Lv. 3 Genasi Wizard
This has bad idea written all over it. I'm not sure if this is actually false advertising, but it's definitely advertising "Make more bots!"
The thing about making witty signature lines is that it first needs to actually be witty.
I see the Awesomeness.
I'm pretty sure the US is just the last one on that particular boat.
Fight smart, not fair.
Dracula
Sorry posted in the wrong topic.
edited 18th Mar '11 9:30:14 AM by tnu1138
We must survive, all of us. The blood of a human for me, a cooked bird for you. Where is the difference?
Can I KCK it?
![[up]](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/smiles/arrow_up.png "[up]"){kind=icon}
Sock puppet spotted!
I was under the impression everyone already did it, making internet arguments that much more awesome.
From the title, I expected more outrage in this thread.
I'm uncomfortable with this sort of thing because it fuels the "the people arguing with me are part of the conspiracy" reflex of conspiracy theorists. I always mocked the notion that random people on internet forums are actually government/corporate/Illuminati shills, but now it's becoming the truth.
Edit: Well, not the Illuminati part, obviously.
edited 18th Mar '11 10:00:58 AM by silver2195
Currently taking a break from the site. See my user page for more information.
DUMB
That's just what they want you to think.
But yeah, wondering how transparent they'll be. It's not like viral marketing is new, it just usually sucks.
For example: Why the fuck do they need software for this?
edited 18th Mar '11 10:04:13 AM by Tzetze
[1] This facsimile operated in part by synAC.
I sense a large Cyber War in the next five years...
For convenience and for disguising IP addresses, I suppose.
But yeah, it's hard not to see a subtext of government incompetence here.
edited 18th Mar '11 10:09:04 AM by silver2195
Currently taking a break from the site. See my user page for more information.
Hi, I'm Talos
I am not surprised, nor alarmed.
TALOSTALOSTALOSTALOSTALOSTALOS
Some Guy
I am alarmed but not surprised.
This strikes me as really strange, since unlike other countries, the US Military has absolutely zip to do with anything that could be considered propaganda past things that have to do with the military itself.
And I could have wrote them a small little manual telling them how to do exactly that with no need to develop new software.
There's nothing to worry about, citizen.
And that's how I ended up in the wardrobe. It Just Bugs Me!
I am surprised, but not alarmed.
edited 18th Mar '11 11:49:16 AM by AllanAssiduity
DUMB
I'm alarmed and surprised. What now, motherfucker
@Barkey: What about that thing a while back where ex-generals «advised» the news stations?
[1] This facsimile operated in part by synAC.
More like giant cherries
I'm neither alarmed nor surprised.
Blind Final Fantasy 6 Let's Play
Pick up that can.
^^
On the one hand there is a legitimate need to advise them, but still, that was on the war, which is still a military matter. I find it hard to believe that the military has any use for a program like this, seeing as we could give a rats ass what people say about us on facebook.
-shrugs- I don't know. Above my pay grade, but I can't see a legitimate use that aligns with any objectives the US military has.
OMG NO NOSECONES
^ Now, put it in the trash can.
Dude, I can so see you standing around in a Civil Protection uniform.
edited 18th Mar '11 12:26:57 PM by pvtnum11
Happiness is zero-gee with a sinus cold.
Be fair; Civil Protection get pretty boss uniforms. And stunsticks!
I dunno, if they were faking/censoring news I'd be concerned, but if it's just fake personae, that means people gotta actually pay attention to them for it to work, right? And they can't possibly be saying anything more outrageous than the stuff you see in comment pages.
I say bring on the Memes, and other countries can bring on their Memes, and it will be full-scale Meme Warfare.
EDIT: @Barkey: Yeah, I would think the CIA would be up to these sort of shenanigans.
edited 18th Mar '11 2:06:51 PM by Ratix
Shit, maybe now instead of dropping bombs we can troll countries into giving up.
If you do not do as we ask we will lolcat you to death.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/mar/17/us-spy-operation-social-networks
A Californian corporation has been awarded a contract with United States Central Command (Centcom), which oversees US armed operations in the Middle East and Central Asia, to develop what is described as an "online persona management service" that will allow one US serviceman or woman to control up to 10 separate identities based all over the world.
The project has been likened by web experts to China's attempts to control and restrict free speech on the internet. Critics are likely to complain that it will allow the US military to create a false consensus in online conversations, crowd out unwelcome opinions and smother commentaries or reports that do not correspond with its own objectives.
The discovery that the US military is developing false online personalities – known to users of social media as "sock puppets" – could also encourage other governments, private companies and non-government organisations to do the same.
The Centcom contract stipulates that each fake online persona must have a convincing background, history and supporting details, and that up to 50 US-based controllers should be able to operate false identities from their workstations "without fear of being discovered by sophisticated adversaries".
Centcom spokesman Commander Bill Speaks said: "The technology supports classified blogging activities on foreign-language websites to enable Centcom to counter violent extremist and enemy propaganda outside the US."
Is this sort of subversive propaganda going too far? Propaganda and indoctrination is nothing new, we are constantly bombarded with subliminal messaging in mass media, but now this manipulation is being extended to internet forums, etc., which are outside the grasp of traditional propaganda machines. Worrying.
edited 18th Mar '11 9:24:23 AM by Shichibukai
Requiem ~ September 2010 - October 2011 [Banned 4 Life]