The 2015 Popularity Contest (aka UK General Election )

[Bruce Wayne]

Well, I didn't mention actual change but I get your point. I'm more and more disillusioned with the political process in 21st century Britain. Even when it became obvious that many (the vast majority, I'd day) were on the make, feathering their beds with all kinds of misuse of public money, nothing much happened. Nobody really took to the streets, still less resigned for their crimes. And these are the people who rant about benefit scroungers. I have to say, I've a lot of sympathy with Russell Brand's position, not that I can generally bear him. The political process in this country is not fit for purpose these days.

Aye, it's not great really. You look at the horror show that played out last Friday and you do have to question the priorities of some folks. I'm not a fan of Brand because he doesn't really have much substance, but fully support his right to be pissed off with how things are.

 

[McBain]

I don't want to get you too excited because it's Monday morning and all.

But I just figured out how Democracy can actually work, while I was in the Shower.

It's very simple really and I stand ready to accept offers from any type of Country with any current Political Model that's not working for a very small fee, considering.

mcbain@Democracy2.0.com.au

 

[Clint Planet]

What on earth is that? Played footie on it, (it burns).

Pseudo-grassroots support for a cause which may actually be orchestrated from the top. I love the way the establishment suddenly object to the idea of top-down manipulation. Divs.

 

[roydo]

I don't want to get you too excited because it's Monday morning and all.

But I just figured out how Democracy can actually work, while I was in the Shower.

It's very simple really and I stand ready to accept offers from any type of Country with any current Political Model that's not working for a very small fee, considering.

mcbain@Democracy2.0.com.au

Not here mate. We have that to look forward to tomorrow. Or yesterday for you. I think.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

What on earth is that? Played footie on it, (it burns).

"Astroturfing is the practice of masking the sponsors of a message or organization (e.g. political, advertising, religious or public relations) to make it appear as though it originates from and is supported by grassroots participant(s)."

Basically it's creating various fake accounts online to make it appear as though you or your ideas have more support than they actually have. It's 'relatively' common, especially on Twitter. It was widely believed for instance that Mitt Romney bought a hefty chunk of fake 'followers' in the run up to the last presidential election.

In those days the followers were rather dumb in that they'd just be extra numbers, but nowadays crooks are beginning to actually control the accounts they own, spreading (mis)information and so on.

 

[McBain]

Not here mate. We have that to look forward to tomorrow. Or yesterday for you. I think.

Were Back to the Future Down here mate. So far ahead were behind you.

 

[roydo]

Pseudo-grassroots support for a cause which may actually be orchestrated from the top. I love the way the establishment suddenly object to the idea of top-down manipulation. Divs.

That why that American lass keep getting voted to do bush tucker trials in "Im a celebrity" when she seems ok to me?

 

[Clint Planet]

That why that American lass keep getting voted to do bush tucker trials in "Im a celebrity" when she seems ok to me?

*glazes over*

 

[roydo]

"Astroturfing is the practice of masking the sponsors of a message or organization (e.g. political, advertising, religious or public relations) to make it appear as though it originates from and is supported by grassroots participant(s)."

Basically it's creating various fake accounts online to make it appear as though you or your ideas have more support than they actually have. It's 'relatively' common, especially on Twitter. It was widely believed for instance that Mitt Romney bought a hefty chunk of fake 'followers' in the run up to the last presidential election.

In those days the followers were rather dumb in that they'd just be extra numbers, but nowadays crooks are beginning to actually control the accounts they own, spreading (mis)information and so on.

Like what that Man City lad thought we had done then! lollol

 

[Bruce Wayne]

That why that American lass keep getting voted to do bush tucker trials in "Im a celebrity" when she seems ok to me?

If you're interested, this was a tool backed by the US Military to identify fake Twitter users

http://truthy.indiana.edu/botornot/

 

[red1]

"Astroturfing is the practice of masking the sponsors of a message or organization (e.g. political, advertising, religious or public relations) to make it appear as though it originates from and is supported by grassroots participant(s)."

