New trolling tactic/propaganda campaign: "former" liberal GBCW posts

[iconoclastic cat]

Just a heads-up: I'm hearing about a lot of "new" posters on sites posting "Goodbye Cruel World!" posts that essentially say, "I was a liberal/democrat/etc until today, when X turned me off. I'm leaving the party/movement/etc."

Here's a good example:

How a lifetime of liberalism was shattered in one day
by Jokercub
Fri Jun 09, 2006 at 12:24:41 PM PDT
First, let me say this is not a GBCW diary. As you will see from the post itself, it is more of a cry for understanding. So please, as much as I love pie, let's keep it out of the discussion. That being said, I write this with a shattered heart, and I fear that this will be not only my first, but also my last, diary.

Jokercub's diary :: ::

Second, let me tell you what I believe, and have always believed. I believe that a woman's right to choose is inviolate. I believe that guns should be outlawed, except in the hands of law enforcement or military. I believe that the separation of church and state should be absolute. I believe that gay people should be allowed to marry one another, in every state. I believe that higher taxes are OK, if the money goes to improve our society. I believe that the military should not be allowed to have another jet or tank until every public school in the country looks like a castle, and every teacher makes at least $75,000.00 a year. As far as politicians go, my earliest political hero was Howard Metzenbaum. Do I think Russ Feingold should be President? Hell, I think Ted Kennedy should be President. I don't even like the term "progressive". I'm proud to call myself a "liberal".

You would think that these beliefs would keep me in pretty good stead with the liberals of the world, right? Wrong. So, what was the fatal flaw that I discovered yesterday?

I am an observant Jew, and a strong supporter of Israel.

This person had registered today had posted no comments. This person also did not respond to any comments.

I've seen a couple others today, around noon. This, I believe, is a coordinated effort...by idiots.



edited to add: And THIS sounds delicious!

Avocado lime pie (4+ / 0-)
Recommended by:Viktor, AmericanHope, hind, Debby
1 cup sieved avocado pulp
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon grated lime zest
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
2 egg yolks

1 pinch salt
1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch single crust pie

DIRECTIONS:
Combine sweetened condensed milk, lime zest, lime juice, lightly beaten egg yolks, and salt; blend until mixture thickens. Stir in avocado pulp. Pour filling into pie shell.
Chill pie several hours. Garnish with whipped cream, and serve.

[porphyrian]

1. Well, if it works it's not so stupid.

Good to call it out when you see it, though.

[iconoclastic cat]

3. Stupid--like a fox!

/homer

[Dhalgren]

8. Maybe I am missing something (no shocker, there),

but, "if it works it's not stupid". What is the troll attempting to do? Make me feel bad? Make me say, "Gosh darn it! I'm gonna quit, too!" Is that it? It sounds like a pretty silly scam to me.

[iconoclastic cat]

9. It's psyops...for people lacking in the "psy" department. nt

[Dhalgren]

10. Sort of like *sigh*-ops?

;)

[porphyrian]

15. It's aimed at the indecisive and the ignorant.

In any group, a certain percentage claims membership only to belong to the "right" group, whatever defines "right" for them (the majority, the most Christian, the one the people they want to like them are part of, etc.). Posts like the one the OP mentions help keep people like this republican (despite the tons of evidence that it is stupid for most Americans to be so) or to sway these people back from other parties, as many have been bailing on them.

There was a heist movie that came out some time recentish (was it Heist?) where the con-men keep mentioning a cold that's going around as a set-up for what they do later in the film. The tactic of posting crap like the OP mentions is related - it creates the illusion that lots of people are leaving the Democratic party, despite all the factual evidence to the contrary. So, when some rightwing pundit later says some lie about the Democrats being fraught with infighting, the casual reader may go "oh yeah, I saw a bunch of people saying that."

[Atman]

2. Oh, for Christ's sake!

;)

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. There is nothing new about it.

They've been using that one for years.

Basically every time I hear "I've always been a democrat but..." they instantly lose credibility.

[stepnw1f]

5. We Had One Earlier Today (nt)

[BlooInBloo]

6. ROFL!!!! That's the funniest thing EVER!

:rofl:
:rofl:

We certainly have our blindspots, but the idea that we're as stupid as republicans, and could conceivably fall for something so.... Jr. High-level is craptacular!

:rofl:
:rofl:


EDIT: Forgot the word "fall".

[oasis]

7. yummy.

:9

[Imalittleteapot]

11. You can hear this crap every morning

on c-span Washington Journal. It's been the mantra for a while and it's all BS. So, if you support Israel you can't be liberal? Do the right wingers think Jews are foolish enough to fall for it?

[Raksha]

14. That's just what I was going to say.

The phone trolls on C-Span's Washington Journal have been using that "I was a liberal until today..." line for at least 20 years, maybe longer.

[sinkingfeeling]

12. "Just think if you told an American of Mexican heritage: "Don't worry, we

don't hate Mexicans, just Mexico."

Isn't that exactly what every sane person in the world says about America?

[natrat]

13. i noticed that on hufpo- seemed wierd at the time