DAWSON 1 YEAR ON

[MaryPelon]

Are any of you fucks gonna tell me what the fuck an astroturfing campaign is? Jesus, I'm not even joking

It means that one or a few people work together to spread a particular opinion under different accounts across various parts of the internet, in order to create the impression of a widespread sentiment.

But Joe Lazarus is absolutely delighted with his career.
And we all know that everyone’s life is just as they make it out to be on social media.

(From his Facebook)

 

[Jer]

Are any of you fucks gonna tell me what the fuck an astroturfing campaign is? Jesus, I'm not even joking

It’s a fake grassroots campaign where a small number of people try to make it look like a groundswell of people actually believe something. Fake grass, thus astroturf. Capice?

 

[Cat Milk Supreme]

Thank you fucks very much, I totes see this astroturfing in everyday life, I get it now. Absolute wank saying though.

 

[Vaenyr]

Yeah, about that.

You see the obvious contradiction? I didn't wanna add onto my diatribe of a post because it's overlong as is, but a great way to ensure a topic becomes functionally impossible to discuss is to play both sides. An incredibly obnoxious and vocal supporter of a cause, plus someone to slyly oppose it who shows up much later and accuses the former of being part of a grand conspiracy. That's how you poison the well. You play both sides but make one look particularly unsympathetic.

That's not a contradiction. There are multiple regulars who have explained why they are unhappy with Simon in previous threads. There might've been some pushback from people who disagree, but that's to be expected. This is a forum after all, discussing topics is the whole point. Those regulars are not the same people as, blatant example in this case, folks like Kurt who joined the forum solely to hate on Simon, posting 53 posts within 3 days, exclusively dedicated to this topic. A poster like that is very clearly not arguing or posting in good faith, that is what's poisoning the well.

Prior to this topic, there was plenty of discussion. Granted, some of it heated, but that's not exclusive to this topic. I've seen (and been part of in some cases ) the wildest topics turn into forum warzones.

You can still criticize Simon and make your case. Either in this thread or in one of the other active ones. You might ruffle some feathers but that's how these things usually are. I don't think any of those newer account have the power or potential to ruin forum discussions to such a degree.