Look no further~ The Gentleperson's Guide To Forum Spies

I need to read this more thoroughly this evening!!

Heck, I've seen 99% of that stuff on here!!!

WOW, this is a great post, I'm glad that this is being brought to our attention. Not that i didnt already think that this was going on here at ATS. I will definetly be paying much more attention. There are some people on here that I have always wondered why they are hell bent on starting drama, or side tracking the whole topic. It happened to me, why looking at some sattelite pics, of a drone, the whole post got side tracked. and became a boring post quickly.

Disinformation specialists have been a godsend for me.
Whenever I'm unsure of the validity of a subject I just look for the disinfo trolls.
Whatever they are trying hard to ridicule or confound is bound to be real or they wouldn't be bothering with trying so hard to convince everyone that it isn't.

I wasn't much of a 9/11 skeptic until they showed me the way.
It's the way of criminals - they lie too much and protest their innocence too often.

So thanks guys (and girls!).
Even though you're being paid to lead me down blind alleys all that effort has done nothing but to further make the truth self-evident.
Keep up the great work

reply to post by Asktheanimals


I wish i could clearly see the motives and examples of dis-info agents as clearly as you do. Unfortunately I feel that that these agents with malicious intent are not as obvious as you make it seem, well not to me anyways. As previously mentioned these characteristics of dis-info agent are relatively generalized and as others have mentioned can be applied to almost any thread post depending on what context you put it in.

These people are paid to remain relatively un-detectable, sure we have been provided a source to help us identify their efforts, but i would argue that our reliability in truly identifying them is still quite low.

To further illustrate my point i would like to reference the 9/11 episodes of south park season 10, episode 9 "Mystery of the Urinal Deuce". If you are aware of this episode, it clearly highlights some issues that are being discussed in this thread. Who knows what the government or TPTB truly want us to believe???

EDIT: Please let me know if you require me to elaborate on the premise of the south park episode

Just reading some of the comments here... Let's not get so paranoid that we stop ourselves from doing what we would normally do here. Remember the agents are a small percentage of all the members here, I would hope. And they really have no power over you unless you frequently fall victim to immature types of tolling tactics.

I tell you... The number one way to deal with ANYONE who you think may be wasting your time, is to just simply ignore them! Do not respond to their bait!

Maybe I wouldn't recommend this for EVERYbody...but, my personal method for doing ATS is... I usually will not post, because I don't always have something to contribute. But when I do post, I will read the thread up until I feel like leaving a post. Then I will post, and then go on to the next thread and never come back. That way I never get caught up in these petty little arguments that do nothing for anybody. Some people will believe differently, and that's perfectly ok with me! Why do I need to come back and see if anybody had anything to say about what I said? If they want to speak to me directly, let them send a PM. Other than that, there's no point in getting all buddybuddy with someone who agrees with me, and no point in "defending my honor" over the internet against someone who disagrees! It's a joke, and I don't know about you, but I laugh at the people who sit there and high five another after ridiculing another member or who sit there and battle it out with some stranger over their beliefs. Not that you should care if I or anyone else is laughing at you, but...c'mon, have a little self-dignity. State your piece and move on with your life, that's what I do.

NOW, if its a topic you're interested in actually having a discussion about, and you can ignore any attempts at wasting your time, and not fall into any traps, then go ahead. For me personally, its more of a matter of not really having a lot of time when there's so much going on in the world. That's why I don't really post all that much to begin with.

Originally posted by Asktheanimals
Disinformation specialists have been a godsend for me.
Whenever I'm unsure of the validity of a subject I just look for the disinfo trolls.
Whatever they are trying hard to ridicule or confound is bound to be real or they wouldn't be bothering with trying so hard to convince everyone that it isn't.

Keep up the great work

I'm not the only one who does this???

hehe...

Yes, it's pretty easy to see when you're on the right track, and they become obvious when you've been on here long enough... pretty easy to spot their shill accounts too:

Your post

Small agent reply

Big agent reply

2-10 no avatar shill account posts with nonsense

Rinse, repeat.

