Note The first nule and last five (or sir, depending on situation) rules are generally not directly within the ability of the traditional disinfo artist to apply These rules are generally used more directly by those at the leadership. key players or planning level of the ceminal conspiracy or conspiracy to cover up 1. Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil Regardless of what you know, don't discuss it-especially if you are a public figure, news anchor etc If it's not reported it didn't happen, and
you never have to deal with the issues
Become incredulous and indignant. Avoid discussing key issues and instead focus on side issues which can be used show the topic as being critical of some otherwise sacrosanct group or theme This is also known as the "How dare your gambit. 3. Create rumor mongers Avoid discussing issues by describing all charges, regardless of venue or evidence, as mere rumors and wild accusations. Other derogatory terms
mutually exclusive of truth may work as well This method which works especially well with a silent press because the only way the public can leam of the facts are through such arguable
rumors. If you can associate the material with the Internet, use this fact to certify it a wild rumor from a bunch of kids on the Internet which can have no basis in fact
Use a straw man. Find or create a seeming element of your opponent's argument which you can easily knock down to make yourself look good and the opponent to look bad Either make up an issue you may safely imply exists based on your interpretation of the opponent/opponent arguments/situation or select the weakest aspect of the weakest charges. Amplify their significance and destroy them in a wa which appears to debunk all the charges real and fabricated alike while actually avoiding discussion of the real issues
Sidetrack opponents with name calling and ridicule. This is also known as the primary attack the messenger ploy though other methods quality as variants of that approach. Associate opponents with unpopular titles such as kooks "right-wing liberal. Left-wing', terrorists. conspiracy buffs radicals 'militia racists. religious fanatics sexual deviates and so forth. This makes others shrink from support out of fear of gaining the same label and you avoid dealing with issues
Hit and Run. In any public forum, make a brief attack of your opponent or the opponent position and then scamper off before an answer can be fielded, or simply ignore any answer This works extremely well in Internet and letters-to-the-editor environments where a steady stream of new identities can be called upon without having to explain criticism reasoning - simply make an accusation or other attack, never discussing issues and never answering any subsequent response, for that would dignify the opponent's viewpoint
Question motives Twist or amplity any fact which could be taken to imply that the opponent operates out of a hidden personal agenda or other bias. This avoids discussing
issues and forces the accuser on the defensive
Invoke authority Claim for yourself or associate yourself with authority and present your argument with enough jargon' and 'minutia' to illustrate you are one who knows', and
simply say it isn't so without discussing issues or demonstrating concretely why or citing sources 9. Play Dumb No matter what evidence or logical argument is offered, avoid discussing issues except with denials they have any credibility, make any sense provide any proof contain
or make a point have logic or support a conclusion Mix well for maximum effect
Associate opponent charges with old news. A derivative of the straw man - usually, in any large-scale matter of high visibility, someone will make charges early on which can be or were already easily dealt with a kind of investment for the future should the matter not be so easily contained.) Where it can be foreseen have your own side raise a straw man issue and have it dealt with early on as part of the initial contingency plans. Subsequent charges regardless of validity or new ground uncovered can usually then be associated with the onginal charge and dismissed as simply being a rehash without need to address current issues - so much the better where the opponent is or was involved with the original source
Establish and rely upon fall-back positions Using a minor matter or element of the facts, take the high road and confess' with candor that some innocent mistake, in hindsight. was made - but that opponents have seed on the opportunity to blow it all out of proportion and imply greater criminalities which just ain't so Others can reinforce this on your behalf later and even publicly call for an end to the nonsense because you have already done the right thing Done property, this can garner sympathy and respect for coming clean and owning up to your mistakes without addressing more serious issues
Enigmas have no solution Drawing upon the overall umbrella of events surrounding the crime and the multitude of players and events, paint the entire affair as too complex to solve. This causes those otherwise following the matter to begin to lose interest more quickly without having to address the actual issues
Alice in Wonderland Logle Avoid discussion of the issues by reasoning backwards with an apparent deductive logic which forebears any actual material fact 14. Demand complete solutions. Avoid the issues by requiring opponents to solve the crime at hand completely, a ploy which works best with issues qualifying for rule 10.
