21 Oct 2014 7:29 pm
We seem to have a few of these here:
Internet TROLLS, also known as paid “forum posters”, “internet bloggers,” or if we call them what they really are, SHILLS, are employees that answered a work at home job ad on craigslist or some other venue.
Shillidiocy is a term that best describes the rapidly growing industry of people ready and willing to sell out humanity for a few pennies per comment.
Disinformation has been used throughout history for political purposes and these strategies are being utilized today by these paid internet trolls.
1 – CHARACTER ASSASSINATION
Disinformation shills often make outrageous comments for the sole purpose of deflecting focus from the truth and to intentionally discredit someone in an attempt to invalidate their viewpoint. The trolls often “make stuff up” if they can’t find anything real to highlight for this goal, after all, shills are paid liars.
Another trick these liars are taught is to use semantics to twist people’s words around and make it seem as though they’ve lied, to discredit them.
2 – DEMANDING IMPOSSIBLE PROOF
Disinformation shills will “demand proof” then ignore it when it’s presented, or continue to demand impossible proofs.
Regardless of what material may be presented by an opponent in public forums, they will deem the material irrelevant and demand unattainable proof that is virtually impossible for the opponent to retrieve; for the purpose of detracting focus from the mounds of legitimate data available.
3 – DOMINATE THE THREAD
Trolls often interject themselves into productive web discussions in order to make themselves appear credible as though they have a “real” argument, where none actually exists.
In addition, they adamantly refuse to look at real data. They intentionally divert attention from credible documentation, dismissing it without examination.
They regurgitate the same tired harassing insults, and repetitive generic jargon.
4 – PRE-WRITTEN SCRIPTED RESPONSES (cut & paste comments)
Trolls are supplied with a list or database with preplanned talking points and a format designed as generalized and deceptive responses to honest arguments.
If you pay close attention and track the trolls, you will see that they often post the same comments over and over on many different threads.
5 – FALSE ASSOCIATION
This works hand in hand with #1 (character assassination). The goal is to sidetrack opponents with name calling and ridicule, engaging them in a hostile argument to try to discredit them, also known as the “attack the messenger” ploy. The goal of “false association” is to associate opponents with unpopular titles such as "psycho” to make them look crazy and try to discredit them, or call them derogatory names such as “moonbat" or “liar”, attempting to invalidate anything they say regardless of how true it is.
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 the murky waters of “doubt” where the truth becomes “relative.” And if that doesn’t work they will antagonize and goad opponents with insults, name calling, and bullying. If they can’t do anything else, they will chide and taunt their opponents and draw them into emotional responses with the goal of making them look foolish or mentally unbalanced, in hopes of rendering their point invalid merely by shifting focus to show how “sensitive they are to criticism”, in an attempt to deflect from their point and invalidate any data they are presenting.
7 – STRAW MAN and “AD HOMINEM” ARGUMENTS
A very common technique is that the troll will accuse his opposition of subscribing to a certain point of view, even if he does not, will make it appear so, then attack that point of view (Straw Man). Or, the troll will put words in the mouth of his opposition, and then rebut those specific words. He will use conjecture, ridicule, and accusation to try and prove himself as valid while discrediting others with absolutely nothing, shouting “you have no argument, that is just ad hominem”, which is ironically, exactly what he is doing. The troll is trained to appear confident, unwavering, and that he is undoubtedly right, when in reality, it’s the exact opposite. Basically, he is a paid liar and his goal is to create doubt and discredit the truth.
Adapted from this website to better fit this forum.
Internet TROLLS, also known as paid “forum posters”, “internet bloggers,” or if we call them what they really are, SHILLS, are employees that answered a work at home job ad on craigslist or some other venue.
Shillidiocy is a term that best describes the rapidly growing industry of people ready and willing to sell out humanity for a few pennies per comment.
Disinformation has been used throughout history for political purposes and these strategies are being utilized today by these paid internet trolls.
1 – CHARACTER ASSASSINATION
Disinformation shills often make outrageous comments for the sole purpose of deflecting focus from the truth and to intentionally discredit someone in an attempt to invalidate their viewpoint. The trolls often “make stuff up” if they can’t find anything real to highlight for this goal, after all, shills are paid liars.
Another trick these liars are taught is to use semantics to twist people’s words around and make it seem as though they’ve lied, to discredit them.
2 – DEMANDING IMPOSSIBLE PROOF
Disinformation shills will “demand proof” then ignore it when it’s presented, or continue to demand impossible proofs.
Regardless of what material may be presented by an opponent in public forums, they will deem the material irrelevant and demand unattainable proof that is virtually impossible for the opponent to retrieve; for the purpose of detracting focus from the mounds of legitimate data available.
3 – DOMINATE THE THREAD
Trolls often interject themselves into productive web discussions in order to make themselves appear credible as though they have a “real” argument, where none actually exists.
In addition, they adamantly refuse to look at real data. They intentionally divert attention from credible documentation, dismissing it without examination.
They regurgitate the same tired harassing insults, and repetitive generic jargon.
4 – PRE-WRITTEN SCRIPTED RESPONSES (cut & paste comments)
Trolls are supplied with a list or database with preplanned talking points and a format designed as generalized and deceptive responses to honest arguments.
If you pay close attention and track the trolls, you will see that they often post the same comments over and over on many different threads.
5 – FALSE ASSOCIATION
This works hand in hand with #1 (character assassination). The goal is to sidetrack opponents with name calling and ridicule, engaging them in a hostile argument to try to discredit them, also known as the “attack the messenger” ploy. The goal of “false association” is to associate opponents with unpopular titles such as "psycho” to make them look crazy and try to discredit them, or call them derogatory names such as “moonbat" or “liar”, attempting to invalidate anything they say regardless of how true it is.
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 the murky waters of “doubt” where the truth becomes “relative.” And if that doesn’t work they will antagonize and goad opponents with insults, name calling, and bullying. If they can’t do anything else, they will chide and taunt their opponents and draw them into emotional responses with the goal of making them look foolish or mentally unbalanced, in hopes of rendering their point invalid merely by shifting focus to show how “sensitive they are to criticism”, in an attempt to deflect from their point and invalidate any data they are presenting.
7 – STRAW MAN and “AD HOMINEM” ARGUMENTS
A very common technique is that the troll will accuse his opposition of subscribing to a certain point of view, even if he does not, will make it appear so, then attack that point of view (Straw Man). Or, the troll will put words in the mouth of his opposition, and then rebut those specific words. He will use conjecture, ridicule, and accusation to try and prove himself as valid while discrediting others with absolutely nothing, shouting “you have no argument, that is just ad hominem”, which is ironically, exactly what he is doing. The troll is trained to appear confident, unwavering, and that he is undoubtedly right, when in reality, it’s the exact opposite. Basically, he is a paid liar and his goal is to create doubt and discredit the truth.
Adapted from this website to better fit this forum.