Disinformationists & Disrupters

C@tmomma Uncategorized

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“If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don’t have to worry about answers.” Thomas Pynchon

I don’t know about you, but I find it incredibly frustrating when I come up hard against a commenter on the internet whom I consider a ‘Disinformationist’ or a ‘Disrupter’ .

We all know them, if not immediately at first contact, then ultimately by their behaviour.

Or, at least I hope we all might be able to better spot them by the end of this helpful ‘How to’ recognise them heads-up.

It may save you the time you may otherwise have expended engaging with them in order to try and change their minds.  Because you won’t.

They do not exist to be persuadable.

Let’s just start by understanding what Disinformation is(from Wikipedia):

Disinformation is intentionally false or inaccurate information that is spread deliberately. For this reason, it is synonymous with and sometimes called black propaganda. It is an act of deception and false statements to convince someone of untruth. Disinformation should not be confused with misinformation, information that is unintentionally false.

Unlike traditional propaganda techniques designed to engage emotional support, disinformation is designed to manipulate the audience at the rational level by either discrediting conflicting information or supporting false conclusions. A common disinformation tactic is to mix some truth and observation with false conclusions and lies, or to reveal part of the truth while presenting it as the whole (a limited hangout).

Another technique of concealing facts, or censorship, is also used if the group can affect such control. When channels of information cannot be completely closed, they can be rendered useless by filling them with disinformation, effectively lowering their signal-to-noise ratio and discrediting the opposition by association with many easily disproved false claims.

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Such are the sorts of verbal attacks that we see every day, from Left and Right, from one or another group, political party or individual commenter, against one or another party. Of course, globally, but specifically in our own neck of the internet woods.  Mainly on other blogs because this one is moderated by active not passive moderators.

Passive Mods on other blogs appear to be hog-tied to Jay Rosen’s ‘Voice From Nowhere’ paradigm, assuming an objective perspective that sits back to let all flowers have the chance to bloom equally on their blog, even if some of them are the equivalent of internet weeds. In contrast with Active Mods, such as we are here, who are constantly on the look-out for the blog trolls that simply seek to disinform and disrupt. Who then get weeded out, so as to keep the garden blooming, unchoked with deliberate distractions from the disrupters.  Who seem to be just like any other commenter, until you start to see some constant similarities to the way they, and others of a like mind, go about their posting.

So, as a service to us all I just thought I might outline some of the ways they do this so you can tell them apart from people who genuinely have a different point of view to you. Basically so that you don’t waste your precious time and energy on trying to change their minds, with facts and rational argument. Such people will never change their mind because that is not the reason they are where they are, interacting forcefully with you.  They are trying to spread manure in the garden to burn the flowers and allow the weeds to grow and take over.

Eight Signs of a Disinformationist

1) Avoidance. They never actually discuss issues head-on or provide constructive input, unless engaged in faux ‘constructive input’ such as a Gish Gallop, generally avoiding the citing of references. Rather, they merely imply this, that, and the other. Virtually everything about their presentation implies THEIR authority and expert knowledge in the matter without any further justification for credibility.

2) Selectivity. They tend to pick and choose opponents carefully, either applying the hit-and-run approach against mere commentators supportive of opponents, or focusing heavier attacks on key opponents who are known to directly address issues well.

3) Coincidental. They tend to surface suddenly and somewhat coincidentally with a new controversial topic under discussion. They likewise tend to vanish once the topic is no longer of general concern. They were likely directed to be there for a reason, and vanish with the reason.

4) Teamwork. They tend to operate in self-congratulatory and complementary packs or teams. Of course, this can happen naturally in any public forum. Sometimes one of the players will infiltrate the opponent camp to become a source for straw man or other tactics designed to dilute opponent presentation strength.

5) Aggressively Mainstream/Anti-Conspiratorial. They almost always have disdain for non-mainstream or ‘conspiracy theories’ and almost always are defending the official narrative of your political opponents.

6) Artificial Emotions. An odd kind of ‘artificial’ emotionalism and an unusually thick skin — an ability to persevere and persist even in the face of overwhelming criticism and nonacceptance, no matter how condemning the evidence, they simply deny everything you present as evidence, and never become emotionally involved or reactive. The net result for a disinfo artist is that emotions can seem counterproductive.

