Keeping an Eye on Mr. Sunstein: The Government Official who Called for "Infiltration" of ATS

reply to post by silent thunder


The irony is : Mr. Sunstein's views and fears on Conspiracy Theories ARE themselves based in Conspiracy Theory.

This guy is one of us and he doesn't even know it. If they will round us up then he needs to be in the lead round up group. His conspiracy theory is a whopper.

reply to post by JohnPhoenix


Mr. Sunshine, Obozo, Soros, and the bunch of them, have accomplished their goal. The Us is divided.

What's the percentages? 47% communist takers to 51% patriots? 25% weaklings to 75% fighters?

They have managed in 4 short years to draw the lines.

What to do, what to do?

The most recent news item I posed on the previous page really stuck in my craw, but I at first found myself unable to articulate exactly why. Now after mulling it a bit, I think it was this line that was galling in particular:

"…Still, the approach we recommend does count as paternalistic, because private and public choice architects are not merely trying to track or implement people’s choices. Rather, they are self-consciously attempting to move people in directions that will make their lives better. They nudge."

I think the above is one of the most incredibly condescending perspectives I've ever seen evidenced by a person or persons in this kind of position. Because most ideologues or officials at least try to come across as respecting their audiences. Even when they don't respect us deep down, they at least make a bare-bones attempt to come across like they are adults talking to other adults. But this quote, on the other hand, shows the elites not even pretending to speak to the public as equals, or even near-equals.

If you read between the lines, its essentially saying: Look, we aren't going to take you on as an opponant or try to influence your choice in the traditional sense. Why bother? That would require a level of respect for you that we just don't have. The way we see it, you are more like a toddler, or perhaps a dumb farm animal too stupid to to know what you really want. We, of course, are superior to you in ethics, intelligence, and general sophistication, and thus we can read you like an open book. So to save us all time and hassle, just shut up, put this dog collar on, and don't bother thinking or worrying about what we are doing -- after all you wouldn’t understand it anyway. Just let us "nudge you in the right direction" because you aren't capable of knowing what you really want, let alone what is good for you.

It's hard to believe that a free society can give rise to public auhority figures who are at so casually at home with such imperious attitudes that they can just...let it all hang out like that, without making the barest attempt to sugar-coat their disdain. This type of swaggering pomposity smells to me like a whiff of something that blew in from the salons of Louis XVI's Versailles or Qing-dynasty China, perhaps. When Aristocrats were Aristocrats and the little people in rags flopped face-down in the mud when approached by their betters.

Of course, TPTB have always had similar views of us "useless eaters," amplified like whining feedback at the raquet clubs and yacht regattas where the real game is mutual back-slapping among sociopathic narcissists. But in the past, they were usually careful to keep that kind of open disdain to campfire chats at Bohemian Grove or lawn parties in the Hamptons. It is a new and unsettling development to see such remarks so casually tossed to the press. And the saddest thing is they may indeed have a point of sorts: How many people really pay attention to Sunstein and his ilk? Why bother hiding anymore, when the plasma-screen-and-SSRI-addled eyeballs of Joe Sixpack rarely detach themselves from the flickering image of Honey Boo-Boo long enough to mull the words of some boring wonk in a suit who uses big words?

And yet...and yet...I know that there are a lot of imbiciles out there, but I also believe in my heart that the American people really are better, smarter, and stronger than Hollywood and Academia wants to think (and wants to make you think). America is still full of tough-as-nails go-getters, and this is what scares the pants off of Sunstein and his ilk late at night. Don't let them tell you otherwise, America. And don't let them tell you otherwise, ATS. I know we are better than that.

Odd that this topic has been brought back to life, yesterday I was wondering why we think a infiltrator on a conspiracy forum would be a troll or someone that panders to the government.

Why can't a government infiltrator be someone who starts wacky conspiracy theories to discredit the conspiracy theorist community?

Originally posted by Happy1


What's the percentages? 47% communist takers to 51% patriots?

What to do, what to do?

Explain what those Percentages are please.

I'm Intrigued.

reply to post by Stormdancer777


I think this happens too. I've seen many attempts over the years to tie moderate and reasonable lines of argument in with wild fring-y skunkworks type stuff in order to discredit it. It's almost like a "poison pill" strategy in the business world, say.

In some ways this is a hazard of posting on ATS because there are, sadly, lots of people who won't take ANYTHING written here seriously becuase they have fixated on a few of the more bizzare tinfoil-hat threads and think that everything else posted here must be similarly crackpot. Fortunately open-minded people are usually able to look beyond these smear tactics, and these are the people you want to reach anyway.

reply to post by silent thunder


Ever noticed how the tinfoil topics always get the most bumps by posters?

