After completing the research and putting together my post "IMPORTANT FOR ANONS TO KNOW: Multiple Nuclear explosions in Yemen" I decided to light up a cigar and ponder the question: if I wanted to be an effective Shill on a heavily moderated site like GAW, how would I do it?
To be effective and fly under the radar:
I wouldn't be openly hostile.
I wouldn't let myself stand out negatively.
I wouldn't be broadly 'shill-ish' or disagree often.
I wouldn't take positions I knew were unpopular.
I wouldn't attempt to challenge broad consensus.
I wouldn't advocate on behalf of enemies everyone on GAW is familiar with.
I would make several accounts.
I would take time to build credibility.
I would make posts pleasing to the majority.
I would make comments I knew would be popular.
I would be sure to portray myself as patriotic/MAGA.
I would intelligently 'dunk on' the occasional posts/comments that are clearly easy to ridicule.
I would hover around the 'new posts' page to be the first, and therefore likely top comment (Like count).
I would set up multiple accounts in this manner.
I would wait, patiently, for the particular topics relevant to my Shill assignment given to me by my handlers.
I would bet on human psychology, herd mentality.
I would use my multiple accounts to swarm with down votes, ridicule, and 'debunking', whatever sensitive topic(s) or ideas I was sent to GAW to thwart and 'contain'.
By getting to the post early, and with only a handful of accounts, I could easily manufacture the artificial appearance of a 'community consensus' against whatever topic or idea I was assigned to attack.
The only countermeasure to this type of attack is critical, independent thinking on an individual by individual basis. Don't let the perception of the 'majority opinion' distract you away from considering new or 'controversial' ideas. Learn to separate fact from opinion.
Just some food for thought...
WWG1WGA!
Yes!! Comment history is very revealing!
Although I’m convinced there are people here who are paid and trained to create, manipulate, and delete/abandon accounts systematically, then rinse and repeat.
I’ve been here probably four years and have noticed increased skill on the part of those who hijack posts. Too much sincerity and caring are only two of many ways to deliver dirt. Our challenge in the face of that is to be observant but not paranoid, and subtle (even amiable) with our comebacks. Letting some stuff die a natural death can also work.