I saw a link to this web site at Art Bell's site. It's a list of 25 techniques used by politicians and others to disinform.

I think we'll have a lot of news on Y2K to sift through, beginning on Monday, January 4th. For that matter, I have a hunch this forum has been the object of some kind of disinformation attempt since mid-November.

This link is worth a read:

http://www.trufax.org/research2/disinforules.html

"Twenty-Five Rules of Disinformation - The Politicians Credo"

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), January 02, 1999

Answers

26. The Jimmy Bagga Doughnuts ploy.

This is the ultimate tool, only to be used as a last resort, as the fallout for the unsuccessful use of this ploy can be substantial...

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), January 02, 1999.

Thanks for that link Kevin. Quite informative.

Does sound like Jimmy and others. Paint the entire affair as too complex to solve. Or conversely paint the entire affair as too simple a problem to worry about.

Demand impossible proofs. This is perhaps a variant of the "play dumb" rule. In my mind, if you see a lot of information bread crumbs scattered around an issue chances are someones been dining recently.

False evidence. Whenever possible, introduce new facts or clues designed and manufactured to conflict with opponent presentations as useful tools to neutralize sensitive issues or impede resolution. Thats why researching behind-the-scenes and coming up with several un-related data points that vector in on the topic, is so important. Dig. dig, dig.

Create bigger distractions. Well, we know who has mastered that one. It holds for both sides of Washington.

Diane *Sigh*

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), January 02, 1999.

It's simple folks. For all the pollyannic bullpuckey that is being spewed about, creating confusion and causing the masses to retire into their comfort zones for solace in the misguided belief that the good times will roll forever.....there is this little undeniable truth: Our modern infrastructure and current way of life exists on a fragile digital foundation. THAT is unassailable. The practicals and the economics are all part of that mix. Do the math. Probabilities are frightening in just the mathmatical sense.

Whether it's Y2K, cyberterrorism, hackers, glitches, deflation or a natural disaster, the infrastructure is more at risk that it ever was before. If you don't think so, then why are billions spent on digital security if it wasn't so fragile and valuable? Everything touches something else. Remember the GM strike last summer? Remember the UPS strike the year before? Forget the specifics, just look at how other folks suffered at ONE group's cessation from functioning in the well- greased gears of our infratructures.

If we can get DWGI's to engage their brains and think about just HOW dependant they are on our Just In Time, Disposable and Instant Entertainment society, we might have a chance to get by this coming mess with just minor inconveniences and adjustments.

But NOoooooo. The folks in power don't want their grasps disrupted, and the people want to hear smooth things, easy things - the things they WANT to hear; Social security, O.K. - Welfare O.K., It's No Big Deal. The leadership of this nation might take the major blame, however, but the folks in this nation are willfully ignorant and asleep and don't want to be bothered or disturbed. They are equally at fault here.

Don't waste time preaching to the DWGI's. There is so precious little time left. When the rest finally wake up, the self-fulfilling prophecies of panic will be reality, and by that time you will have to make do with what you have prepared with.

Take care of you, yours and those who are working together to survive.

You can lead a horse to water.....

-- INVAR (gundark@aol.com), January 02, 1999.

To the top.

It's now January 4th. Most businesses will be opening for the first time this year in about three and a half hours. There may be some stories in the news today and tomorrow about Y99 failures.

If there are reported failures, the trolls might become quite active on this forum. Consider the "Twenty-Five Rules of Disinformation" when reading posts here in the next few days.

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), January 04, 1999.

To the top. I feel the presence of trolls lurking this evening.

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), January 07, 1999.

Back to the top.

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), January 08, 1999.

"If we can get DWGI's to engage their brains and think about just HOW dependant they are on our Just In Time, Disposable and Instant Entertainment society, we might have a chance to get by this coming mess with just minor inconveniences and adjustments." INVAR

Just me, or is this idiot switching gears in midstream. Trying to rebuild that shattered credibility asshole?

Have a Nice Day

-- Jimmy Bagga Doughnuts (jim1bets@excite.com), January 08, 1999.

To the top again. This thread is appropriate right now.

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), January 15, 1999.

I agree Kevin. The "Next Wave" is upon us.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), January 15, 1999.

"Twenty-Five Rules of Disinformation - The Politicians Credo"

http://www.trufax.org/research2/disinforules.html

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), January 16, 1999.

