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

It is aways bound to come up in discussions, as an argument or distraction from.
Often it is just a catch phrase used in a weakly veiled attempt of misdirection.

While reading daily info sites, I saw this article and thought of the COINTELPRO crowd here at our beloved ATS community . It is an eye opening read for those unfamiliar with this subject, and a confirmation for those who are.

1. COINTELPRO Techniques for dilution, misdirection and control of a internet forum 2. Twenty-Five Rules of Disinformation 3. Eight Traits of the Disinformationalist 4. How to Spot a Spy (Cointelpro Agent) 5. Seventeen Techniques for Truth Suppression ______________________________________________________________________________________

COINTELPRO Techniques for dilution, misdirection and control of a internet forum..

Source link

I wish them the best of luck attempting this with a forum such as ATS. Most members are inheritably curious, cautious, critical and intelligent. Your welcome all for the compliment.

These practices in my opinion would be more practical on forums that do not attempt to route our Hoax’s, miss-information and external influences.

These techniques would be best applied to Mom & Pops community forum where the users are naively under the impression everyone on the internet is genuine.

To the agents of dis-information and of malicious intent, I wish you luck, be prepared for close scrutiny and critical opinions.

THIS IS ATS!!..

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.

reply to post by ADVISOR


I would argue that for those who have been on ATS for years, a community awareness has developed and i would like to think most of the active users would be able to recognize Technique #2, especially will silly introductory threads like "Hi, i got some secret info"

I found "Anger Trolling" to be active at times on ATS, tends to revovle around drawing out hatred between nations. I always say "some threads turn into a pissing contest"

Indeed, I see it here on ATS all the time. Here is a good example:

Technique #4 - 'INFORMATION COLLECTION' Information collection is also a very effective method to determine the psychological level of the forum members, and to gather intelligence that can be used against them. In this technique in a light and positive environment a 'show you mine so me yours' posting is initiated. From the number of replies and the answers that are provided much statistical information can be gathered. An example is to post your 'favourite weapon' and then encourage other members of the forum to showcase what they have. In this matter it can be determined by reverse proration what percentage of the forum community owns a firearm, and or a illegal weapon. This same method can be used by posing as one of the form members and posting your favourite 'technique of operation.' From the replies various methods that the group utilizes can be studied and effective methods developed to stop them from their activities.

Certainly makes one wonder....

reply to post by ADVISOR

They are definitely present in some forums and their endless tactics have distanced some of us from the 9/11 forum and all middle east discussions, although in the end they may just have hardened the viewpoints of some members. Thanks for the info. I hope newer members will pay attention.

All I can say is that after reading that link, I see it more clearly now.

Too bad the message is already out there about the lies in gov't, etc...
Millions of people already got the message and have no futher need to read more into it.
Although there are still those apathetic people, our numbers are rising daily.
We know what they are trying to get away with.
They can store as much info as they want...but we still have insiders.
Remember, "the people" are their handymen.
How else does anyone think this information gets out?

We know they pay people to try and deceive us.
We know alot more than they think...and it's spreading.
Old school style, that can't be traced, tracked or "spied" upon.

It's too late for those agents because we've moved past the "internet" and "forums".
The game is afoot!




Nice find!

reply to post by ADVISOR


F&S, thanks for the info. Quite an interesting and informative read that I'm sure will change the way I look at future postings.

reply to post by ADVISOR


Well Mods, we place our trust in your capable hands to stem the tide and meet the hoardes and the gates so we have a peaceful little corner of Cyberspace to talk on.

I'd say you all do a pretty fair job, all things considered though. That's sure not trying to get favor either. I really mean it. Aside from the fact that staff here doesn't play favorites I've seen, ATS would descend into the chaos and anarchy of so many smaller sites which come and go...and I think it would happen faster than most would ever believe without the robust Mod staff here.

.....straight to topic though. Cryptome has been a favorite and regular stopping spot for me for a lot longer than Wikileaks was. I do trust their material as much as anyone's...so your note on the OP is a real eye catcher.

Great thread! I definitely see some of these tactics used here. If you don't start controversial threads you may not see them.

