Blast from the Past: [Repost] The Invasion FAQ of A.S.T.

[mimus]

[From the Invasion FAQ of alt.syntax.tactical]
[from a post dated April 30, 1994]

The Invasion FAQ of A.S.T.


Although not exactly a FAQ, this file is more of an explanation
of why alt.syntax.tactical and the tactical-list were created. It
also lays down the foundation for the structure, strategy, and
protocol of usenet invasions.


* Invasion *

Each of us brings our own reasons, backgrounds and motivations
into this scheme. What is important is that each individual brings
into this their own brand of inspired mischief. In someways it is
completely innocent. In someways it is completely destructive.

Anyone can walk into alt.sex and post that pornography should
be banned. Anyone can walk into rec.sport.baseball and say "baseball
sucks". It takes unbelievable skill and discipline to cause a
PROLONGED flame war. That is what we do. But it can only be done
with talent, and numbers to match that talent. We only bring into
the fold people who have the knack to use smarts to incite chaos,
not stupidity to incite being ignored when people see a post and
know what you're up to.

To keep things running smoothly, antebi is our 'moderator'. jpdavid
was responsible for creating the mailing-list and setting up the
initial newsgroup. Everyone is equal in suggesting and voting on
invasion sites and other basic day-to-day workings of the group.
Everyone here gains or loses merit only in the invasion arena.


* Waves of Invasion *


Flames and wars between groups are as old as Usenet. What we try to
do is in many ways fundamentally different from what is or has been
done in this area.

After picking a site, we call for an invasion on that site. There
are a number of phases to an invasion. Each person can volunteer for
which wave they want to be in, but more times than not, it is a
first come-first served policy. It is always important that no one
jump the gun and go in before we have time to prepare and bounce
ideas off eachother. It's also important that people don't switch
waves without letting everyone know. Flexibility is the key, as is
communication.

Typically, we use between two and five Waves of attack. Waves
will generally break down into this kind of structure:

a: Reconnaissance (RECON): These people will go in early and
usually set up camp as "friends of the newsgroup". They will
become trusted and participate by joining previous discussions
or starting non-controversial ones themselves. They will also
act as "double-agents" to counter-flame the other waves as the
invasion progresses. They key is building a bit of credibility.

b: Wave One: Wave one will usually be what starts the flame war.
Those involved in this wave can go on and each have a different
flame, or go on and flame in unison. They can bring in a subject
of their own or flame a previous discussion. What matters is that
this initial wave will be the one that the invaded newsgroup
will have their attention on. This wave calls for extreme
subtlety. The quality of the flame MUST be at its highest point
here.

c: Wave Two: Wave Two will consist of tactics to attack the people
who were sent in as recon and attempt to start totally new flame
threads. The key here is that even if we attack a group of people
restrained enough to resist our flame-bait, wave two will stir
things up and get others to join in.

d: Wave Three: Wave three will generally change depending on the
campaign, but will generally be added to push the confusion and
chaos over the top. Flame the recon, flame the first wave, flame
the second wave. These guys are our balls out, rude SOB's. Mop up
and clean out.

Sometimes (usually with bigger groups) Wave three will simply be
along the lines of a wave two. We will call for a wave four (or
five) to be the balls out routine. We will sometimes add a wave
or two because depending on the size and intelligence of a
newsgroup.



Miscellaneous Tactics:

There are three other things that we typically use, depending on
the sophistication of the invasion.

LOOSE CANNONS are people who come in and act so strange and obtuse
that it makes the rest of the flames look genuine.

THE ANON SERVICE can be used to send posts anonymously. This is a good
way to post and pretend to be scared of retribution. Only problem is
that this is usually the first sign that a post is a flame, so it
should only be used with a TREMENDOUS amount of DISCRETION.

CROSS POSTING is also a popular method of choice by other flame
groups, so it is important to Cross Post with discretion. If we can
cross post to bring in other newsgroups to unwittingly assist us,
perfect. If we cross post to suspicious newsgroups, our intentions
will be obvious.



* Victory *


Ideally, signs of victory are the following:


o Our names appear in killfiles
o Majority or ALL threads in invaded newsgroup were started by us
o Regulars/legit people abandon invaded newsgroup
o Receive much hate mail - as does our sysadmin
o To be reprimanded by the glorious sysadmin


* Notes *


Most important is the need to be SUBTLE when it is required. One
misplaced post can ruin it for the rest of us. Those of you who have
participated in widespread flame wars know the feeling of having a
newsgroup going for a long time, then someone posts an obvious flame
or something so far out of context, that everyone says to just ignore
the flames, which eventually includes all of us. Blowing a flame war
will occasionally happen, but if it could have been avoided with a
little thinking, then it's not as excusable.

We've got to share duties. Everyone should get practice playing
different roles and different waves.

It has been assumed that if you don't want to participate, fine. No
one will hold it against you. What is expected is that if you don't
want to participate you don't have to, but that also means that you
wont go warning that newsgroup when an invasion happens. You will
close your eyes and turn a blind eye. NO NEWSGROUP IS OFF LIMITS!!!!!!

Another thing many people seem to be talking about are SIGS AND NAMES.
Try to take on appropriate names. If you are on alt.rap, D.J. Trouble
is not going to stir things up...if you show up on soc.culture.physics
with that name, you're caught before your first word of text.
If a Sig is going to blow your cover, lose it.


Official Kudos:

- under construction -

[I'm introducing Anonymous to this, re web-forums and Twitter hash-
tags. Although of course I deplore such behavior. Even if the target
is deserving. Or the trolling is funny.]

--

Shifty, very shifty.