[cryptica]

These kinds of things seem so far-fetched, but they're happening.

That's why I think the stigma around conspiracy theories is harmful. It makes people believe that this kind of thing couldn't possibly happen to them... And if it does happen and they find out, they will doubt their own judgment as they'll be afraid that other people will think they're nuts for thinking that 'agents are out of get me'.

I suspect that most wealthy individuals and politicians are surrounded with foreign spies and organized manipulators.

It must be difficult being in a position of power. How do they tell fact from paranoia?

[lozenge]

Yes, the concept is not necessarily to disrupt this one group, but to make everybody find it impossible to trust any teammate in any activist group. This treatment is reserved for infiltrating groups that want to disrupt existing power structures.

[vmception]

Sometimes I walk into groups or wind up in forums after this level of distrust has occurred before, and it is an interesting and impossible exercise of proving a negative - proving that you’re not someone

On the internet it’s usually because someone banned has made sockpuppet accounts before that circumvent the ban

[cryptica]

The fact that those in power think that 'infiltration' and 'manipulation' only happens downstream shows how well it's working on the upstream... They're not even aware of it.

[cryptica]

Though I believe you, it is incredibly far-fetched to think that they will go to such lengths, invest so much time and energy just to alter someone's mental state.

It shows that these big interest groups have way too much money.

[lozenge]

Not much money involved here, this is the cops. Law and Order - this is maintaining Order. When MLK threatened the order, they blackmailed him and tried to induce him to kill himself.

Back to this case, the UK government and police approach has been to maintain secrecy as to other instances of their behaviour, even while offering a token apology. The message - it could happen to you.

[vmception]

One definition of paranoia only means suspicion without evidence

(While of course the other definition is a mental condition about unwarranted distrust)

We almost need a new word