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Humanities Section => Political/Government General Discussion => Topic started by: Shiranu on August 13, 2018, 11:41:31 AM

Title: "Astroturfing" and Dark Money Propaganda
Post by: Shiranu on August 13, 2018, 11:41:31 AM

I didn't realise there was a word for this, but what astroturfing is is when an organization presents itself as this grassroots campaign but is actually funded by large corporations or the ultra-rich that aren't obligated to reveal that they are funders, or the idea of "paid protesters"... which do exist, but not so much in the way Trump and Republicans like to complain about.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fmh4RdIwswE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fmh4RdIwswE)

Title: Re: "Astroturfing" and Dark Money Propaganda
Post by: Baruch on August 13, 2018, 12:47:11 PM
We own all your Tweets ... bwahah.

Yes, everyone on the Internet, or pre-Internet  ... where who they claimed to be ... lol
Title: Re: "Astroturfing" and Dark Money Propaganda
Post by: Hydra009 on August 13, 2018, 02:45:23 PM
A great example of astroturfing:  when the FCC first started moving to demolish net neutrality, they reportedly got a lot of anti-net neutrality comments, supposedly indicating that the public was divided on the issue.  What wasn't as widely circullated is that those comments were nearly identical and had all the hallmarks of a small number of users posting under a massive number of sock accounts.
Title: Re: "Astroturfing" and Dark Money Propaganda
Post by: Baruch on August 13, 2018, 08:47:43 PM
Quote from: Hydra009 on August 13, 2018, 02:45:23 PM
A great example of astroturfing:  when the FCC first started moving to demolish net neutrality, they reportedly got a lot of anti-net neutrality comments, supposedly indicating that the public was divided on the issue.  What wasn't as widely circullated is that those comments were nearly identical and had all the hallmarks of a small number of users posting under a massive number of sock accounts.

So if the Internet is corrupt, just pluck it out ... along with both your eyes.
Title: Re: "Astroturfing" and Dark Money Propaganda
Post by: Cavebear on September 15, 2018, 01:54:34 PM
Quote from: Hydra009 on August 13, 2018, 02:45:23 PM
A great example of astroturfing:  when the FCC first started moving to demolish net neutrality, they reportedly got a lot of anti-net neutrality comments, supposedly indicating that the public was divided on the issue.  What wasn't as widely circullated is that those comments were nearly identical and had all the hallmarks of a small number of users posting under a massive number of sock accounts.

Astroturfing goes back to the old internet days.  What is shocking is that politicians (through ignorance or plobbying) still fall for it.
Title: Re: "Astroturfing" and Dark Money Propaganda
Post by: Baruch on September 15, 2018, 03:40:39 PM
Quote from: Cavebear on September 15, 2018, 01:54:34 PM
Astroturfing goes back to the old internet days.  What is shocking is that politicians (through ignorance or plobbying) still fall for it.

One way to sell BS, is to believe your own BS.  That goes against the saying ... "Don't eat your own dog food".
Title: Re: "Astroturfing" and Dark Money Propaganda
Post by: Cavebear on September 23, 2018, 01:59:05 PM
Quote from: Baruch on September 15, 2018, 03:40:39 PM
One way to sell BS, is to believe your own BS.  That goes against the saying ... "Don't eat your own dog food".

Oh heck, I wouldn't even eat the cat's canned food, and that is better than mine (by price per pound of them and me).
Title: Re: "Astroturfing" and Dark Money Propaganda
Post by: Hijiri Byakuren on September 24, 2018, 08:22:21 AM
I'm totally using this word from now on.
Title: Re: "Astroturfing" and Dark Money Propaganda
Post by: Cavebear on September 27, 2018, 12:27:28 AM
Quote from: Hijiri Byakuren on September 24, 2018, 08:22:21 AM
I'm totally using this word from now on.

You mean "astro-turfing"?  It has been around a while, meaning "fake ground-level up political activities".