Here are some Vulnerabilities exploited by manipulators:

- the "disease to please"

- addiction to earning the approval and acceptance of others

- Emotophobia (fear of negative emotion)

- lack of assertiveness and ability to say no

- blurry sense of identity (with soft personal boundaries)

- low self-reliance

- external locus of control

Manipulator personality types/psychological issues:

- machiavellian personality
- narcissistic personality disorder
- paranoid personality disorder
- borderline personality disorder
- avoidant personality disorder
- dependent personality disorder
- histrionic personality disorder
- passive–aggressive behavior
- type A angry personalities
- antisocial personality disorder
- behavioral addiction

Many manipulators are narcissists, it is a common trait, here are some different variants of narcissism:

•Acquired situational
•Aggressive
•Amorous
•Closet
•Collective
•Compensatory
•Conversational
•Corporate
•Cross-cultural
•Cultural
•Destructive
•Egomania
•Elitist
•Exhibitionist
•Fanatical
•Gender
•Group
•Healthy
•Inverted
•Malignant
•Medical
•Megalomania
•Pathological
•Personality disorder
•Phallic
•Primary
•Primordial
•Secondary
•Sexual
•Spiritual
•Unhealthy
•Unprincipled

And here are the characteristics of Narcissists, of course we all have a few of these traits from time to time, I guess Narcissists exhibit many much of the time, I wonder if there is a number threshold to be considered a Narcissist:

•Arrogance
•Bad boundaries
•Betrayal
•Boasting
•Bravado
•Conceit
•Criticism (intolerance of)
•Egocentrism
•Egotism
•Empathy (lack of)
•Entitlement (exaggerated)
•Envy
•Exploitative
•Fantasy
•Grandiosity
•Grandstanding
•Greed
•Haughtiness
•Hidden agenda
•Hubris
•Magical thinking
•Manipulative
•Narcissistic abuse
•Narcissistic elation
•Narcissistic injury
•Narcissistic mortification
•Narcissistic rage
•Narcissistic supply
•Narcissistic withdrawal
•Omnipotence
•Opportunism
•Perfectionism
•Self-absorbed
•Self-esteem
•Self-righteousness
•Selfishness
•Shamelessness
•Superficial charm
•Superiority complex
•Tantrum
•True self and false self
•Vanity

Here are some negative reinforcement psychological techniques some of which are often seen on ATS:

•Anger
•Character assassination
•Crying
•Emotional blackmail
•Fear mongering
•Frowning
•Glaring
•Guilt trip
•Inattention
•Intimidation
•Nagging
•Nit-picking criticism
•Passive aggression
•Punishment
•Relational aggression
•Shaming
•Silent treatment (blanking)
•Sulking
•Swearing
•Threats
•Victim blaming
•Victim playing
•Yelling

And other psychological manipulation techniques to be aware of:

•Bait-and-switch
•Deception
•Denial
•Deprogramming
•Disinformation
•Distortion
•Diversion
•Double bind
•Entrapment
•Evasion
•Exaggeration
•Gaslighting
•Good cop/bad cop
•Indoctrination
•Low-balling
•Lying
•Minimisation
•Moving the goalposts
•Pride-and-ego down
•Rationalization
•Reid technique
•Setting up to fail
•Trojan horse

Note - If you want to read more here is the link. This info is disjointed on this blog and appears to come from many sources so attribution is next to impossible. The beginning half of the article is about the silly war earlier this year between Rense and Mackow. To get to the stuff on manipulation scroll about halfway down the page.

therr.posterous.com...

Keep your ego in check, stand up for yourself but don't be drawn into emotional engagements, stay on topic - those are the best ways to defeat the "knowledge management specialists" (which is an actual job description).

OMG!!! This is the best thread I have seen in a very long time! WOW what a hoot! I have only read the first few parts but wow.

Cripes from those lists I'm going to be careful of everyone on here - so that ticks my box as one of the paranoid.
We all need to be careful wherever we are as even good people can do bad things without realising or meaning to.
What makes me angry though is stuff that's put on forums that are downright lies, it's easy to disagree with an opinion but lies are more difficult. Stay frosty people

You call them 'techniques' [see list above] but they are also genuine human traits. I am guilty of doing a few things on the list but I have done that because those were genuine feelings. How do we know that someone isn't just passionate or misinformed or uneducated rather than having an agenda?

I did not want to be the one to point fingers but...

Originally posted by tazdeill2

We all need to be careful wherever we are as even good people can do bad things without realising or meaning to.

This sentence made some red lights flash... Let the paranoia begin! JK

I point this sentence out as to me, taken out of context, it appears to be highly suggestive. Not that it is, sorry to use you as an example Taz.

Originally posted by Hecate666
You call them 'techniques' [see list above] but they are also genuine human traits. I am guilty of doing a few things on the list but I have done that because those were genuine feelings. How do we know that someone isn't just passionate or misinformed or uneducated rather than having an agenda?

Of course, everyone is selfish, judgemental, angry etc at times - no one is perfect!

I think in real life as opposed being on here it is sometimes a little tougher to rein in one's emotions/negative traits, but on here I think there is less of an excuse as we take time to type what we want to say and should be able to edit any negative traits as we ponder what we have said before we post it - we don't have this opportunity in real life.