I'll toss in these links for further reference:
25 traits of a disinfo agent
eight traits

Anyone who can't see these people are many and very active on ATS haven't been here long enough, have their head in the sand, or are in deep denial.

reply to post by pianopraze


Very insightful, i feel that i am getting a grasp on similar patterns that have emerged in controversial threads.

However, in relation to my reply to "asktheanimal", perhaps obvious attempts of deception are just an alternative ploy to make you support the opposite side of the argument....?

Again, i realize you could potentially keep this line of reasoning going back and forth, "maybe, he knew i would think, that you would think, that i would think..." etc etc. but something to ponder none the less.

reply to post by ADVISOR


Awesome find! Star and flag... While reading the article I was reminded of the way the politicians, reporters and lawyers seem to use these standards to gain support or to doubt a stories validity! While I knew that they were being deceitful, now i have a higher understanding of what they were trying to accomplish! It seems as if being
trained in manipulation is required in these industries! Where at one time these men were prideful on getting to the truth now they are more inclined to hide the truth from the sheeple! These techniques can make a guilty man seem innocent and an innocent man seem guilty depending on their status in society! Is it any wonder why so many innocent individuals are suffering away in cages or put to death! While this post is not about maintaining
the Status Que it sure seems that these techniques are!

Originally posted by pianopraze

Originally posted by Asktheanimals
Disinformation specialists have been a godsend for me.
Whenever I'm unsure of the validity of a subject I just look for the disinfo trolls.
Whatever they are trying hard to ridicule or confound is bound to be real or they wouldn't be bothering with trying so hard to convince everyone that it isn't.

Keep up the great work

I'm not the only one who does this???

hehe...

Yes, it's pretty easy to see when you're on the right track, and they become obvious when you've been on here long enough... pretty easy to spot their shill accounts too:

Your post

Small agent reply

Big agent reply

2-10 no avatar shill account posts with nonsense

Rinse, repeat.

I'll toss in these links for further reference:
25 traits of a disinfo agent
eight traits

Anyone who can't see these people are many and very active on ATS haven't been here long enough, have their head in the sand, or are in deep denial.

That's not fair! Just because I have no Avatar i'm being regarded as some kind of shill or disinfo agent! That is plainly a bias argument! judge me for how i present my argument not how my account looks!

reply to post by ADVISOR
Finally! Someone with credibility acknowledges their presence, and up 'til now on this thread, conspicuous by their absensce. In my eyes these dis-info creeps are criminals, and deserve no respect. Thanks Ad, for calling a 'spade' a 'spade'. You've restored my faith in ats.

reply to post by ADVISOR


As a new member I actually did find this post helpful. It gave me insight on what I should be watching for. Thank you for the information.

Great thread! I never believe anything until it has been proven to me, and that means I don't believe the people spreading the disinformation.
I Know that a lot of what is discussed on here is very hard for some to accept. Even my best friends think I'm a paranoid schizophrenic when I start to discuss things with them.There will be people on any site that try to dismiss everything straight out. Some people will refuse to believe things they don't understand and trying to help them see will only make them worse.
If I post my views are exactly that, they are my views on the subject. If you have proof or even a solid argument I will think about it,sometimes for day's, until I either change my views or have a valid point to keeping to what I see as the truth.
I guess my point is it doesn't matter what they try to do to change, hide, or blind, you from the truth, you know how you feel and if after considering their points you still feel the same way then express that, don't let them win.

reply to post by intrptr


Oh my goodness you must have totally misunderstood my post.

Perhaps this will help...
Army of Fake Social Media Friends to Promote Propaganda

Now...are "they" coming for us? IMO...No.
Are they still reading, obviously, yes.
Do they sign up and post in forums?

reply to post by ADVISOR


Number 13 on the 25 rules of disinfo. As the Farkers say, "THIS!" Best example i can think of is the ever raging Theists Vs Atheists debate. If you were to believe some of our Atheist posters you would think that the USA and the World is being held back by some invisible Theocracy. Despite the fact that there are laws in place that prevent us from teaching religion in our schools or the fact that pretty much anything that is Antithetical to Christianity or religious morals is not only flowing with abundance but is considered to be socially acceptable. If theocrats run the world then you wouldn't have porn channels or internet access to porn, and i could go on and on. If you were to believe the Theists they would make it out to be this Orwellian nightmare where the mere mention of god is enough to have you stripped of your business liscense and that you will get visited by men in grey uniforms demanding you to justify your position, and that somehow allowing evolution to be taught in school is creating a massive Diaspora from the faith.

