I want to call attention to an aspect of a story that no one so far, to my knowledge, has pointed out. Cass Sustein, close friend to Obama and Head of his Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, proposed a year ago along with his co-author, fellow Harvard Law Professor Adrian Vermeule, a government program to secretly infiltrate chat rooms, online social networks, or even real-space groups by using ostensibly independent credible voices, who are actually secretly in the pay of the government, to counter conspiracy theorists such as the 9/11 Truth movement and other extremist groups. They dub this program cognitive infiltration. The full citation for their paper is as follows: Sunstein, Cass R. and Vermeule, Adrian, Conspiracy Theories (January 15, 2008). Harvard Public Law Working Paper No. 08-03; U of Chicago, Public Law Working Paper No. 199; U of Chicago Law & Economics, Olin Working Paper No. 387. Available at SSRN:http://ssrn.com/abstract=1084585 Marc Estrin first called attention to this here. Daniel Tencer at RawStory picked Estrins story up and wrote a very good story about it here. Glenn Greenwald wrote in his usual estimable way about this subsequently here.
As Glenn Greenwald writes: This program would target those advocating
false conspiracy theories, which they [Sustein and Vermeule] define to mean: an attempt to explain an event or practice by reference to the machinations of powerful people, who have also managed to conceal their role. Sustein and Vermeule, in other words, want to carry out a stealth government program - a machination by powerful people who conceal their role that is itself an example of a conspiracy, the very existence of which the program is supposed to claim doesnt exist. In other words, they are doing exactly what they claim crazy conspiracy theory people think that the government is doing, in order to combat the crazy conspiracy people. In the abstract to their paper, Conspiracy Theories, published on January 15, 2008, they state, in part: A distinctive feature of conspiracy theories is their self-sealing quality. Conspiracy theorists are not likely to be persuaded by an attempt to dispel their theories; they may even characterize that very attempt as further proof of the conspiracy. Because those who hold conspiracy theories typically suffer from a crippled epistemology, in accordance with which it is rational to hold such theories, the best response consists in cognitive infiltration of extremist groups. A crippled epistemology indeed. It is true that wild conspiracy theories abound. But since a conspiracy means that some people get together to plan and implement something, and dont tell people what theyre doing, a conspiracy also describes surprise birthday parties, price-fixing, what politicians do routinely amongst themselves, adultery, and so on. These activities abound as well, and theyre quite real. Just because you claim that the government is up to no good, and is concealing from public view what its real agenda is, doesnt mean that youre not possibly right. This proposal for cognitive infiltration itself proves that governments conspire, or at least, that former academics who are now in the government, propose to conspire. The history of COINTELPRO, of course, also proves that the government conspires, as does the NSAs massive surveillance over all of us before it was uncovered, the planting of fake stories in Iraqi newspapers by the US Military, the recent Gruber scandal, and so on and so on. If Sustein werent now ideally positioned in his current post to actually implement the proposal that he suggested a year ago, we would perhaps be forgiven if we thought that Sustein and Vermeule were engaged in a satire. http://www.dennis.worldcantwait.net/?p=36
> On Jan 21, 3:46 pm, "skepti...@aol.com" <skepti...@aol.com> scrawled > in urine on the floor of the detention center:
> snippy
> Attention all EAC operatives. Klaatu Barada Nikto. I repeat, Klaatu > Barada Nikto. Queen to Rook 4. Lastday, Capricorn Fifteens. Tanjoubi > Omedetou!
a government program to secretly infiltrate chat rooms, online social networks, or even real-space groups by using ostensibly independent credible voices, who are actually secretly in the pay of the government, to counter conspiracy theorists such as the 9/11 Truth movement and other extremist groups. They dub this program cognitive infiltration.
