Random Note — ‘..Its easier to fool people than convince them they’ve been fooled..’ Mark Twain
This is the book I was talking about on Outsiders on Sky this morning. It’s The Smear: How Shady Political Operatives and Fake News Control What You See, What You Think, and How You Vote Its about Astroturfing (ie) fake grass and particularly fake grass roots organisations. Bear that in mind when you hear an organisation refer to themselves as a “grassroots” organisation.
They may well be, but just be careful and do your own research.
Most of these groups hide behind memes, names and campaign themes that evoke a response of “well, who could possibly argue with that”
Safe Schools and Marriage Equality are but two recent examples of very successful Astroturfing..
They are not about what they purport to be about. “Bullying” in the case of Safe Schools and “Marriage Equality” in the case of SSM. They are both classic examples of Astroturf. The stated campaign for both is bogus and fake but the agenda is real.
The SSM campaign was the best and most successful as well as the most recent example of Astroturfing and spin, couched as it was in terms of Marriage Equality which has in fact existed for almost 10 years. They simply played on the idea that very few will bother two check and just go with the equality argument.
As well as a successful Astroturf campaign it was very simply another institution up for the Gramsci style, march through.
The Sydney Peace and Conflict Centre is another example. Its nothing of the sort and is in fact just a far left ginger group with an agenda.
Hi Tim, I am so please I have been introduced to you through the “Outsiders” ….I look forward to reading your Blogs and Twitter feeds going forward .
Cheers Martyn