Basically it's creating various fake accounts online to make it appear as though you or your ideas have more support than they actually have. It's 'relatively' common, especially on Twitter. It was widely believed for instance that Mitt Romney bought a hefty chunk of fake 'followers' in the run up to the last presidential election.

In those days the followers were rather dumb in that they'd just be extra numbers, but nowadays crooks are beginning to actually control the accounts they own, spreading (mis)information and so on.

Happens all the time mate. The Koch brothers are professionals at it, they set up and funded groups that basically have "grassroots" written on it whereas it should be called "Kochroots". As usual with anything though, the security services are the best at this. In one of the power point presentations from GCHQ that Snowden leaked, they basically wrote how they ruin people's reputations very clearly and they do things like:

- Write a blog purporting to be one of their victim
- Email/text their colleagues, neighbours, friends etc.
- Leak confidential info to companies/the press via blogs
- Post negative information on appropriate forums

lol

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Happens all the time mate. The Koch brothers are professionals at it, they set up and funded groups that basically have "grassroots" written on it whereas it should be called "Kochroots". As usual with anything though, the security services are the best at this. In one of the power point presentations from GCHQ that Snowden leaked, they basically wrote how they ruin people's reputations very clearly and they do things like:

- Write a blog purporting to be one of their victim
- Email/text their colleagues, neighbours, friends etc.
- Leak confidential info to companies/the press via blogs
- Post negative information on appropriate forums

lol

Aye, it's an interesting field. Of course, there are countervailing forces looking to prove ones reputation online too, and I wouldn't suggest that Labour are somehow creating the anti-Cameron hashtag thing, but I dare say it wouldn't be that hard for someone to do if they so wished.

 

[McBain]

Okay I'll tell youse.

The problem is the Political Parties are all good at certain things, and rubbish at doing all of them.

We should just vote for people in each department, mediated by a transparent Public Entity and broadcast in a TV Format where people can interactively vote for bills and legislature.

The competitive angle and lucrative corruption should be removed by making every process transparent.

If the system was transparent there would be no room for 'Politicking'. Just the facts.

Everyone would work harder towards making communities safer and profitable not just for the rich.

One day, maybe twenty five years from now, someone will read this post and realise old mate Macca was right all along, and 'twill be sung about on World Democracy 2.0 Day.

 

[roydo]

Okay I'll tell youse.

The problem is the Political Parties are all good at certain things, and rubbish at doing all of them.

We should just vote for people in each department, mediated by a transparent Public Entity and broadcast in a TV Format where people can interactively vote for bills and legislature.

The competitive angle and lucrative corruption should be removed by making every process transparent.

If the system was transparent there would be no room for 'Politicking'. Just the facts.

Everyone would work harder towards making communities safer and profitable not just for the rich.

One day, maybe twenty five years from now, someone will read this post and realise old mate Macca was right all along, and 'twill be sung about on World Democracy 2.0 Day.

Wouldnt disagree with the tenor of this. Best people for the positions. Always said it. Its also why I get annoyed at folk who just cannot see past their political affiliations when commenting on stuff. A "every Tory is bad" "every Socialist is rubbish" gets us nowhere.

 

[red1]

Aye, it's an interesting field. Of course, there are countervailing forces looking to prove ones reputation online too, and I wouldn't suggest that Labour are somehow creating the anti-Cameron hashtag thing, but I dare say it wouldn't be that hard for someone to do if they so wished.

The easiest way to ruin someone's/party's reputation is to accuse them of something bad. Whether it's true or not doesn't matter as long as it sticks. That's how UKIP are getting all these votes IMO. They've successfully pushed the idea that the main parties just don't care about the average man and that they're all elitist and won't do anything about the EU etc. even though that's the exact opposite of the truth. The UKIP party is the fat cat party and the most elitist but it doesn't matter because UKIP have already poisoned the well. The moment someone thinks of a mainstream party they think "out of touch" and somehow Nigel Farage is better than them, quite literally been successfully brainwashed. You can see the UKIP online propaganda machine in full flow in all the newspaper websites, even look at the Guardian and the BBC. Somehow full of UKIP supporters, it's all fake.