General Discussion

leveymg

(36,418 posts)

42. It's been posted and reposted all over. Some interesting comments at DKOS

Mon Jul 23, 2012, 09:00 AM

Jul 2012

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/07/22/1112509/-The-Gentleperson-s-Guide-to-Forum-Spies

This isn't copyrighted material -- I looked and can only find the same version that links back to a post with no author's name or copyright notice -- this was clearly intended to be widely disseminated in its entirety.

Very useful, even if it didn't originate with a gov't agency, as some have surmised. DU should post it as a reference and a guide to troll activities that can, and in a lot of cases should, lead to tombstoning.

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The Gentleperson's Guide To Forum Spies [View all] mkultra Jul 2012 OP

Yeah, it is unfathomable that anyone else than Democracyinkind Jul 2012 #1

Oh by all means.. Ignore this post. annabanana Jul 2012 #4

Agent Mike? Is it you? Democracyinkind Jul 2012 #15

It shouldn't be ignored. But we should discuss how to avoid false positives, since those, patrice Jul 2012 #94

Sounds reasonable. annabanana Jul 2012 #96

I think you're right. This is critical. nt patrice Jul 2012 #98

seems irrelevant if the story is really written by cointel mkultra Jul 2012 #14

I smell an epistemic conundrum here somewhere. NT Democracyinkind Jul 2012 #17

ohhh! heaven05 Jul 2012 #70

ohh! Democracyinkind Jul 2012 #73

thank you heaven05 Jul 2012 #79

Do you people really think you're that important? Who really cares what is posted? lol xtraxritical Jul 2012 #83

most heaven05 Jul 2012 #84

The responses to this thread suggest annabanana Jul 2012 #85

yes, politics cleary has no real importance mkultra Jul 2012 #123

but, but heaven05 Jul 2012 #44

Well yeah. Democracyinkind Jul 2012 #54

true heaven05 Jul 2012 #62

Well I would agree with one thing that this could be edited zeemike Jul 2012 #89

'Edited'? The whole point of it is it's a compilation muriel_volestrangler Jul 2012 #103

And the compilation shows what? zeemike Jul 2012 #109

That paranoia can unite the left and right wing muriel_volestrangler Jul 2012 #111

The compilation shows that regular activities used in volumn mkultra Jul 2012 #125

Good point: "That is the whole point of manipulation... Raksha Jul 2012 #190

it's not the traits... booley Jul 2012 #101

Anything easy is not worth having n/t dogknob Jul 2012 #146

EVERY DUer should ~*bookmark*~ this thread!. . . n/t annabanana Jul 2012 #2

Agreed malaise Jul 2012 #8

Thanks, just did that. turtlerescue1 Jul 2012 #13

I bookmarked it first thing. I'm so sick of these tactics on DU that I could scream. loudsue Jul 2012 #37

Actually, the mods should pin it at the top Blue_Tires Jul 2012 #53

Done. Initech Jul 2012 #82

Thanks. Bookmarked. glinda Jul 2012 #140

IS there a technique that involves putting up posts that take three hours to read? CBGLuthier Jul 2012 #3

..ugh... too hard... can't lift... annabanana Jul 2012 #5

Brevity is not only the soul of wit but of communication also.. Fumesucker Jul 2012 #7

I guess i get a "4" on the essay portion. mkultra Jul 2012 #22

I wouldn't have offered constructive criticism except for your post about too heavy to lift.. Fumesucker Jul 2012 #63

And I would recommend George Orwell's essays on writing zeemike Jul 2012 #90

TL;DR mkultra Jul 2012 #16

There's an easy counter for it, at least. Scootaloo Jul 2012 #136

Wow! AnotherMcIntosh Jul 2012 #6

Yeah. ananda Jul 2012 #23

Wow, you said LOL japa beads jamie Jul 2012 #131

mah tinfoil hat is on crooked Confusious Jul 2012 #156

If you want to see this in action, just go check out some of the recent gun threads. TalkingDog Jul 2012 #9

Doesn't your example prove Democracyinkind Jul 2012 #11

yes, that is correct but meaningless mkultra Jul 2012 #20

The term "false positive" and witch hunt comes to mind. At least to mine. NT Democracyinkind Jul 2012 #21

you are using technique #2 mkultra Jul 2012 #24

Case in point Democracyinkind Jul 2012 #38

And if you were agent mike you would deny it. zeemike Jul 2012 #99

To me this thread implies that some would be eager Democracyinkind Jul 2012 #119

It seems to me that it is always the same dichotomy presented. zeemike Jul 2012 #130

Hey maybe there are. Democracyinkind Jul 2012 #184

Identifying them is not the way to go. zeemike Jul 2012 #186

Agent Mike is a sleeper pintobean Jul 2012 #183

Given news articles on "sock puppet" governmental agents on the internet over the past year or so, TalkingDog Jul 2012 #25

