Monday, March 30, 2009

Good Advice on Blogging Counterintelligence

Robert S. McCain links to an interesting article by Andrew Breitbart on left-wing blog guerillas and their strategy of “astroturfing.” McCain goes on to provide some fascinating historical context, showing how the tactics of these cyber-Marxists bear a close resemblance to the operating procedure of the old CPUSA.

Forewarned is forearmed.

3 comments:

JeffS said...

I hadn't put astroturfing and trolls together, but that does make sense.

Certainly a fair number of trolls stir up the pot for no apparent reason; some of that can be attributed to simple troublemakers and attention seekers, but by no means all. I mind me the multiple times when some event occurred (and Tim blogged it), and someone at Tim's old place would say, "Well, expect the trolls to drop by in force." And sure enough......

Anecdotal evidence isn't proof, of course, but it can be circumstantial evidence. After Axelrod's astroturfing, though, such data are indication of a pattern, especially one that resembles known patterns.

As you say, forewarned is forearmed.

bruce said...

Somewhat related:

I googled a Michael Moore book the other day and was struck by just how evil he looks when he does that mad grin, like someone out of a Breugel painting.

Devilish. Demonic.

Strangely, the first Michael Moore fans I met were religious (Catholics actually, hmmm Irish contrarians?).

Anyway, I have a degree in Pol Sci and am dismayed at the way democracy's constructive adversarialism has been perverted into goodies and baddies wars.

BUT, I find it difficult to avoid the view that American 'Progressives' and their global supporters are dabbling on the Dark Side of creation. Very disturbing. And Breitbart notices something similar.

RebeccaH said...

Anyway, I have a degree in Pol Sci and am dismayed at the way democracy's constructive adversarialism has been perverted into goodies and baddies wars.

Exactly what is wrong with political (and religious) discourse in free society today. On the one hand, we can say it's a healthy sign of a free society. On the other hand, there are those who use this very freedom to drive home their ideology by lying, obfuscation, and misdirection. The only defense for people who love their freedom is to inform and educate themselves, and to take off the blinders of seeing-the-best-in-everybody-no-matter-what.