Fit the facts to alternate conclusions. This requires creative thinking unless the crime was planned with contingency conclusions in place
Vanish evidence and witnesses. If it does not exist. it is not fact and you won't have to address the issue 17. Change the subject. Usually in connection with one of the other plays listed here, find a way to side-track the discussion with abrasive or controversial comments in hopes of turning attention to a new more manageable topic This works especially well with companions who can argue with you over the new topic and polarize the discussion arena in order to avoid
discussing more key issues
Emotionalize, Antagonize, and Goad Opponents. If you can't do anything else, chide and taunt your opponents and draw them into emotional responses which will tend to make them look foolish and overly motivated and generally render their material somewhat less coherent. Not only will you avoid discussing the issues in the first instance, but even if their emotional response addresses the issue you can further avoid the issues by then focusing on how 'sensitive they are to criticism 19. Ignore proof presented, demand impossible proofs. This is perhaps a variant of the play dumb rule Regardless of what material may be presented by an opponent in public forums
claim the material irrelevant and demand proof that is impossible for the opponent to come by it may exist but not be at his disposal, or it may be something which is known to be safely
destroyed or withheld, such as a murder weapon ) In order to completely avoid discussing issues it may be required that you to categorically deny and be critical of media or books as valid
sources, deny that witnesses are acceptable or even deny that statements made by government or other authonties have any meaning or relevance
False evidence. Whenever possible introduce new facts or clues designed and manufactured to conflict with opponent presentations - as useful tools neutralize sensitive issues or impede resolution. This works best when the crime was designed with contingencies for the purpose and the facts cannot be easily separated from the fabrications
Call a Grand Jury Special Prosecutor, or other empowered investigative body Subvert the (process) to your benefit and effectively neutralize all sensitive issues without open discussion. Once convened the evidence e and testimony are required to be secret when properly handled. For instance, you own the prosecuting attomey, it can insure a Grand Jury hears no useful evidence and that the evidence is sealed and unavailable to subsequent investigator Once a favorable verdict is achieved the matter can be considered officially closed Usually this technique is applied to find the guilty innocent but it can also be used to obtain charges when seeking to frame a victim
Manufacture a new truth. Create your own expertis), groups) authoris), leader(s) or influence existing ones willing to forge new ground via scientific, investigative social research or testimony which concludes favorably in this way, you must actually address issues you can do so authoritatively
Create bigger distractions. If the above does not seem to be working to distract from sensitive issues, or to prevent unwanted meda coverage of unstoppable events such as trials.
create bigger news stones (or treat them as such) to distract the multitudes
Silence critics. If the above methods do not prevail. consider removing opponents from circulation by some definitive solution so that the need to address issues is removed entire This can be by their death arrest and detention blackmail or destruction of their character by release of blackmail information camerely by destroying the financially, emotionally, or severely damaging their health
Vanish. If you are a key holder of secrets or otherwise overly illuminated and you think the heat is getting too hot to avoid the issues. vacate the kitchen.
Twenty-Five Rules of Disinformation
Note The first nule and last five (or sir, depending on situation) rules are generally not directly within the ability of the traditional disinfo artist to apply These rules are generally used more directly by those at the leadership. key players or planning level of the ceminal conspiracy or conspiracy to cover up 1. Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil Regardless of what you know, don't discuss it-especially if you are a public figure, news anchor etc If it's not reported it didn't happen, and
you never have to deal with the issues
mutually exclusive of truth may work as well This method which works especially well with a silent press because the only way the public can leam of the facts are through such arguable
rumors. If you can associate the material with the Internet, use this fact to certify it a wild rumor from a bunch of kids on the Internet which can have no basis in fact
Use a straw man. Find or create a seeming element of your opponent's argument which you can easily knock down to make yourself look good and the opponent to look bad Either make up an issue you may safely imply exists based on your interpretation of the opponent/opponent arguments/situation or select the weakest aspect of the weakest charges. Amplify their significance and destroy them in a wa which appears to debunk all the charges real and fabricated alike while actually avoiding discussion of the real issues
Sidetrack opponents with name calling and ridicule. This is also known as the primary attack the messenger ploy though other methods quality as variants of that approach. Associate opponents with unpopular titles such as kooks "right-wing liberal. Left-wing', terrorists. conspiracy buffs radicals 'militia racists. religious fanatics sexual deviates and so forth. This makes others shrink from support out of fear of gaining the same label and you avoid dealing with issues
