The Quonset Hut

So that what I will be posting may be better understood by those less fortunate in these proceedings, please pay attention :


The 25 Rules of Disinformation
From Twenty-Five Ways To Suppress Truth: The Rules of Disinformation by H. Michael Sweeney.

1. Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil. Regardless of what you know, don’t discuss it. If it’s not reported, it didn’t happen, and you never have to deal with the issues.
- True. But some simply will not play this game. Will you ?

2. Become incredulous and indignant. Avoid discussing key issues and instead focus on side issues. This is also known as the “How dare you!” gambit.
- Why don't you dare ? too afraid ? or simply too eager to please ?

3. Create rumor mongers. Avoid discussing issues by describing all charges, regardless of venue or evidence.
- Discuss everything, except the issue.

4. Use a straw man. Select the weakest aspect of the weakest charges. Amplify their significance and destroy them in a way which appears to debunk all the charges, real and fabricated alike, while actually avoiding discussion of the real issues.
- Yes, very true. It can also sometimes be called "using a watchdog"

5. Sidetrack opponents with name calling and ridicule. This is also known as the primary attack the messenger ploy. This makes others shrink from support out of fear of gaining the same label, and you avoid dealing with issues.
- Tried and proven. Very effective with the weak minded.

6. Hit and Run. Simply make an accusation or other attack, never discussing issues
- True. Leave others to do the clean-up, there's always someone.

7. Question motives. Twist or amplify any fact which could so taken to imply that the opponent operates out of a hidden personal agenda or other bias.
- Sure. Just don't overdo it. It can backfire. And usually does.

8. Invoke authority. Claim for yourself or associate yourself with authority
- Preferably, a natural one, undisputable.

9. Play Dumb. No matter what evidence or logical argument is offered, avoid discussing issues with denial they have any credibility, make any sense, provide any proof, contain or make a point, have logic, or support a conclusion. Mix well for maximum effect.
- Playing dumb is never enough. There is always someone dumber than you listening.

10. Associate opponent charges with old news. Make charges early on which can be or were already easily dealt with. Subsequent charges, regardless of validity or new ground uncovered, can usually them be associated with the original charge and dismissed as simply being a rehash without need to address current issues
- Dig into the past. Everyone has a past, and if different, the better.

11. Establish and rely upon fall-back positions. Using a minor matter or element of the facts, take the “high road” and “confess” with candor that some innocent mistake, in hindsight, was made. Done properly, this can garner sympathy and respect for “coming clean” and “owning up” to your mistakes without addressing more serious issues.
- Yes, try offering sympathy and shelter initially so that later on you are devoid of guilt.

12. Enigmas have no solution. Paint the entire affair as too complex to solve. This causes those otherwise following the matter to begin to loose interest more quickly without having to address the actual issues.
- Dwell on this. You will have immediate followers.

13. Alice in Wonderland Logic. Avoid discussion of the issues by reasoning backwards with an apparent deductive logic in a way that forbears any actual material fact.
- Better yet, create some rabbit holes.

14. Demand complete solutions. Avoid the issues by requiring opponents to solve the question at hand completely.
- Also known as "spoon feed me" technique.

15. Fit the facts to alternate conclusions.
- There is always an "alternate conclusion". Use it.

16. Vanishing evidence and witnesses. If it does not exist, it is not fact, and you won’t have to address the issue.
- The opposite is even better ! Bury facts with "evidences and witnesses" and forever stall issues.

17. Change the subject. Find a way to side-track the discussion with abrasive or controversial comments in hopes of turning attention to a new, more manageable topic. This works especially well with companions who can “argue” with you over the new topic.
- Open new lines of discussion, invent new subjects and topics.

18. Emotionalize, Antagonize, and Goad Opponents. If you can’t do anything else, chide and taunt your opponents and draw them into emotional responses which will tend to make them look foolish and overly motivated, and generally render their material somewhat less coherent. Further avoid the issues by then focusing on how “sensitive they are to criticism”.
- Also known as "button pushing". Some will react. Do it.

19. Ignore proof presented, demand impossible proofs. Deny that witnesses are acceptable, or even deny that statements made by other authorities have any meaning or relevance.
- You, and who you second, are the only authority.

20. False evidence. Whenever possible, introduce new facts or clues designed and manufactured to conflict with opponent presentations as useful tools to neutralize sensitive issues or impede resolution.
- Exploit messanger and message contradictions. Do not shy from offending.