Clearly this isn't the case, otherwise both John Hagee and Richard Dawkins would have been dead in the street years ago. But some people just love to foster anger and dissent i suppose.

Jesus loves you. And if you do not believe in jesus then May His Noodley Appendage find favor on you.

reply to post by aboutface


Indeed my friend - the Straw man argument is alive and well in the 9/11 forums. Every time you try to bring up any subject for discussion the trolls are in there picking apart the least relevant bits and throwing around labels and creating heated emotional topics. 9/11 is a poster child forum for this COINTELPRO paper.

Originally posted by MDDoxs
reply to post by ADVISOR

 

In order to keep the discussion on going....

I would like to know what percentage of ATS users actually have their personal opinions dramatically influenced by a less than credible user who shares a differing or contradictory opinion.

Using a medium such as the ATS forums, i find that this forum does not directly challange my pre-formed opinions, but in some cases, when someone provides a solid argument, with support evidence and has provided a clear argument, support and conclusions...i find my self re-examining my own opinions.

However i would like to conclude by saying that i find it difficult to have my personal beliefs to be swayed by an online forum. I believe direct and in person discussion to have a far more influential effect. In a face to face dialogue communicates so much more then words. In forums you lose the passion, the sincerity and true meanings behind what someone says.

That's a good way to go about it. I am the same way - I've been on these forums for quite some time (Hell I remember when ADVISOR was just a regular poster) and I've seen it all. You really have to just take the information you read it, fact check and form your own conclusions. Critical Thinking is key on ATS, and lot of members don't do it. Approach a subject from both sides, gathering data, analyse it, fact check it, look for any other historical contexts which would apply and form your conclusions. Never take someones word for anything...that's my motto

reply to post by ADVISOR


Nice thread. Hopefully lots will read it and be aware of tactics disinfo agents etc might use. Also hopefully it won't be used in any negative ways (as if!) by those of less scrupulous tendencies.

reply to post by ADVISOR


Little by little, light is shed on the darkness.

Thanks ADVISOR. I think this should be required reading for some of these forums, I've posting this around a couple times before as well. Honestly, I got the impression ATS was turning a blind eye (or worse $) because many of these type threads are deleted never to be heard from again. It's good to see a moderator acknowledging it and spreading the information.

Members using the word "shill" is just as common as people saying that's a thinly veiled insult. Maybe so in many cases, but that doesn't mean it's always wrong.

There are some forums that shut out detractors and those who appear to have an agenda like this, the general feel/flow of the forum changes so much it's almost self-evident what is happening on the internet. While this might work for some forums, it probably wouldn't for ATS given the subject matter, the approach to denying ignorance and the methods of deciphering truth.

As always... knowledge > censorship any day of the week. Keep up the good fight.

Originally posted by ADVISOR

Originally posted by MDDoxs
THIS IS ATS!!..

*queue Sparta scene*

Also for those who may not have read the linked article, here is another quote mentioning ATS;

Technique #2 - 'CONSENSUS CRACKING'

A second highly effective technique (which you can see in operation all the time at www.abovetopsecret.com) is 'consensus cracking.' To develop a consensus crack, the following technique is used.

Examples?
Why are there no examples?
People on ATS call anyone who does not agree with them a paid shill, spy, or bot. I have a feeling this page was just made by one such member so then they could link to it and say "see!"

reply to post by zeeon


Interestingly enough, if you do your research and think critically like we have suggested, you may in the end find yourself agreeing with this so called dis-info agents regardless of their influence.

Everyone has the right to their own opinion. However, in the context of a forum such as ATS, the perspective "they" want you to have is either false or so far from the truth that it might as well be a lie...