Some tips for supporters

	After watching gamergate for the past several weeks, I see its adversaries are becoming more complex with their tactics. Interestingly, I observed that they seem to be most active on Sundays. In this discussion I listed a few examples of what I have noticed (minus some obvious trolls/fallacies) and how best to handle them.


Association fallacy

	Reductio ad Hitlerum (et al). The sole purpose of this slander is to paint gamergate as villainous to the public. It is often disregarded by even the most intellectually impaired for obvious reasons.

IE:	“Gamers are just like Nazis!”; “GamerGate is no different than the KKK”

Suggested response: Say “not true” or ignore.

Further reading:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_fallacy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reductio_ad_Hitlerum
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_law


Baiting for screen-shots

These are people who ask a seemingly sincere questions then pathologically respond with “stop harassing me” once you engage in dialogue.

IE: 	John:	“I don't think #GamerGate is such a great thing, what do others think?”
	Alex:	“Well here's a video that give a brief synopses.”
	John:	“Stop harassing me get out of my mentions!”

Suggested response: Say you sorry they feel that way and disengage, or just disengage.

Sadly there is always an idiot that keeps dragging on with it, despite the fact they are talking to an actor. Advise that person without the bait caster in the mentions that this is just a troll to ignore.

A more villainous version of this are the suicidal ones, which from my experience tend to show a history of this type of behaviour usually followed with discussion on how to give them money. These MUST to be treated more delicately.

IE:	“I am going to kill myself because of gamergate, do not respond to me”

ONLY response: Don't respond to them.

Simply flag this posts and all similar posts on this user's account (CTRL+F is your friend).
Report it under abusive → self harm.

DO NOT RT OR SHARE THE POST PUBLICLY

Remember, this is bait and it will attract trolls. The best method to get more people to flag these posts are via direct messaging ONLY.


Association fallacy with argumentum ad misericordiam

	This is a bit more creative than just an association fallacy, as it tries to manipulate the gamergate supporter into feeling guilt. Basically what the actor does is try to make the supporter feel guilty by stating that gamergate has made innocent people suffer. These are usually delivered via a loaded questions.

IE:	“How can you support hate group like gamergate? They made so many innocent people suffer!”

Suggested response: Say how you do not believe that to be true and ask for proof. Counter with how gamergate helped with charities, and that you are supporting gamergate with ethical viewpoints.

Further reading:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeal_to_pity


Fallacy of composition

	Probably the oldest I have seen running. It is simply meant to fragment gamergate supporters by stating that there are subjectively immoral components under the gamergate hashtag that people should distance themselves from. This tactic is insinuating that the actions of a few represent the whole. Sometimes it is even ironically reinforced with admission that it is a fallacy, but suggested nonetheless.

IE:	“You have to distance yourself from gamergate because there were some bad people”

Suggested response: State how that's fallacy of composition even if it were true. Declare that you support it for ethical reasons just like many others, which was the intention of gamergate's conception.

	An even more sinister version I have been seeing is where the actor targets people with autism or people with some other form of a mental disorder. It is meant to demoralize and fragment gamergate supporters by both simultaneously claiming gamergate is unintelligible and isolate said persons. It also completely dismisses the bias coverage gamergate has gotten in the media.

IE:	“People are not understanding gamergate because it contains people with autism”

Suggested response: Again, state how that's fallacy of composition even if it were true and blatantly ableist. Show that there is a clear message with examples, and that gamergate is being intentionally misrepresented.

Further reading:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallacy_of_composition


Association fallacy induced for enemy of my enemy logic

	A great espionage tactic, I have seen it work many times on unsuspecting targets. Basically what it does is generate an illusion of association on a target with another group that already has aggressive adversaries. This is different from generic villainization via association fallacy, as it generally doesn't effect the public at large but rather a specific group of people.

In terms of logic:

“A” wants to target “B”

“A” knows of a feud: “C” attacking “D”

“A” generates a false association between “B” and “D”

“C” begins attacking “B”

IE:	“Gamergate is just a platform for MRA/Conservatives/Republicans/American Traitors”
	(naturally this gets followed by their respected opposition targeting gamergate)

Suggested response: No, that has nothing to do with gamergate. Stop derailing with off-topic associations.


	There are a lot of manipulative people out there, many of whom are very experienced. Your best bet is to keep spreading positivity and verified information. Stick to people who are willing to discuss in a constructive manner. Also do not view all critics as hopeless trolls/shills, some of them are just misinformed people, use your best judgement.

Try to not let people get to you emotionally.  Like I always say “avoid applying more emotion to someone else's words than the person that is saying them” because If you do, you are vulnerable to antisocial manipulation.

Suggested readings:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fallacies
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda_techniques

If you feel more adventurous (this requires a lot of self discipline):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counterintelligence

~Max