With respect to being thick-skinned, no amount of criticism will deter them from doing their job, and they will generally continue their old disinfo patterns without any adjustments to criticisms of how obvious it is that they play that game — where a more rational individual who truly cares what others think might seek to improve their communications style, substance, and so forth, or simply give up.

7) Inconsistent. There is also a tendency to make mistakes sometimes which betray their true self/motives. This may stem from not really knowing their topic and simply being interested in an intent to disrupt the flow of an argument which is trending towards their opposition
8) Time Constant. Recently discovered, with respect to News/Social Media Groups, is the response time factor. There are three ways this can be seen to work, especially when envoys of an empowered player are involved in a cover up or disinformation operation:

  • ANY Blog/Social Media posting by a targeted ‘truth teller’ can result in an IMMEDIATE response. The envoys of the empowered players can afford to have people sit there and watch for an opportunity to do some damage.  Since disinfo in a Blog/Social Media setting only works if the reader sees it-fast response is called for, or the visitor may be swayed towards the truth.
  • Or, when dealing with a rebuttal to a truth in the public arena, such as in the form of a chain disinformation email, a delay in the response usually occurs. This allows a sit-down team discussion on response strategy for best effect, and even enough time to ‘get permission’ or instruction from a formal chain of command.
  • In any News Media/Social Media forum, it will often ALSO be seen that bigger guns are drawn and fired after the same, usually 48-72 hours delay – the team approach in play. This is especially true when the targeted ‘truth teller’, or their comments, are considered more important with respect to their potential to reveal truth. Thus, a serious truth sayer will be attacked more than once for the same sin.

Well, there you have it. A rough outline of what I believe we are up against, as web warriors for the Progressive cause, as we go into battle on a daily basis for what we believe in and wish to defend.

I’m not saying that the above is true of every encounter with the ‘enemy’ that we have, just to be aware that probably not all of them are ‘weekend warriors’, just engaging in the verbal battle for altruistic reasons simply. I’m pretty sure that eloquent exponents in our corner, the Progressive corner, are well known to the o(O)pposition, and are targeted accordingly so they don’t become too influential in the day to day ideological debate that has started to go on since the internet and other forms of Social Media flung open the Doors of Perception.

859 thoughts on “Disinformationists & Disrupters”

  1. TLBD,
    I hope said whistleblower is blowing the whistle on the ties that bind the AFP and the Conservatives and the conspiracies they cook up between them to get the government. Otherwise it’s not worth the air time oxygen if it’s just another anti-government whinge.

  5. Leroy,

    Would you tweet Rob the unanimous support of The Pub?

  6. Leroy, you beat me to it. This will get things bubbling along with LNP & their stupid “we don’t trust treasury” rubbish games. Will be fun to watch the twisting and turning

  7. For those wondering,I am sick of MP’s picking on scientists,+ public servants who aren’t in a position to defend themselves.— Robert Oakeshott MP (@OakeyMP) May 28, 2013

  11. TLBD, everyone in league knows that night football at sharkpark, when it is raining and they have had the sprinklers on all day equals lottery

  12. Didn’t I say that the government should organise a ‘No Confidence Motion’ in the Opposition? Well, I guess what Oakey is doing is the next best thing. 🙂

  16. You know who wears the pants in the Opposition now? The Catholic Mafia!
    I bet Kevin Andrews looks like an Undertaker, simply because he knows where all the bodies in the Liberal Party are buried. 😉

    Funny, isn’t it, with the Liberals, ‘I’m Gunning for Tony Abbott’ headlines one day, rolled in Shadow Cabinet over the Baby Bonus, the next. From Rooster to Feather Duster within 24 hours for Mr Hockey.

  17. As I have said many times before (well. at least twice) the way to break the Coalition’s hold on the polls is to break the media.

    Someone on Labor’s side needs to get up and call Murdoch for exactly what he is.

  18. C@tmomma

    Gallen, Luke Lewis and ……………….. Flash Gordon our fullback. He has been one of the best players all season.

    And your dirty grubby poms tried decapitating his replacement.

    Shame C@tmomma……. shame.

    (psssst you can’t wipe the smile off my dial)

  20. Bill Gates believes there is a God.

    I understand that is optional for clergy.