Hit and Run. In any public forum, make a brief attack of your opponent or the opponent position and then scamper off before an answer can be fielded, or simply ignore any answer This works extremely well in Internet and letters-to-the-editor environments where a steady stream of new identities can be called upon without having to explain criticism reasoning - simply make an accusation or other attack, never discussing issues and never answering any subsequent response, for that would dignify the opponent's viewpoint
Question motives Twist or amplity any fact which could be taken to imply that the opponent operates out of a hidden personal agenda or other bias. This avoids discussing
issues and forces the accuser on the defensive
simply say it isn't so without discussing issues or demonstrating concretely why or citing sources 9. Play Dumb No matter what evidence or logical argument is offered, avoid discussing issues except with denials they have any credibility, make any sense provide any proof contain
or make a point have logic or support a conclusion Mix well for maximum effect
Associate opponent charges with old news. A derivative of the straw man - usually, in any large-scale matter of high visibility, someone will make charges early on which can be or were already easily dealt with a kind of investment for the future should the matter not be so easily contained.) Where it can be foreseen have your own side raise a straw man issue and have it dealt with early on as part of the initial contingency plans. Subsequent charges regardless of validity or new ground uncovered can usually then be associated with the onginal charge and dismissed as simply being a rehash without need to address current issues - so much the better where the opponent is or was involved with the original source
Establish and rely upon fall-back positions Using a minor matter or element of the facts, take the high road and confess' with candor that some innocent mistake, in hindsight. was made - but that opponents have seed on the opportunity to blow it all out of proportion and imply greater criminalities which just ain't so Others can reinforce this on your behalf later and even publicly call for an end to the nonsense because you have already done the right thing Done property, this can garner sympathy and respect for coming clean and owning up to your mistakes without addressing more serious issues
Enigmas have no solution Drawing upon the overall umbrella of events surrounding the crime and the multitude of players and events, paint the entire affair as too complex to solve. This causes those otherwise following the matter to begin to lose interest more quickly without having to address the actual issues
Alice in Wonderland Logle Avoid discussion of the issues by reasoning backwards with an apparent deductive logic which forebears any actual material fact 14. Demand complete solutions. Avoid the issues by requiring opponents to solve the crime at hand completely, a ploy which works best with issues qualifying for rule 10.
Fit the facts to alternate conclusions. This requires creative thinking unless the crime was planned with contingency conclusions in place
Vanish evidence and witnesses. If it does not exist. it is not fact and you won't have to address the issue 17. Change the subject. Usually in connection with one of the other plays listed here, find a way to side-track the discussion with abrasive or controversial comments in hopes of turning attention to a new more manageable topic This works especially well with companions who can argue with you over the new topic and polarize the discussion arena in order to avoid
discussing more key issues
claim the material irrelevant and demand proof that is impossible for the opponent to come by it may exist but not be at his disposal, or it may be something which is known to be safely
destroyed or withheld, such as a murder weapon ) In order to completely avoid discussing issues it may be required that you to categorically deny and be critical of media or books as valid
sources, deny that witnesses are acceptable or even deny that statements made by government or other authonties have any meaning or relevance
False evidence. Whenever possible introduce new facts or clues designed and manufactured to conflict with opponent presentations - as useful tools neutralize sensitive issues or impede resolution. This works best when the crime was designed with contingencies for the purpose and the facts cannot be easily separated from the fabrications
Call a Grand Jury Special Prosecutor, or other empowered investigative body Subvert the (process) to your benefit and effectively neutralize all sensitive issues without open discussion. Once convened the evidence e and testimony are required to be secret when properly handled. For instance, you own the prosecuting attomey, it can insure a Grand Jury hears no useful evidence and that the evidence is sealed and unavailable to subsequent investigator Once a favorable verdict is achieved the matter can be considered officially closed Usually this technique is applied to find the guilty innocent but it can also be used to obtain charges when seeking to frame a victim
Manufacture a new truth. Create your own expertis), groups) authoris), leader(s) or influence existing ones willing to forge new ground via scientific, investigative social research or testimony which concludes favorably in this way, you must actually address issues you can do so authoritatively
Create bigger distractions. If the above does not seem to be working to distract from sensitive issues, or to prevent unwanted meda coverage of unstoppable events such as trials.
create bigger news stones (or treat them as such) to distract the multitudes
Silence critics. If the above methods do not prevail. consider removing opponents from circulation by some definitive solution so that the need to address issues is removed entire This can be by their death arrest and detention blackmail or destruction of their character by release of blackmail information camerely by destroying the financially, emotionally, or severely damaging their health
Vanish. If you are a key holder of secrets or otherwise overly illuminated and you think the heat is getting too hot to avoid the issues. vacate the kitchen.