Astroturf playbook

**TACTICS FOR EFFECTIVE ONLINE GASLIGHTING**

**1) Engage**

Demand an elaborate, time-consuming comparison between your position and theirs.

**2) Entangle**

Insist that your opponent put their posts in their own words. That will consume the most time and effort for the targeted poster. They will be unable to spread numerous points on numerous posts if you have them occupied. Allowing a mark to post a web link is too quick and efficient for them. Tie them up. We are going for delay of game here.

**3) Demoralize**

Dismiss their narrative as rubbish immediately. Do not even read it. Once the mark goes through the trouble to research, gather, collate, compose and write their narrative your job is to discredit it. Make it obvious you tossed their labor-intensive narrative aside like garbage. This will have the effect of demoralizing the target poster. It will make them unwilling to expend the effort again, and for us, that is a net win.

**4) Cherry-Pick**

Only respond to the parts of their arguments that you choose to. Just because they make a good point doesn't mean that you have to respond to it. This tactic becomes obvious if you respond to all of their points except one, so be sure to only cherry-pick one or two points and ignore the rest of the post so it doesn't become too obvious.

**5) Misrepresent**

Why respond to what they're actually saying when you could twist their words into something easier to work with? Try to keep it subtle so it looks like a genuine misinterpretation, but you can reframe what they're saying into something very different. This will waste time and effort on their part.

**6) Attack**

Attack the source. Any undesired website or information source must be marginalized, trivialized and discounted. Let the readers know that these websites are rubbish propaganda. Discredit undesired sources of information whenever possible. This includes any prominent figures such as politicians that you want to tear down, always call them by a derogatory nickname or bring up some negative event that you can associate them with. Your goal is to make your opponents an object of ridicule.

**7) Confuse**

Challenge the targeted position with questions, always questions. The questions need not be relevant. The goal is to knock the targeted poster off their game, and seize control of the narrative. Once you have control you can direct the narrative to where you want it to go, which is always away from letting your opponent make their point. Conversely, do not respond to their leading questions. Don't rise to their bait.

**8) Contain**

Your job is to prevent the presentation and spread of undesirable viewpoints. Do anything you must do to prevent a targeted poster from presenting a well-reasoned argument or starting a civil discussion. Don't allow an opponent to present their dogma unchallenged EVER.

**9) Intimidate**

Taunt your opponents. If you find yourself in a debate with a target where you are losing a fact-based argument then call them a name to derail their diatribe. Remember your goal is to prevent a meaningful exchange of views and ideas which may portray them in a positive light. Your goal as an astroturfer is to stop the spread and advance of undesirable agendas. Play upon any identifiable idiosyncrasies, character flaws, physical traits, names, to their disadvantage. Monitor other posts for vulnerabilities you can exploit. Stay on the offensive with your targets. Don't let up.

**10) Insult their Movement**

Assign as many character and moral flaws to their beliefs as you can. You must portray their side as weak, vacillating, indecisive, amoral, unpatriotic, purists, elitists, sense of entitlement, etc. Always use these negative epithets when referring to, or describing anyone you disagree with.

**11) Deceive**

Identify yourself as a member of their group, or as a moderate, centrist or independent, or act as though you used to be part of their group but then saw the error of your ways. It will also cause opponents to lower their guard a bit, which gives you an effective opening. This may also have the effect of aligning opposing viewpoints with the real moderates we are attempting to reach. It may serve to influence some moderates over to your side.

**12) Patriotism**

Always claim the high ground. Act like your opponents' position is not just incorrect, but downright evil and destructive. Always try to assign character flaws to them, sling as much mud at them as you possibly can without making it too obvious. On the other hand, act like your positions are always superior, more reasonable and morally right. Own those virtues. Learn how to exploit them when debating.

**13) Demean**

Always refer to the other side by a derogatory term. Never assign them the status of a respectable movement. Hang a negative identifying label around their neck like a burning tire. Make their group identity appear as a moral turpitude or a character flaw. Never act as though they deserve respect.

**14) Opportunity**

Be alert for ways to insert our catch phrases into your narrative. You will receive a daily list of talking points and topics that you should cover. Consistent, persistent repetition and inculcation will drive our talking points home and so will neuro-linguistic programming. Stick with it and our talking points will become truth. If they debunk your talking point, ignore it, and move on as if you didn't hear it.

**15) Sliding**

Sliding a post is a great way to hide anything that you don't want to be seen. Simply create more posts above the conversation that you want to hide. The posts that you make will push the targeted posts further down, reducing the visibility of the objectionable material.