The fact remains that, given Democracyinkind Jul 2012 #43

wonder heaven05 Jul 2012 #64

Democracyinkind is not damning. S/he's raising legitimate PROCESS questions. You are the one patrice Jul 2012 #88

what? heaven05 Jul 2012 #91

The point is: Apply this list to a hypothetical case of suspected disruption, how do you do that? patrice Jul 2012 #97

ohhh! heaven05 Jul 2012 #133

I'm talking about this board. I don't know what you're talking about. nt patrice Jul 2012 #177

I do not disagree. I do not agree either. Let's just say I'll be skeptical of all positions. TalkingDog Jul 2012 #104

Tactics that work, if you can figure out a way eridani Jul 2012 #154

Why is it so important to you pscot Jul 2012 #61

Discussing things is what I'm here for. Democracyinkind Jul 2012 #68

is it what you get paid to do? mkultra Jul 2012 #77

yep heaven05 Jul 2012 #93

This message was self-deleted by its author TalkingDog Jul 2012 #105

To what end? n/t lumberjack_jeff Jul 2012 #92

For shits and giggle, of course. TalkingDog Jul 2012 #106

Aren't we all here for shits and giggles? lumberjack_jeff Jul 2012 #107

You make a couple of fair points. Thank you for adding to the discussion. TalkingDog Jul 2012 #121

Is this article Fare Use? Javaman Jul 2012 #10

i doubt it mkultra Jul 2012 #18

That's why I was asking. Javaman Jul 2012 #45

no problem mkultra Jul 2012 #78

I've seen this on other sites. The caveat was that it had to be posted in it's entirety TalkingDog Jul 2012 #27

It's been posted and reposted all over. Some interesting comments at DKOS leveymg Jul 2012 #42

it's all nicked from various sources over the years, such as Ron Paul forums muriel_volestrangler Jul 2012 #60

Parts 2 and 3 by H. Michael Sweeney - gives permission to reprint in whole with author's leveymg Jul 2012 #81

you have my thanks mkultra Jul 2012 #122

However, you didn't reprint it in full muriel_volestrangler Jul 2012 #137

Technique #2 - 'CONSENSUS CRACKING' mkultra Jul 2012 #128

I'm jealous that some DUers might be getting paid to post here. Quantess Jul 2012 #12

This!!!! Democracyinkind Jul 2012 #19

For me three names come to mind very quickly. A Simple Game Jul 2012 #48

I know, right? I ought to be vacuuming the living room. nt Mojorabbit Jul 2012 #108

Rotfl! Mimosa Jul 2012 #143

Ummm... Hate to break it to you, but, uh... Nostradammit Jul 2012 #150

Hate to break it to you, but, the very idea of that is ridiculous. stevenleser Jul 2012 #170

I'm sorry, did you say something? Nostradammit Jul 2012 #171

Yes, only I wasn't passive aggressive. nt stevenleser Jul 2012 #172

Oh, really? Nostradammit Jul 2012 #175

Yes, really. All the things you just noted had a point to them. You and I wouldnt have done them stevenleser Jul 2012 #178

Yeah, no regime has ever tried to sway public opinion. Nostradammit Jul 2012 #180

I know, how do I sign up to at least get an offer I can look over? stevenleser Jul 2012 #148

"Malignant pseudoidentification" That phrase is a keeper. Edweird Jul 2012 #26

I agree. I am SO using that from now on. Safetykitten Jul 2012 #168

This reminds of of the infamous "Guide for Communist Subversion" ThoughtCriminal Jul 2012 #28

Ding Ding Ding Democracyinkind Jul 2012 #40

again heaven05 Jul 2012 #65

Are you accusing me of being a cointelpro agent? Democracyinkind Jul 2012 #66

"case in point" mkultra Jul 2012 #126

I'm sure, with that long of a list Confusious Jul 2012 #157

Yes, all parts come from right wing conspiracy theorists muriel_volestrangler Jul 2012 #110

Kick for this post... SidDithers Jul 2012 #160

yup Marrah_G Jul 2012 #162

RESULT: Nobody's mind has been changed, tanyev Jul 2012 #29

Translation: Le Taz Hot Jul 2012 #30

Paranioa strikes deep Confusious Jul 2012 #159

You know, it increases my paranoia, pintobean Jul 2012 #187

Thank you for posting this - good, useful information that all DUers should be familiar with leveymg Jul 2012 #31

I would print it and keep it next to your bed... snooper2 Jul 2012 #55

Here's an excellent bedside book: Christopher Simpson's, "The Science of Coercion" leveymg Jul 2012 #75

Not safe enough! I've pasted a printout over the right side of my screen so it's always fresh petronius Jul 2012 #86

on your toes!!! ( you can't see that in my post?) snooper2 Jul 2012 #95

No! Shrink it down and have it sewn onto the insides of your eyelids! stevenleser Jul 2012 #167

Yup Bobbie Jo Jul 2012 #32

So now anybody who disagrees with you is a "forum spy"? MadHound Jul 2012 #33

Congrats! You sound like the OP's poster child. lightworker at work Jul 2012 #120

Yes, that's right, I've been a "forum spy" here for ten years MadHound Jul 2012 #135