The trolls are lurking again, especially the ones who know how to spell.

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), January 21, 1999.

Kevin, what's your definition of "troll"?

Just curious, since you have such excellent troll radar.

-- Lisa (lisab@shallc.com), January 21, 1999.

Lisa,

My own personal interpretation of the word "troll" is an unknown person who posts messages, repeatedly questions the seriousness of Y2K, and is not preparing for Y2K or can only grudgingly admit that maybe two weeks prep is OK.

After all, if a person doesn't think Y2K has the potential to cause serious disruptions, why would they even want to call this forum?

Here's a perfect example of what I meant by a troll "that can spell." Carefully examine the posts by "MAP" on this thread...

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000Pn2

"Poll of Y2K awareness"

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), January 23, 1999.

The technique is becoming more refined. Know how it works.

Here's another example of "a troll that can spell." I found this example at Gary North's site. Whoever orginally posted the message even takes a cheap shot at Ed Yourdon...

http://www.garynorth.com/y2k/detail_.cfm/3608

"Telling people that the cities will become like Beirut will give the less desirable element an excuse to do just that!"

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), January 23, 1999.

Reactivate.

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), January 28, 1999.

There is now a must-see thread if you want to see how a troll operates. You've gotta see it to believe it...

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000RNh

"Hurray! This is the best news since I learned about Y2K."

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), January 29, 1999.

In case anyone missed it, Declan "it'll-only-be-a-bump-in-the-road" McCullagh has an article in Wired News about our government "preparing a media strategy" to ease public fears.

Title, link and four quotes from Declan's article...

"Feds Plan Y2K Spin Control"

http://www.wired.com/news/print_version/politics/story/17527.html?wnpg =all

WASHINGTON -- Fear of Y2K panic have prompted the federal government to begin quietly preparing a media strategy to assuage public fears of blackouts or other potential infrastructure failures.

John Koskinen, assistant to President Clinton and chairman of the White House's Y2K council, has entered into discussions with a public relations firm, Wired News has learned. The firm has recommended conducting awareness surveys and honing a "stay-calm" message based on the results.

[snip]

At the council meeting, the Federal Communications Commission's Marsha MacBride and the US Postal Service's Richard Weirich reportedly suggested a federal project to monitor the public's reaction to Y2K. An agriculture department representitive complained that the agency's most frequent inquiry has become: "How many cans of food should I stockpile for my family?"

[snip]

When an industry-advisory group met for the first time last Thursday [January 21, 1999], members fretted over how to prevent public overreaction to Y2K. The members at the group include incoming Securities Industry Association Roy Zuckerberg, United Airlines chairman Jerry Greenwald, North American Electric Reliability Council chairman Erle Nye, and Scott Anderson of the American Bankers Association.

[snip]

In response to a Senate request, the General Accounting Office last fall compiled reports on each industry's Y2K readiness, but has not yet released the complete results to the public. Some agency Y2K officials worry that the bulky quarterly reports published by the White House's Office of Management and Budget every four months contain too much information.

Even though Koskinen said as recentlty as two weeks ago that "our strategy is based on the premise that the public has great common sense and will respond appropriately when they have the necessary information," the Clinton administration and Congress have taken steps to close meetings.

A bill that Clinton signed last fall was widely touted by the White House and a bipartisan group of legislators as a way to limit inappropriate Y2K liability. But a key provision bars the public from attending meetings of the Y2K council and its subcommittees. The Year 2000 Information and Readiness Disclosure Act says the federal open- meeting act "shall not apply to the working groups established under this section."

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), January 29, 1999.

Peter de Jager, 17 November 1998:

http://www.year2000.com/archive/y2kclinton.html

Peter de Jager, 29 January 1999:

http://civilliberty.miningco.com/library/weekly/aa012999.htm

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), January 29, 1999.

Reactivation time.

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), February 07, 1999.

Lots of troll activity in the past 24 hours.

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), March 08, 1999.

Read that Credo closely. It can apply to anyone no matter what their view is--doomsayers included.

-- to the top (troll@kevins.disposal), March 08, 1999.

A recent example...

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000aHN

"why aren't you computer experts fixing this problem instead of waiting for the world to end?"

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), March 08, 1999.