Gov Internet Shills.

[Karl12]

Yeah, that was the beginning of the end. ATS was all over it at the time, IIRC, today's eventualities were predicted as well 

and one huge reason Barack Obama's Presidency was so disastrous for America.

Thanks for that link mate and will look into it.

When it comes to Obama a big red flag for me was when his 'Information Czar' wanted to engage in 'stealth infiltration' and send 'covert agents' into internet chat forums.

Obama confidant's spine-chilling proposal

Cass Sunstein wants the government to "cognitively infiltrate" anti-government groups

Sunstein advocates that the Government's stealth infiltration should be accomplished by sending covert agents into "chat rooms, online social networks, or even real-space groups." 

LINK

Cass Sunstein actually got confronted about this but tried to weasel out of it saying he didn't remember - what a shitkicker lol.

[Kurokage]

I remember in ATS when you couldn’t even say Shill without it being flagged and removed. I wondered if the entire sight wasn’t in fact setup as way gauging the effectiveness of multiple psy-ops.

I don't think it was.

The term was used by members who's arguments failed or to try to rubbish facts.

[quintessentone]

I don't think it was.

The term was used by members who's arguments failed or to try to rubbish facts.

Yes, it's a deflection tactic like Trump Derangement Syndrome or Leftie or resorting to name calling when members are unable to hold a civil or proper fact-based discussion try to make it appear the member that is critical or scrutinizing is somehow deficient or has ulterior motives, while completely ignoring the facts.

[Maxmars]

I know none of you asked for this...

Feel free to assume it's TLDR and just zip on by... 

This topic can be about more than one thing because "Shills" are more than one thing.

Calling out a notional "shill" is not just a warning to others, or a jab at someone who buys into their shtick.

It is also an "intent" by definition.

Shilling for a cause or objective is - reasonably - an offensive practice in the middle of a genuine discussion of a topic simply because it is not "about the topic" but being told "what you will think about this according to the speakers doctrine."

I could get paid to sit here and finagle every conversation into a tiny sphere of relevance... al a "your are a [fill in the blank]."  Count the number of times, get paid.  The repetition objectives are loosely propagandist... (assuming the audience is utterly ignorant.)

I could get paid to constantly "remind" people that "such and such is so and so."  Just to maintain the presence of whatever "such and such" or "so and so" are.  Monopolizing thematic tones in dialogue allows for the deployment of 'new' or 'focus-worthy' elements of the propaganda.  It also allows for the propagandists to 'pull the rug out' from any subsequent antipathy to the message.f

I might contrive some sucker to pay me to go to a target web-site or community to forge "bad press" regarding anything imaginable...

In fact, anyone might find nearly any way to characterize someone as a shill.

BUT

It takes really large numbers to have any value in a world who is in love with 'statistical metrics.'

Enter the ultimate 'component'... bots... amplifying the "owners" intent and assault on the world around them...

Still... that's a lot to buy into for me personally.

It's hard to imagine I am going to single out a member of the same community I "live" in, and "brand" them a shill.

The only thing more offensive would being called a bot , or "AI."  .

Personally, I find name-calling a manner of surrender... often very much like foul language...
it is used when the the only thing to attack is personally focused...

I don't think it is possible to accuse a poster of being a shill and mean that in a 'good sense.'

Thus the claim of "shill" is an attack... and not part of any civil discourse...
as if intentionally choosing to keep it from being 'civil.'

Ironic...

Shills, activist, zealots... they all have the distinction of 'self-identifying.'

When they tip their hats, the cards just can't help from falling out... revealing their intent.

[KrustyKrab]

Ha yes it definitely crossed my mind mate - great TV series though!

Found it hilarious that there's actually a 'troll training program' where these subversive losers can hone their techniques.



[Video: https://youtu.be/x-gX8CGceoE]



Reckon everyone should watch that video if they are considering posting on an online forum.

[Image: https://denyignorance.com//images/addsmilies/beer.gif]

That was a great vid, she laid out a lot to digest, especially with all of the sub groups in some of the diagrams, programs within programs within…….  There’s been a lot of discussion of the topic on ats over the years but she really put it together well.   Definitely learned some things. 

It’s interesting how easy it is to pick out a troll/bot/shill once you know what tactics to look for in their posting and reactions.  Some are better than others, LOL

[KrustyKrab]

Yes, it's a deflection tactic like Trump Derangement Syndrome or Leftie or resorting to name calling when members are unable to hold a civil or proper fact-based discussion try to make it appear the member that is critical or scrutinizing is somehow deficient or has ulterior motives, while completely ignoring the facts.

I know someone exactly like that and always accusing others for doing exactly what they’re doing, is another thing to look out for.  You nailed it!

[DBCowboy]

Would say if you've got the time it's worth exploring the links found in this new article regarding government internet shills who actively mislead people online.








This is also a relevant older article but always worth a repost as it deals with subversive CoIntelPro techniques for 'dilution, misdirection and control of a internet forum' - sounds pretty pathetic but some of the tactics involve 'forum sliding'; 'consensus cracking' and 'topic dilution'.

[Image: https://denyignorance.com//images/addsmilies/beer.gif]

I work for the VA, does that make me a shill?

[quintessentone]

I know someone exactly like that and always accusing others for doing exactly what they’re doing, is another thing to look out for.  You nailed it!

You missed it again.

[Maxmars]

I work for the VA, does that make me a shill?

Now, now... you don't actively mislead people online.

However, everyone has an inner shill... an inner activist... such as they are.

[KrustyKrab]

I work for the VA, does that make me a shill?

Your secrets safe with me shhhhh…….