Better get busy on the job, then eridani Jul 2012 #155

Quite so. I think the worst thing you can do to the 'other side' is get them all suspicious of each stevenleser Jul 2012 #138

I thought the same thing Mimosa Jul 2012 #144

I'm certainly willing to entertain offers of large sums of money to post on the internet. stevenleser Jul 2012 #147

Translation in one sentence Coyotl Jul 2012 #34

You're a troll Confusious Jul 2012 #158

Oh damn, now I have to crawl back under my bridge Coyotl Jul 2012 #188

Too long; where's the part where you make people distrust everything on the forum? bluedigger Jul 2012 #35

Rules of Disinformation #14 is often seen here IDemo Jul 2012 #36

I wonder how many people are employed to do this. nt Comrade_McKenzie Jul 2012 #39

Last numbers were between 6-700 at a CIA front.. snooper2 Jul 2012 #57

If there are any Rethugs on DU Shankapotomus Jul 2012 #41

exactly heaven05 Jul 2012 #69

So you support drone attacks as long as the dude or dudette japa beads jamie Jul 2012 #132

No. Shankapotomus Jul 2012 #134

... SidDithers Jul 2012 #46

Picture Stolen By Me Sid sharp_stick Jul 2012 #71

Steal away!... SidDithers Jul 2012 #74

Oh look! It's SidDithers. Nostradammit Jul 2012 #151

But in other words caseymoz Jul 2012 #47

Heh. woo me with science Jul 2012 #49

I doubt very much that it is just the FBI using these tactics. blue neen Jul 2012 #50

But, I have no doubt the NRA, the nuclear power industry, and other astroturfers do. leveymg Jul 2012 #52

Jesus H. Christ on a hotdog my trackwheel was smoking ROFL snooper2 Jul 2012 #51

According to the list provided in the OP Democracyinkind Jul 2012 #56

Well, I can but I can't- snooper2 Jul 2012 #58

ditto heaven05 Jul 2012 #67

(800)-555-GFYS mkultra Jul 2012 #80

This should be pinned somewhere as a permanent resource pscot Jul 2012 #59

Teh Interwebz iz Series Bidness!!!!111!!! slackmaster Jul 2012 #72

Bookmarked! This is fantastic. k/r AllyCat Jul 2012 #76

forward this by email to ten friends or arely staircase Jul 2012 #87

Yep. Thanks. That's the book on corporate hacks and the Anti-Social Justice Movement. Zorra Jul 2012 #100

this OP looks like disinformation to me Enrique Jul 2012 #102

Sources are in #60 and #110 muriel_volestrangler Jul 2012 #113

Shouldn"t this be in Meta- ? patrice Jul 2012 #112

A while back I was posting similar information at DU2 and Arctic Dave Jul 2012 #114

it isn't information Enrique Jul 2012 #116

Sure, if it makes you feel better. Arctic Dave Jul 2012 #117

it's not all made up Enrique Jul 2012 #118

Why? Do they not get trolls there? Arctic Dave Jul 2012 #124

And at the same time, avoid paranoid people. mahina Jul 2012 #115

basic synopsis... 4nic8em Jul 2012 #127

Technique #5 - 'ANGER TROLLING' - LOL my response is completely outside their box. Zalatix Jul 2012 #129

Kick for woo from dubious sources in GD!!... SidDithers Jul 2012 #139

My God!!! greytdemocrat Jul 2012 #166

I'm so fucking confused, I just put myself on Ignore ! RagAss Jul 2012 #141

Hell, after reading that whole thing, I'm now pretty sure I'm a troll. chalky Jul 2012 #142

As the old Soviet-era saying goes, "There's a line in the book for everyone." Zalatix Jul 2012 #149

+1 Marrah_G Jul 2012 #164

Ahem- there is now cofee on my monitor! Marrah_G Jul 2012 #163

.. RagAss Jul 2012 #173

coffee too! Marrah_G Jul 2012 #176

... and thus people attribute negative changes to communities as a naturally entropic phenomenon NuttyFluffers Jul 2012 #145

I could not care less cali Jul 2012 #152

In the "how to spot" category, they forgot one. Skidmore Jul 2012 #153

Thanks for posting. fasttense Jul 2012 #161

I am not now, nor have I ever been a Communist Marrah_G Jul 2012 #165

This is a little short, could you expand on this a little? Robb Jul 2012 #169

does this happen on DU? you "BETTER BELIEVE IT" scheming daemons Jul 2012 #174

Let's assume BBI was an 'agent'. What do you think they accomplished on behalf of whomever stevenleser Jul 2012 #179

Interesting. sendero Jul 2012 #181

Jesus Christ, Tolstoy, think you could condense that thing a bit? Warren DeMontague Jul 2012 #182

Jesus Christ, Thomas Mann, Robert Musil Democracyinkind Jul 2012 #185

The Internet Troll As The Trickster Archetype Coyotl Jul 2012 #189

This is old nadinbrzezinski Jul 2012 #191