I'm getting sick of Tory HQ starting threads here to discredit Labour

[ssd]

come on guys, we can all see through it

fight the election without resorting to this

And of course the 'I don't half fancy Jeremy Corbyn' posts are a great example of political nuance

There was also a 'you're my hero' post too

Maybe someone should start a wonderful thread about Theresa May and how strong and stable she is.....

Horny, yes studied exhaustively, IIUC, though I don't have any refs to hand.

I specifically remember advice given to salespeople and also to doctors trying to palm people off with placebos without actually lying - tell them lots of other people think the product is wonderful, their neighbours also buy the product, their family swear by the product.

Apparently this actually works as a sales technique - people like to follow other people, it seems, rather than ask for details about the product.

you're my hero?? Fuck me I don't know if that's embarrassing or hilarious

Straw man there, Livia. People on this thread have specifically said they're discussing spamming and astroturfing behaviours. Not the phenomenon of someone merely expressing a different opinion.

Thanks perking. Thats actually really interesting. I am a moderator on a big brother forum and year after year we get people who place large bets on the show and then post spam like threads constantly and are very aggressive getting their opinions across, very often copy and pasting the same thing ten times in a minute, that kind of thing...totally making things up also and just repeating the lie over and over, rarely coming back to argue their point, just spamming something else instead. I never understood why they did it tbh but if it is proven to sway opinions, I guess its well worth them spamming for a few days for a huge payout

Most posts seem to be started by labour supporters. The fact that a few Tory supporters start them doesn't mean they are spamming.

There's a difference between supporters and astroturfers.

Horny, oh that's interesting.

Of course, whether your spammers are actually any good at it, is another question. I imagine that hitting just the wrong note might actually put people off.

But have you ever been home when the gas and electricity company salesfolk come round? They start with, "I've just been talking to your neighbours, they've all signed up."

Indeed - usually depending on where your affiliations lie

Indeed - usually depending on where your affiliations lie

no. All sorts of political parties and campaign groups do this. It's a well established tactic.

It is. So does that mean we have Labour HQ on here too?

I'd be surprised if not, Livia. Or some variant thereof.

Probably? Would be surprised if Labour weren't doing it. I don't think their spin team is as good as it used to be back in the pre-2010 days though, so probably not on the same scale as they would have done a few elections ago.

As someone who won't be voting either labour or Tory, I'd say that there was originally a lot more iffy Tory posts, but now it has evened up a lot more.

Thought I suppose more Tory would make sense as they have waaaaay more money to throw at winning this election.

Some of long term posters change name regularly anyway.

I am finding these allegations really tiresome as MN is so sneeringly left wing these days. I remember the old days when it was left wing except for a couple (Xenia and Lady Of The Manor spring to mind) yet the discussions were enlightening and educational to the point that I often changed my mind on things. Now it is just "I am left-wing, saintly and wholesome, if you disagree you are an evil money-grabbing hater of all good people".

If there are posters with opinions different to yours, how about you express your opinions, prove any falsehoods wrong and educate them and others instead of whining?

53rdWay I agree. Whatever you think of Alistair Campbell he was a good Spin doctor. Same with Lynton Crosby.

Seeing those two head to head would be quite interesting.

*Were you not here for the last General Election then, witwootoodleoo? Tory MNers weren't exactly shy.

So that's rather an odd thing to say...*

Nope wasn't a MNer at the last election, I've been around about a year so my impressions are based on this election only

YANBU but as a SNP voter the amount of threads (especially in the indy ref) that were started by Labour and Tory bots were equally as bad. But noone gave a stuff then! I just tend to dismiss them as you'll never get a good discussion out of them.

I have some strong opinions and am not afraid to share them, but they re all my own.

Most political threads are stared by labour supporters. That is a clear.

Don't be a silly billy op.

Far more posts by Labour Party members oh wait!!

Actually it's a stupid policy because when people feel that the underdog is gaining ground they get spooked and decide to vote.

Tory landslide just saying and voted labour all my life.

Were you not here for the last General Election then, witwootoodleoo? Tory MNers weren't exactly shy.

Tory MNers properly came out of the woodwork after the result came in, everyone had been brow beaten before the election that it any political debate was pretty much just a back slapping exercise, same in 2010 as well, if not more so.

Most political threads are stared by labour supporters. That is a clear

Or people who are concerned about the way the country is going and the effect on groups and areas like education, the NHS etc....