> a government > program to secretly infiltrate chat rooms, online social networks, or > even real-space groups by using ostensibly independent credible > voices, who are actually secretly in the pay of the government, to > counter conspiracy theorists such as the 9/11 Truth movement and > other extremist groups. They dub this program cognitive > infiltration.
skepti...@aol.com wrote: > On Jan 21, 2:45 pm, panamfl...@hotmail.com wrote: >> On Jan 21, 3:46 pm, "skepti...@aol.com" <skepti...@aol.com> scrawled >> in urine on the floor of the detention center:
>> snippy
>> Attention all EAC operatives. Klaatu Barada Nikto. I repeat, Klaatu >> Barada Nikto. Queen to Rook 4. Lastday, Capricorn Fifteens. Tanjoubi >> Omedetou!
> a government > program to secretly infiltrate chat rooms, online social networks, or > even real-space groups by using ostensibly independent credible > voices, who are actually secretly in the pay of the government, to > counter conspiracy theorists such as the 9/11 Truth movement and > other extremist groups. They dub this program cognitive > infiltration.
A "Secret" plan the publish openly on the internet?
"Conspiracy theorists are not likely to be persuaded by an attempt to dispel their theories; they may even characterize that very attempt as further proof of the conspiracy. Because those who hold conspiracy theories typically suffer from a crippled epistemology, in accordance with which it is rational to hold such theories, the best response consists in cognitive infiltration of extremist groups. Various policy dilemmas, such as the question whether it is better for government to rebut conspiracy theories or to ignore them, are explored in this light. "
One fine day in alt.atheism, panamfl...@hotmail.com wrote:
> On Jan 21, 3:46 pm, "skepti...@aol.com" <skepti...@aol.com> scrawled > in urine on the floor of the detention center:
> snippy
> Attention all EAC operatives. Klaatu Barada Nikto. I repeat, Klaatu > Barada Nikto. Queen to Rook 4. Lastday, Capricorn Fifteens. Tanjoubi > Omedetou!
> Shake a leg, folks..
<Grabs revolver>
...I must kill Pap Schmear...
-- Uncle Vic aa Atheist #2011 Christians are like Slinkys. They're boring, but they'll put a smile on your face when you push them down the stairs.
panamfl...@hotmail.com wrote: > On Jan 21, 3:46 pm, "skepti...@aol.com" <skepti...@aol.com> scrawled > in urine on the floor of the detention center:
> snippy
> Attention all EAC operatives. Klaatu Barada Nikto. I repeat, Klaatu > Barada Nikto. Queen to Rook 4. Lastday, Capricorn Fifteens. Tanjoubi > Omedetou!
> Shake a leg, folks..
Where did I put that damn memo? I'LL BE WITH YOU IN A MOMENT!
Ah! Here it is, inside my rubber chicken! <skims through memo> Shit. I need my secret decoder ring to read this. HOLD ON! I'LL GO GET IT!
OK, now where was I? Oh yes. Klaatu Barada Nikto.... Damn, my decoder ring has got bent and won't work. I'M JUST GOING FOR A PAIR OF PLIERS!
I'm back. I've only got to straighten it out. <sounds of straining> That's better....Klaatu Barada Nikto..... That decodes to PLEFSIVD?? Ah! I'm holding the damn ring upside down. Try again.
It now decodes to "The Black Helicopters left on their secret mission five minutes ago."
SORRY!
-- Smiler The godless one a.a.# 2279 All gods are bespoke. They're all made to perfectly fit the prejudices of their believer
In article <0f22c3ed-36cf-4008-a394-d57da8b65ce9 @l19g2000yqb.googlegroups.com>, panamfl...@hotmail.com says...
> On Jan 21, 3:46 pm, "skepti...@aol.com" <skepti...@aol.com> scrawled > in urine on the floor of the detention center:
> snippy
> Attention all EAC operatives. Klaatu Barada Nikto. I repeat, Klaatu > Barada Nikto. Queen to Rook 4. Lastday, Capricorn Fifteens. Tanjoubi > Omedetou!