21. Call a Grand Jury, Special Prosecutor, or other empowered investigative body. Subvert the (process) to your benefit and effectively neutralize all sensitive issues without open discussion.
- Never concede initiative and abstain from participating if out of your hands and into another's.

22. Manufacture a new truth. Create your own expert(s), group(s), author(s), leader(s) or influence existing ones willing to forge new ground via scientific, investigative, or social research or testimony which concludes favorably.
- Easier said than done, because you will have to know what you, and them, are talking about. Try it, anyway.

23. Create bigger distractions. If the above does not seem to be working to distract from sensitive issues, create bigger news stories (or treat them as such) to distract the others.
- There's always a bigger distraction. Never quit finding it.

24. Silence critics. If the above methods do not prevail, consider removing opponents from circulation.
- Edit, delete, remove, archive, whatever. Just silence them.

25. Vanish. If you think the heat is getting too hot, vacate the kitchen.
- This is assuming your ineptitude in silencing them. Avoid at all costs.

Now that you have read this, you will perhaps understand better - or not - my next post.

It will be on another topic.
Because this one is always open to new ideas.

I, for one, like to learn.

It is an ongoing learning process, and this is my contribution.

So, bona fide COINTELPRO or not, very useful information and so here it goes :

Counter-Intelligence Professional Techniques for dilution, misdirection and control of a internet forum

Technique #1 - 'FORUM SLIDING' (aka "threadjacking”, or "burial")
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.' (of the sensitive post one wishes to bury).

Technique #2 - 'CONSENSUS CRACKING' (using “sockpuppets”)
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.

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. 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.

Technique #4 - 'INFORMATION COLLECTION'
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.

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.

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.

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.

Saul David Alinsky (January 30, 1909 – June 12, 1972) was an American community organizer, and writer. He is generally considered to be the founder of modern community organizing.
In 1971, he wrote a book called “Rules for Radicals: A Pragmatic Primer for Realistic Radicals” with 12 rules (sorry Ivan, not thirteen, just twelve).

Adam Alinsky.png (52.01 KiB) Viewed 3371 times

Having come across it and them, I think those rules have a right to be placed inside this thread.

For this is an ongoing learning process, forum manipulation tactics is. And the more one knows about it, the better one is equipped to deal with that.

I adapted his Rules to the subject in hand – forum control.

Up to you to decide if it is worth any while.

Here goes, so buckle up :
RULE 1: “Power is not only what you have, but what the enemy thinks you have.” So, give nothing away, except what supports this assumption.

RULE 2: “Always go outside the expertise of your co-posters”. Feel no fear but exactly the opposite by indulging in topics and claiming an expertise not shared by the rest.

RULE 3: “Whenever possible, go outside the expertise of the enemy … (and by that) ….Look for ways to increase insecurity, anxiety and uncertainty.” Just a follow-up on Rule 2, if that Rule is forgotten

RULE 4: “Make the enemy live up to its own book of rules.” Have him prove what he claims, never what you claim to, and challenge every step of his way.

RULE 5: “Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon.” Try your best to exploit this weapon with your opposition.

RULE 6: “A good tactic is one your people enjoy.” It may be stupid, it may be void of proof, but if it is enjoyed or – even better – partaken by others, just keep doing it.

RULE 7: “A tactic that ensures results for too long becomes one that perdures.” Also knows as “A lie told many times becomes a Truth”

RULE 8: “Keep the pressure on. Never let up.” So, if the opposition masters one approach, hit them from the flank with something, anything. Attack, attack and attack from all sides

RULE 9: “The threat is usually more terrifying than the thing itself.” Imagination and ego can dream up many consequences, for perception IS reality. Work always towards perception.

RULE 10: “If you push a negative hard enough, it will push through.” Many of your people simply will not go the distance of challenging hard pushed negatives.

RULE 11: “The price of a successful attack is (not giving chance to a) constructive alternative.” Never let the enemy score points because you’re caught without a solution to the problem.

RULE 12: “Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.” Cut off the support network and isolate the target from sympathy. Go after people, for people hurt fast. Use direct, personalized criticism and ridicule.

Wise words I read, and feel belong in this thread with a slight adaptation :

"In having to deal with and exclude those with glaring self evident PD undesirable traits, the best way to protect ones mental health is to treat yourself to 'No Contact', it really does work. But that journey of realisation cannot be forced it is only discovered by self reflection."