an important truth but I guess that is the world we live in."

It was put there as a general "warning" for Nexian, when people are aware of this, those tricks wont have any more effect on forum members... i hope.
"Knowledge is freedom"

- Robert

[Chicodoodoo]

This kind of information might be very useful if it were included in a user's manual for future moderators.

I'm assuming there is currently no user's manual for moderators. I haven't seen one, and a quick search online doesn't find any.

[flower]

I feel that most moderators on any alt media forum would have atleast some knowledge of this before becomming moderator IMO

[irishspirit]

Shills are everywhere in every walk of life. TV, Radio, Newspapers on the street.

I think that the key to noticing them is simple to see how aggressive they get in trying to sway peoples opinions away from the truth/subject matter.

[Richard]

This kind of information might be very useful if it were included in a user's manual for future moderators.

I'm assuming there is currently no user's manual for moderators. I haven't seen one, and a quick search online doesn't find any.

Look in the back room

[HURRITT ENYETO]

Technique #3 - 'TOPIC DILUTION'

Topic dilution is not only effective in forum sliding it is also very useful in keeping the forum readers on unrelated and non-productive issues. This is a critical and useful technique to cause a 'RESOURCE BURN.' By implementing continual and non-related postings that distract and disrupt the forum readers they are more effectively stopped from anything of any real productivity. If the intensity of gradual dilution is intense enough, the readers will effectively stop researching and simply slip into a 'gossip mode.' In this state they can be more easily misdirected away from facts towards uninformed conjecture and opinion. The less informed they are the more effective and easy it becomes to control the entire group in the direction that you would desire the group to go in. It must be stressed that a proper assessment of the psychological capabilities and levels of education is first determined of the group to determine at what level to 'drive in the wedge.

Sound familiar? The Atticus Avalon OP was textbook!!

Information collection is also a very effective method to determine the psychological level of the forum members, and to gather intelligence that can be used against them. In this technique in a light and positive environment a 'show you mine so me yours' posting is initiated. From the number of replies and the answers that are provided much statistical information can be gathered. An example is to post your 'favourite weapon' and then encourage other members of the forum to showcase what they have. In this matter it can be determined by reverse proration what percentage of the forum community owns a firearm, and or a illegal weapon. This same method can be used by posing as one of the form members and posting your favourite 'technique of operation.' From the replies various methods that the group utilizes can be studied and effective methods developed to stop them from their activities.

Hahahaha And people called us paranoid when we pointed out the obvious profiling that was going on.

Statistically, there is always a percentage of the forum posters who are more inclined to violence. In order to determine who these individuals are, it is a requirement to present a image to the forum to deliberately incite a strong psychological reaction. From this the most violent in the group can be effectively singled out for reverse IP location and possibly local enforcement tracking. To accomplish this only requires posting a link to a video depicting a local police officer massively abusing his power against a very innocent individual.

Again, sound familiar? Remember the influx of new members and a small group of individuals (who shall remain nameless) who would post blatantly provocative posts, most of the time completely off topic, and the textbook responses off a lot of ordinary members. The Atticus OP/ study/test or whatever, gathered a treasure trove of information and no doubt it will be utilised far into the future!!
And IMHO some of these very people are still with us in the various forums. We would all do well to remember this important thread and stay alert for the above techniques that will without a doubt be utilised again in the future.

However it is not always in the interest to kill a forum as it can be converted into a 'honey pot' gathering center to collect and misdirect newcomers and from this point be completely used for your control for your agenda purposes.

Nuff said LOL

Remember these techniques are only effective if the forum participants DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THEM. Once they are aware of these techniques the operation can completely fail, and the forum can become uncontrolled. At this point other avenues must be considered [B]such as initiating a false legal precidence [/B]to simply have the forum shut down and taken offline. This is not desirable as it then leaves the enforcement agencies unable to track the percentage of those in the population who always resist attempts for control against them. Many other techniques can be utilized and developed by the individual and as you develop further techniques of infiltration and control it is imperative to share then with HQ.

This is too funny.......


Hurritt

[Akhenaten]

This is an excellent tool for use by every discerning Forum reader. It is clear that all of these tactics and more have been used against PA and - they have even tried some of it here with less luck. Fortunately this Forum is less amenable to control than PA was - but it is still vulnerable IMO.

[magamud]

How to Identify an Agent Provocateur
http://nexus.2012info.ca/forum/showt...1996#post41996

[VajraYaya]

MODS: If I may suggest..

This is valuable information. Could it be moved to Conspiracy Research/Alt Media Discussions and made sticky?

This should be made easy to find for future reference

Thanks

[Richard]

This is valuable information. Could it be moved to Conspiracy Research/Alt Media Discussions and made sticky?

I agree, done.