> skepti...@aol.com wrote: > > On Jan 21, 2:45 pm, panamfl...@hotmail.com wrote: > >> On Jan 21, 3:46 pm, "skepti...@aol.com" <skepti...@aol.com> scrawled > >> in urine on the floor of the detention center:
> >> snippy
> >> Attention all EAC operatives. Klaatu Barada Nikto. I repeat, Klaatu > >> Barada Nikto. Queen to Rook 4. Lastday, Capricorn Fifteens. Tanjoubi > >> Omedetou!
> > a government > > program to secretly infiltrate =3Fchat rooms, online social networks, or > > even real-space groups=3F by using ostensibly =3Findependent=3F credible > > voices, who are actually secretly in the pay of the government, to > > counter =3Fconspiracy theorists=3F such as the 9/11 Truth movement and > > other =3Fextremist=3F groups. They dub this program =3Fcognitive > > infiltration.=3F
> A "Secret" plan the publish openly on the internet?
> "Conspiracy theorists are not likely to be persuaded by an attempt to dispel > their theories; they may even characterize that very attempt as further > proof of the conspiracy. Because those who hold conspiracy theories > typically suffer from a crippled epistemology, in accordance with which it > is rational to hold such theories, the best response consists in cognitive > infiltration of extremist groups. Various policy dilemmas, such as the > question whether it is better for government to rebut conspiracy theories or > to ignore them, are explored in this light. "
LOL, you sound a lot like my Ex-GF after she reads some of the kook posts.
--
BDK.. Leader of the nonexistent paid shills. Non Jew Jew Club founding member. Former number one Kook Magnet, title passed to Iarnrod.
> On Jan 21, 3:46 pm, "skepti...@aol.com" <skepti...@aol.com> scrawled > in urine on the floor of the detention center:
> snippy
> Attention all EAC operatives. Klaatu Barada Nikto. I repeat, Klaatu > Barada Nikto. Queen to Rook 4. Lastday, Capricorn Fifteens. Tanjoubi > Omedetou!
> On Jan 21, 2:45 pm, panamfl...@hotmail.com wrote: > > On Jan 21, 3:46 pm, "skepti...@aol.com" <skepti...@aol.com> scrawled > > in urine on the floor of the detention center:
> > snippy
> > Attention all EAC operatives. Klaatu Barada Nikto. I repeat, Klaatu > > Barada Nikto. Queen to Rook 4. Lastday, Capricorn Fifteens. Tanjoubi > > Omedetou!
> a government > program to secretly infiltrate =3Fchat rooms, online social networks, or > even real-space groups=3F by using ostensibly =3Findependent=3F credible > voices, who are actually secretly in the pay of the government, to > counter =3Fconspiracy theorists=3F such as the 9/11 Truth movement and > other =3Fextremist=3F groups. They dub this program =3Fcognitive > infiltration.=3F
They call you a clueless kook.
--
BDK.. Leader of the nonexistent paid shills. Non Jew Jew Club founding member. Former number one Kook Magnet, title passed to Iarnrod.
Le 2010-01-21 17:45, panamfl...@hotmail.com a crit :
> On Jan 21, 3:46 pm, "skepti...@aol.com"<skepti...@aol.com> scrawled > in urine on the floor of the detention center:
> snippy
> Attention all EAC operatives. Klaatu Barada Nikto. I repeat, Klaatu > Barada Nikto. Queen to Rook 4. Lastday, Capricorn Fifteens. Tanjoubi > Omedetou!
Discussion subject changed to "Panama Floyd and Raven1 Are Part of the Paid "Cognitive Infiltration" Program from the White House and Pentagon: To Keep People Down" by panamfl...@hotmail.com
> panamfl...@hotmail.com wrote: > > On Jan 21, 3:46 pm, "skepti...@aol.com" <skepti...@aol.com> scrawled > > in urine on the floor of the detention center:
> > snippy
> > Attention all EAC operatives. Klaatu Barada Nikto. I repeat, Klaatu > > Barada Nikto. Queen to Rook 4. Lastday, Capricorn Fifteens. Tanjoubi > > Omedetou!
