Thread by @HoodooBunny

Brief introduction to the shoulder devils of the Internet.

1) Paid for their opinion.
Which is why some play both sides.
Look like misinformed followers, or outspoken agenda trolls.
Hard to spot.
Harder to prove.
Try not to start pointing fingers.
That's not what this is about.

2) First: Lets talk about tells.
The easiest and most effective way for a 'Chaos Agent' to operate, is by using a ripple effect version of the telephone game. Which is to say; they push off brand propaganda as common knowledge.

3) Read something that made you angry/upset/? Research it.
I understand that sometimes you, "... just don't have the time."
CA's rely on you not having the time.
That's what google is for.
No: Reddit and 4chan are not valid sources.
That's where a lot of these rumors start.

4) "How effective can it be really?"
"No one would take it seriously..."
Ex A) Presidential Elections 2016
Ex B) Pizza Gate.

5) Phone game:
It starts with a rumor or idea.
The more obscure and outrageous, the more easily obscured the origin.
Most people still don't understand that Pizza Gate was started by someone playing mad libs with a redacted document on Reddit.
Filled in the blacked out bits.

6) The emotion and outrage that child trafficking can stir up is more than enough to blind many. That's how a pizza parlor got held up by a very confused individual looking for a basement that simply didn't exist.
And that's how you spread misinformation and disinformation.

7) The more 'moral' based emotion you let someone tie to your 'truth', the less factual/ objective your 'truth' becomes.
Namely, because it was never your 'truth' in the first place. You just let someone tell you that it was.
Once that happens, you are no longer in control.

8) That statement may have made you angry. It should. It points to the sometimes broken circular logic we can let ourselves fall into. We all have gaps in our 'moral' logic. CA's look for those gaps to get inside your head.

9) Which is where the 'moral' bit stops, and the mental warfare begins. Because these new rules you make, (bound by this new 'moral' spectrum) will control you.

10) These are not new techniques. This is an indoctrination process. It's used in and by serial killers, cults, religion, politics, and salesman alike.
And it works.
It's tried, tested, and true.

11) So much so, that governments have studied, categorized, and weaponized these tactics. Which is a round about way to explain what a CA is. It's someone who utilizes mental warfare to indoctrinate followers and spread mis/disinformation. Doesn't really matter what.

12) It depends more on 'who' they are looking to sow chaos into. With Conservatives, they use religion to muddy the water. With Progressives, they use fascism. The aim is to keep breaking us down into smaller and smaller groups.

13) Part of this is aided by a misappropriated need for community based identity. Which is why I stress to avoid infighting. We are a diverse group. We don't have to always agree on what we are...just agree on the general direction of the cause.

14) "I'm not racist, but..."
"I just think it's a man's place..."
"Murder is murder..."
"Second amendment..."
"First amendment..."
"Shouldn't have been doing that in the first place..."
"Shouldn't have been wearing that..."
"It's his right...."
"It's her right..."

"They shouldn't have to..."
"They shouldn't be forced to..."
"Why should I have to..."
"I had to, so why shouldn't they..."
"What if you were..."
"Why should I have to..."
"They should be free to..."
"We have to..."
"We should be..."
"It's only right, that..."

These are common trains of thought that are easily interjected on.

15) They are also easily rewritten to fit a narrative. You start with an existing train of thought. And then, you start leading it. You highlight and fabricate situations to lay the track before hand. This is also called grooming.

16) That's why it's hard for people who have been indoctrinated to find their way back out alone. Because, they are no longer the ones in control.
This is why I don't make the mistake to refer to CA's as trolls. Because, there is a difference.

Before I showed an example.
I truly feel that was both narrowing in field of sight, and also provocative as to the nature of the information.

I'm not making this thread so that you start pointing fingers.
I'm giving you the tools to think critically about your environment.

If you or I start pointing fingers, we add to the chaos.
The more chaos, the more mud in the water.
Sharks hunt in murky water for the same reason.
Best not to give them an environment that they can easily blend into.

17) Here's some things to watch out for:
~Presidential (2020) propaganda. Already. That's how it started last go around.
~Common propaganda art styling. Bold colors and symbol disfigurement.
~Pushing extreme comparisons. It's for shock value. It works.

~Nothing but political agenda on their page.
~Poorly fitting intermediate content. Does it remind you of click bait?
~Targeting or Stalking. Tag in @'s or constantly bringing in the target into unrelated conversations.
~Positive reinforcement when a target complies or agrees.

~Contradictory content. Random plugs for Trump is a big one. Kept in neutral phrasing or context.
~RT'ing offensive content to the point of spam. Again, shock value.
~Constant theme orientation or reuse of the same phrasing.
~Evasion from direct one on one contact.

~Avoiding conversations except for agenda topics.
~Gaslighting others as CA's when they are confronted.
~Require proof from anyone who disagrees.
~Posting on large follower posts about their agenda. The post doesn't have to be about (or even close to) the same topic.

~Instigation of infighting.

If nothing else, remember that they aim for:

Fear
Chaos
Distraction