“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.
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.
THE PUB 
Bill – The AFP thing is different to the ASIO hacking claim
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-28/afp-engineered-christmas-island-tension-says-whistleblower/4718262
Whistleblower claims Federal Police withdrew riot squad to ‘manufacture situation’ at Christmas Island
7.30
By Conor Duffy
Updated 23 minutes ago
An Australian Federal Police sergeant secretly recorded an admission from a senior officer that the force withdrew a crack riot squad partly to “manufacture a situation” on Christmas Island.
The team of police were withdrawn just three-and-a-half months before the infamous March 2011 riots at the detention centre.
Sergeant Brendan Thomson has requested the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP) consider prosecuting the AFP over evidence about the riots it gave to a parliamentary committee.
Having questions subject to censoring by Management riles me. Why couldn’t hey have a free-for-all and have 5-second dump button?
Born and raised in the Shire C@tmomma.
(pssssst don’t tell anyone though. I do have a bit of time for Souffs. Boycotted the game when they got the boot.)
A SHY look-alike just asked a SHY question.
Very diplomatic, is Bill.
Jeff, you are a hopeless tragic. That you pick the Sharks for the object of your specific tragicicity is even sadder.
This comes from a man who once said “Strength and honour!” to Russell Crowe outside the Souths corporate box and got “Strength and honour!” back from him.
Go the Rabbitohs!
And to the Sharks I say,”Victory is fleeting.”
Leroy,
But EVERYONE will be better off under His Guided Democracy!
Go, Brumbies!
Bill is good!
Stupid question: Bill does not use tax havens.
Outed yourself BB! Super cala fraga listic ex P ala docious = myxamatosis
Myxo doesn’t work in Oz any more.
Looking at the audience, anyone who thinks Oz is a “white” country is dead set wrong. And we are much the better off for not being so.
BB, see to you victory has been won and won often … but it has been a long time between drinks for the wabbits. 71 I believe. Now over time there is nought but a struck match between 4.2 decades and 4.6 decades.
I dare say that there are more Souffs supporters that have not witnessed a lap of honour than there is that has.
And another little bit of trivia. Since your last GF appearance in 71 the mighty sharks have appeared in more GF’s than Souffs.
Funny that …. hey !!!
Some brilliant questions!
And Bill thinks before blurting an answer.
When I read this headline on the ABC site, I thought, have they arrested Abbott’s staffer?
“Man refused bail over alleged kill threat against Commonwealth official ”
but on following the link:
“Milad bin Ahmad-Shah al-Ahmadzai refused bail over alleged kill threat against Commonwealth official ”
I found I was wrong.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-28/sydney-man-arrested-over-threat/4716998
puffytmd,
Peta is a woman.
Jiminy, Ian Fraser asks a question!
Ian Frazer. D’oh!
Tony Jones is doing well. He is not entirely brain-dead.
Posted “over the road”..
Rummel sighs!..” What a disaster Labor has been.”
“Abbott soon to be PM.”
“What a disaster Labor has been”.
“Abbott soon to be PM.”
“What a disaster Labor has been”.
“Abbott soon to be PM.”
“What a disaster Labor has been”.
If you say it enough times a contradiction begins to appear
Robots do not do stuff of their own volition: they are programmed and directed.
2013 – moi’s year of revisiting Nero Wolfe.
The current indulgence is the previously unread by moi Triple Jeopardy, three of Rex Stout’s novellas about Mr Wolfe and the gorgeous Mr Goodwin.
The novellas were first published 1951-1952, and – just over two pages into the first of them (Home to Roost) appear these lines:
[Mr Rackell] “Is this a democracy or isn’t it? I’m not -”
“No!” the wife snapped. “It’s not a democracy, it’s a republic.”
Rex Stout was an acute observer of politics. This novella, written in the early years of McCarthyism, promises to be a brilliant encapsulation of the era.
Some time ago I mentioned that my mother and I saw Goodnight, and Good Luck shortly after its release.
We agreed afterwards that it should be compulsory viewing for every Australian voter. I now think it should be even more compulsory viewing for every American voter. Not only is America not a democracy: it’s dubious if it ever deserved the title “republic”.
Reinhart and Rogoff are saying “but, within the parameters we studied, we are right!”
Quite. That is the nux of Krugman’s criticism: the limited parameters.
Fiona and Scorpio—thanks to you both! I appreciate the sentiment. 😀
Mr Gates, was meeting Tony Abbott the best thing in your 40 hours here?
RIShane,
To be honest, completing my PhD was the hardest thing I’ve ever done – which given that I’ve also raised a daughter is saying something.
It was also deeply rewarding (but here the daughter-raising takes precedence).
Fiona,
Your doctorate doesn’t give you cuddles.
Ducky,
You think my daughter does?
Dunno.
Another nine bills passed in the Reps today.
Ducky,
When she was 14, she described our relationship as “combative”.
True enough.
Then again, she told me when she was 16 or 17 was that I was a most frustrating mother, because I didn’t give her anything to rebel against.
Having had the pleasure of her company for approximately three months over the last seven months, it has been delightful to establish a new relationship with an adult who is caring, fun, full of potential, a damn’ good cook, and just nice to be with. Mind you, there were a few tussles here and there.
And lots of cuddles.
My daughter of 38 ditto. There were times in her teens …
I did point out to her, on Sunday, that in 10 years time she might be a grandparent. 😀
If only Tony Jones was as witty and respectful of our Australian leaders on Q&A.
Btw, the auditorium that the Bill Gates special Q&A was filmed in was my #1 Son’s lecture theatre at UNSW. 🙂
Sometimes I reckon intellectual rebel children are worse than social rebels. Always with the questioning! 😀
Is anyone staying up late enough tonight to put up my next post pour quoi? 😉
Just going to finish typing it up now.
My only acquaintance with UNSW was a toga evening in the Round House.
C@tmomma,
C@tmomma,
Moi will be around for a bit. How long do you need?
FJ,
A couple of foolscap pages long. 🙂
TLBD,
How’s this for rebellious? My #1 Son likes jazz and I don’t particularly! 😉
At your service
That’s weird. I can’t access the posting page. It keeps 404ing me. 😦
I can post comments here but if I try and go there I get 404ed.?
C@tmomma,
When they started cool jazz they lost me. Plenty of good stuff around before the sixties.
TLBD,
I may need it the way things are going atm. 😦
404 got its name from the room number where they first encountered it.
TLBD,
You should see how quickly my #1 Son can type!