> > Shake a leg, folks..
> Where did I put that damn memo? > I'LL BE WITH YOU IN A MOMENT!
> Ah! Here it is, inside my rubber chicken! > <skims through memo> > Shit. I need my secret decoder ring to read this. > HOLD ON! I'LL GO GET IT!
> OK, now where was I? > Oh yes. Klaatu Barada Nikto.... > Damn, my decoder ring has got bent and won't work. > I'M JUST GOING FOR A PAIR OF PLIERS!
> I'm back. I've only got to straighten it out. > <sounds of straining> > That's better....Klaatu Barada Nikto..... That decodes to PLEFSIVD?? > Ah! I'm holding the damn ring upside down. > Try again.
> It now decodes to "The Black Helicopters left on their secret mission five > minutes ago."
> SORRY!
Dammit, Smiler...now you know why you're "flying a desk". <g>
-Panama Floyd, Atlanta. aa#2015, Member Knights of BAAWA! EAC Martian Commander aaCognitive Infiltrator #1.
panamfl...@hotmail.com wrote: > On Jan 21, 9:26 pm, "Smiler" <Smi...@joe.king.com> wrote: >> panamfl...@hotmail.com wrote: >>> On Jan 21, 3:46 pm, "skepti...@aol.com" <skepti...@aol.com> scrawled >>> in urine on the floor of the detention center:
>>> snippy
>>> Attention all EAC operatives. Klaatu Barada Nikto. I repeat, Klaatu >>> Barada Nikto. Queen to Rook 4. Lastday, Capricorn Fifteens. Tanjoubi >>> Omedetou!
>>> Shake a leg, folks..
>> Where did I put that damn memo? >> I'LL BE WITH YOU IN A MOMENT!
>> Ah! Here it is, inside my rubber chicken! >> <skims through memo> >> Shit. I need my secret decoder ring to read this. >> HOLD ON! I'LL GO GET IT!
>> OK, now where was I? >> Oh yes. Klaatu Barada Nikto.... >> Damn, my decoder ring has got bent and won't work. >> I'M JUST GOING FOR A PAIR OF PLIERS!
>> I'm back. I've only got to straighten it out. >> <sounds of straining> >> That's better....Klaatu Barada Nikto..... That decodes to PLEFSIVD?? >> Ah! I'm holding the damn ring upside down. >> Try again.
>> It now decodes to "The Black Helicopters left on their secret >> mission five minutes ago."
>> SORRY!
> Dammit, Smiler...now you know why you're "flying a desk". <g>
I blame it on the cheap metal they make the decoder rings from and the excessive number of memos we get from the EAC (ntie,oc).
-- Smiler The godless one a.a.# 2279 All gods are bespoke. They're all made to perfectly fit the prejudices of their believer
panamfl...@hotmail.com wrote: > On Jan 21, 3:46 pm, "skepti...@aol.com" <skepti...@aol.com> scrawled > in urine on the floor of the detention center:
> snippy
> Attention all EAC operatives. Klaatu Barada Nikto. I repeat, Klaatu > Barada Nikto. Queen to Rook 4. Lastday, Capricorn Fifteens. Tanjoubi > Omedetou!
<drdonmar...@comcast.net> wrote: >panamfl...@hotmail.com wrote: >> On Jan 21, 3:46 pm, "skepti...@aol.com" <skepti...@aol.com> scrawled >> in urine on the floor of the detention center:
>> snippy
>> Attention all EAC operatives. Klaatu Barada Nikto. I repeat, Klaatu >> Barada Nikto. Queen to Rook 4. Lastday, Capricorn Fifteens. Tanjoubi >> Omedetou!
panamfl...@hotmail.com wrote: > On Jan 21, 3:46 pm, "skepti...@aol.com" <skepti...@aol.com> scrawled > in urine on the floor of the detention center:
> snippy
> Attention all EAC operatives. Klaatu Barada Nikto. I repeat, Klaatu > Barada Nikto. Queen to Rook 4. Lastday, Capricorn Fifteens. Tanjoubi > Omedetou!