[Heretic]

Was poking around on the net to find this list and came across another on Prison Planet or some place like that...more on how forums are used to derail truth seeking

1) Make outrageous comments designed to distract or frustrate: An Alinsky tactic used to make people emotional, although less effective because of the impersonal nature of the web.

2) Pose as a supporter of the truth, then make comments that discredit the movement: We have seen this even on our own forums — trolls pose as supporters of the Liberty Movement, then post long, incoherent diatribes so as to appear either racist or insane. Here is a live example of this tactic in use on Yahoo! Answers.

The key to this tactic is to make references to common Liberty Movement arguments while at the same time babbling nonsense, so as to make those otherwise valid arguments seem ludicrous by association.

In extreme cases, these “Trojan Horse Trolls” have been known to make posts which incite violence — a technique obviously intended to solidify the false assertions of the notorious MIAC report and other ADL/SPLC publications which purport that constitutionalists should be feared as potential domestic terrorists.

3) Dominate Discussions: Trolls often interject themselves into productive web discussions in order to throw them off course and frustrate the people involved.

4) Prewritten Responses: Many trolls are supplied with a list or database with pre-planned talking points designed as generalized and deceptive responses to honest arguments. 9/11 “debunker” trolls are notorious for this.

5) False Association: This works hand in hand with item #2, by invoking the stereotypes established by the “Trojan Horse Troll.”

For example: calling those against the Federal Reserve “conspiracy theorists” or “lunatics”. Deliberately associating anti-globalist movements with big foot or alien enthusiasts, because of the inherent negative connotations. Using false associations to provoke biases and dissuade people from examining the evidence objectively.

6) False Moderation: Pretending to be the “voice of reason” in an argument with obvious and defined sides in an attempt to move people away from what is clearly true into a “grey area” where the truth becomes “relative.”

7) Straw Man Arguments: A very common technique. The troll will accuse his opposition of subscribing to a certain point of view, even if he does not, and then attacks that point of view. Or, the troll will put words in the mouth of his opposition, and then rebut those specific words. For example: “9/11 truthers say that no planes hit the WTC towers, and that it was all just computer animation. What are they, crazy?”

[robert]

Time to refresh our collective memory.
always good to keep this in mind.

- Robert

[magamud]

Bump......

[robert]

this thread should be attached to a bungie cord.... or a rubber band.

- Robert

[magamud]

Im not sure if I can balance this, but What the Hell....

I believe this aspect of agent provocateurs is more prevalent then some imagine. I wish not to tip the scales of Paranoia or instigate a Gaslighting, but only to help support the Truth of this reality.
For myself The Fathers Kingdom is manifesting and I can think of nothing more important then to think on this.
So, Evil's resources to redirect the Eye of the Needle is quite easy. He has Phantom Fears and Kindness that Can Kill at his disposal.
To each his own and I only wish to Illuminate those who can see.
So in that sense we have various Idols of Beings with well founded Narratives/Empires present.
1. atheism, pragmatism, and this scale in general.
2. All is an Illusion, please see the Lotus Eaters post http://nexus.2012info.ca/forum/showt...ht=lotus+eater
3. GFL and the Ascended Master
4. Black Hats vs White hats Project Camelot, Avalon, Wilcock etc...
5. Religion
I cant think of them all, but permutations of all kinds. Now this works consciously and unconsciously, so its hard to track. Distinguish peoples conclusions, does it lead to a faith? Does it lead to confusion?

Now there are always two roads to go by and If one is Eternally Vigilant there is always hope.

The Road Not Taken
BY ROBERT FROST

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

[lightblue]

bump....

[flower]

1) Make outrageous comments designed to distract or frustrate: An Alinsky tactic used to make people emotional, although less effective because of the impersonal nature of the web.

Time and time again this tactic is used in alt media

5) False Association: This works hand in hand with item #2, by invoking the stereotypes established by the “Trojan Horse Troll.”

Trojans come in many sizes...

6) False Moderation: Pretending to be the “voice of reason” in an argument with obvious and defined sides in an attempt to move people away from what is clearly true into a “grey area” where the truth becomes “relative.”

Mostly condescending



Patterns are not only there, they are entrenched...

Imagine writting a time line on PA or PC rathen then bill or kerry...

the patterns would emerge wouldnt they..

[pillaroflight]

I think it's appropriate to reintroduce this information. This was written by the man who is now Obama's regulation czar--in other words, very influential:

Cass Sunstein – White Paper: Conspiracy Theories

We suggest several policy responses

that can dampen the supply of conspiracy theorizing, in part by introducing diverse

viewpoints and new factual assumptions into the hard-core groups that produce such

theories. Our principal claim here involves the potential value of cognitive infiltration of

extremist groups, designed to introduce informational diversity into such groups and to

expose indefensible conspiracy theories as such.

http://www.citizensforgovernmentacco...ity.org/?p=706

[flower]

THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT THREAD


ya ya ya i know i sound like Bill Ryan...