They could be playing good cop bad cop for all we know.

Originally posted by Numino
90 % of the people on ATS fall into category: "Lacking critical analysis skills"

Don´t get me wrong, it does happen that I catch myself changing my sight of view reading through posts of others, and recognizing that I was plain wrong at the first moment.

But you also can compare the 90% of ATS CT´s to the 90% of "normal" people=not CT´s, beliving in normal things, not using their critical analysis skills.

You see Mr. Sunstein ist wrong and right at the same moment. But he´s throwing the spot sadly on CT`s which is a bad move and implicates the assumption that every other human, not beeing a CT is having critical analysis skills. Which is not the case.

I agree. I think there's a spectrum when it comes to conspiracy thinking -

1) those that blindly follow CTs
2) those that critically analyze CTs
3) those that don't care about CTs
4) those that blindly ridicule CTs

I like to think of myself in category #2. I think the entire critical thinking spectrum (from the ignorant to the rational) spans each of the other categories.

ETA: Oh wow, that post is a year and a half old... oh well..

reply to post by redtic


You can tell when a subject has hit a nerve with the "trolls" or "paid gov't shills" when they start doubling up posting ridiculous challenges to posts in order to attempt to derail a discussion.

They're easy to spot. I don't even bother reading their comments, or replying to them.

I have read some conspiracy theories here and elsewhere. It seems to me that at least on ATS they get debunked more than believed. That would be a good thing IMO. They would have to shut down the internet completely to accomplish what they want. You get both sides of the story here. I don't see that as dangerous. Whispering in the streets about conspiracies would be more dangerous.

I want to add that I noticed, some very reputable poster have come up missing in forum action now that Obama has his

"second term"

I wonder if they will show up for the next election cycle.

Originally posted by Stormdancer777
reply to post by silent thunder

 

Ever noticed how the tinfoil topics always get the most bumps by posters?

They could be playing good cop bad cop for all we know.

edit on 103131p://bFriday2013 by Stormdancer777 because: (no reason given)

It seems to me a lot of the trite topics get bumped and the significant ones get forum slid.

It's pretty obvious Cass Sustein's little minions are busy on here, or others with similar agenda's, the only question is who they are, and if you pay attention they are not too hard to find.

Many of them will use hallmarks of disinfo agents, such as trying to discredit posters instead of sticking to the topic, and also try to ego and emotion engage which also distracts everyone on the thread.

www.abovetopsecret.com...

reply to post by PlanetXisHERE

such as trying to discredit posters instead of sticking to the topic, and also try to ego and emotion engage which also distracts everyone on the thread.

Yea, that happens a lot.

And you have exactly proven his point with this thread...why?

Because you labled the thread sensationally by saying he wants to infiltrate ATS.

Yet there is no actual mention of ATS.

As long as this disinformation persists, conspiracy theorists will always be labled as mentals.

never mind

Originally posted by Stormdancer777
I want to add that I noticed, some very reputable poster have come up missing in forum action now that Obama has his

"second term"

I wonder if they will show up for the next election cycle.

Interesting observation!! I think many have just switched accounts/profiles... They still have to defend Obama and his coming litany of executive orders.

Originally posted by jibeho

Originally posted by Stormdancer777
I want to add that I noticed, some very reputable poster have come up missing in forum action now that Obama has his

"second term"

I wonder if they will show up for the next election cycle.

Interesting observation!! I think many have just switched accounts/profiles... They still have to defend Obama and his coming litany of executive orders.

That thought crossed my mind too.

Are they to embarrassed to own it?

Originally posted by Stormdancer777
I want to add that I noticed, some very reputable poster have come up missing in forum action now that Obama has his

"second term"

I wonder if they will show up for the next election cycle.

Very good observation! Like,

Outcast Searcher, er, I mean Campionator

Last visit November 8

and his sidekick, Realspoke, er I mean:3chainz

Very busy on ATS before the election

Originally posted by SourGrapes

Originally posted by Stormdancer777
I want to add that I noticed, some very reputable poster have come up missing in forum action now that Obama has his

"second term"

I wonder if they will show up for the next election cycle.

Very good observation! Like,

Outcast Searcher, er, I mean Campionator

Last visit November 8

and his sidekick, Realspoke, er I mean:3chainz

Very busy on ATS before the election

Wow, you're right, I used to see that poster Realspoke on here all the time!

Originally posted by TrueInstinct
So he thinks because we don't shut up and believe everything we're told that there's something wrong with us. Brilliant.

Apparently we're still at war with the Nazis.

These Progressive ass-hats hate the Bill of Rights and our guaranteed freedoms huh?