> Shake a leg, folks..
Calm down. The EAC pharma division was already on full alert and in the process of scaling up production of the antipsychotics ordered for him. They should be ready for dispatch, by black helicopter, in an hour and be with you in two. I'm also sending a standard 10" dia. insertion tool in case you don't already have one. Don't forget that you will need your rubber chicken and ID number for the crew to hand the consignment over to you.
-- Smiler The godless one a.a.# 2279 All gods are bespoke. They're all made to perfectly fit the prejudices of their believer
> panamfl...@hotmail.com wrote: >> On Jan 21, 3:46 pm, "skepti...@aol.com" <skepti...@aol.com> scrawled >> in urine on the floor of the detention center:
>> snippy
>> Attention all EAC operatives. Klaatu Barada Nikto. I repeat, Klaatu >> Barada Nikto. Queen to Rook 4. Lastday, Capricorn Fifteens. Tanjoubi >> Omedetou!
On Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:28:52 -0500, Don Martin wrote: > panamfl...@hotmail.com wrote: >> On Jan 21, 3:46 pm, "skepti...@aol.com" <skepti...@aol.com> scrawled >> in urine on the floor of the detention center:
>> snippy
>> Attention all EAC operatives. Klaatu Barada Nikto. I repeat, Klaatu >> Barada Nikto. Queen to Rook 4. Lastday, Capricorn Fifteens. Tanjoubi >> Omedetou!
> panamfl...@hotmail.com wrote: > > On Jan 21, 3:46 pm, "skepti...@aol.com" <skepti...@aol.com> scrawled > > in urine on the floor of the detention center:
> > snippy
> > Attention all EAC operatives. Klaatu Barada Nikto. I repeat, Klaatu > > Barada Nikto. Queen to Rook 4. Lastday, Capricorn Fifteens. Tanjoubi > > Omedetou!
> > Shake a leg, folks..
> Calm down. The EAC pharma division was already on full alert and in the > process of scaling up production of the antipsychotics ordered for him. They > should be ready for dispatch, by black helicopter, in an hour and be with > you in two. I'm also sending a standard 10" dia. insertion tool in case you > don't already have one. Don't forget that you will need your rubber chicken > and ID number for the crew to hand the consignment over to you.
> -- > Smiler > The godless one > a.a.# 2279 > All gods are bespoke. They're all made to > perfectly fit the prejudices of their believer
Do you know the whole thing with the electromagnetic waves? And they bounce in your head and you've got to wear the aluminum beanie? And if you put the beanie on the wrong way they keep on bouncing and reverberating...does that happen to you too? (Gasp) I've said too much!
> On Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:28:52 -0500, Don Martin wrote:
>> panamfl...@hotmail.com wrote: >>> On Jan 21, 3:46 pm, "skepti...@aol.com" <skepti...@aol.com> scrawled >>> in urine on the floor of the detention center:
>>> snippy
>>> Attention all EAC operatives. Klaatu Barada Nikto. I repeat, Klaatu >>> Barada Nikto. Queen to Rook 4. Lastday, Capricorn Fifteens. Tanjoubi >>> Omedetou!
On Sat, 23 Jan 2010 05:16:17 -0500, Robibnikoff wrote: > "Alex W." <ing...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message > news:wuqdex09kyh7.1ecgvb1kfl33e$.dlg@40tude.net... >> On Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:28:52 -0500, Don Martin wrote:
>>> panamfl...@hotmail.com wrote: >>>> On Jan 21, 3:46 pm, "skepti...@aol.com" <skepti...@aol.com> scrawled >>>> in urine on the floor of the detention center:
>>>> snippy
>>>> Attention all EAC operatives. Klaatu Barada Nikto. I repeat, Klaatu >>>> Barada Nikto. Queen to Rook 4. Lastday, Capricorn Fifteens. Tanjoubi >>>> Omedetou!