  22. Someone on Labor’s side needs to get up and call Murdoch for exactly what he is.

    Why bother? It’ll just be reported as “Labor MP facing election defeat in hysterical attack on Murdoch”.

  27. c@tmomma,

    Hope you find Greg Ingliss in time for the rematch. I think he was missing last night.

    Did a Harold Holt did he.

  29. He went down the beach for a long swim Duck. As they say the rest is history.

    Harold has a particular place in the folklore of the Mighty Sharks club.

    We are eagerly awaiting his return. And when he does it will also reduce out power bill.

  30. FIONA
    ,

    i would be pleased if you stopped commenting on my comments,

    I don’t have to justify my self to you
    so the other side of the coin can have opinions and i cannot,,

    You obviously did not understand what was pointing out,
    that for some years now, many many years,
    in fact , employees of the catholic system highly trained university graduates,,, have to have police checks the same as any one working with children do in all organizations

    that is what i was saying,, You don’t seem to give me much credit
    and yes i do understand, as a matter of fact.

    I am very involved with the catholic system\

    i was not a bit surprised to read you commented on my post.

    as past representative on state Parents and Friends,, a Mother a grandmother and teacher aid ( voluntary{ tuckshop mother\
    secretary of our mothers club,,, a member of the past students association,
    now helping out with my grandchildren at the same school
    as i did the above with.
    my husband worked at a catholic in his later career, my daughters teach at catholic schools
    and all three attended and had outstanding marks and high distinctions
    at university level,

    so my understanding of the system would be more that your s i would think

    i want be entering to any conversation about the above,
    i\
    my point was to point out to readers of the blog and other that there are strict guide lines for teaching in all school including our system as their should be,my whole reason for posting this was it make it clear to readers
    that the above is the case.

    o and to clarify i am not comment ing on the past, i am commenting

    on the situation now,,, i do not comment on the past as i know nothing about it only what i read.
    and i have no intention of getting involved any of the chatter about the past.

  32. jeffemu,
    You will be laughing on the other side of your shark teeth when Greg Inglis returns from winning the State of Origin for Queensland! 😀

  36. ABC. 7.30….Oooooo!..Bad AFP. !…..naughty AFP….what else have those devious little bassturds been up too?

  37. This is not a religious site. So keep your religion(s) private.

    There’s already been enough trouble here over religious sensitivities.

    No more, please Denese.

  38. excuse me bb I can defend my self,’
    lighten up yourself,

    I don’t see other reprimanded for their posts

  39. C@t… I have lived north of the Tweed since 1986 but still a blue. The only thing wrong with Queensland is that it is full of Queenslanders.

    46 years a sharks fan… since day 1. Loyal and stupid. I love it. It is character building.

  45. well why didn’t u say that last night you obviously have not read all the posts

    some one jumped on here last night talking about this an that and past and

    what ever, so I decided it must be pointed out that now there is strick guide lines now has been for many many years

    that need to be said,

    I never commented first and I want, but I was not going to let readers think
    other wise, there is strict guide lines.
    this is not the first time Fiona has pulled me up for a post
    that I felt needed to be said..

    if this was a political; matter and I was correcting what I thought was wrong information, what then.

    I never like things not being put right and clarification of matters

  46. Wat I mean is… there’s eems to have been something on 7.30 tonight connected with Leigh Sales and the AFP.

    I heard Brandis earlier on the radio saying he was demanding an audience with the head of ASIO to get to the bottom of the latest 4-Corners scandal.

    I also heard Dreyfus saying Brandis shouldn’t go looking too hard for scandals, as they have a habit of rebounding.

    That’s all I know.

    Have there been developments?

  48. Brandis FW DH and Mesma are having a briefing from Dreyfus today.

  49. Q&A should lose the tweets. They are more distracting than Tony Jones and about as informative.

  50. BB. it seems that the AFP., being forwarned by it’s own commanding officer that a dangerous situation was developing on Christmas Island, decided to withdraw it’s riot squad so as to (quote senior AFP. management secretly recorded) “…manufacture a situation…), to deliberately place the Dept’ of Immig’ and vicariously, the gov’t in a bad light!………….BAD AFP.!

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