Internet Citizen's Guide to Fighting Back

The 2016 election has shown that there are significant problems with America. Some of those problems
can be addressed through voting and other official modes of action and it is vital for people who care
about this country to get out the vote. But there are problems more deep-seated then who is in office.
We have a cultural problem and unlike voting someone out of office we can take action right away.

**The Problem**
Right-wing media has created a movement that is motivated, resistant to valid criticism, and dangerous
to the country. Not all media. Not both sides. Right-wing media. RWM tells people how to think and
then arms them with talking points to shut down rational argument. They have made themselves so
toxic that people outside of the RWM audience are uncomfortable in confronting them and feel
hopeless in correcting them. The left has given in to this strategy with memes like “don't look at the
comments” or praising people for cutting family members off if they listen to RWM (but are not
actually abusive. You *should* cut contact with abusive people.) This doesn't teach people in the RWM
audience a lesson or make them reconsider their actions. What you have really done is protest your
uncle's devotion to Alex Jones by giving Alex Jones unrestricted access to your uncle without an
opposing viewpoint. There are millions of people who are being manipulated by RWM and they can't
simply be ignored.

RWM uses cult techniques to control its audience. “Everyone else is lying to you” is a [classic cult
technique](http://www.anklejive.com/The-First-Thing-A-Cult-Does-Is-Claim-Everyone-Else-Is-Lying-
To-You-Liberal-Progressive-LaptopWindowBumper-Sticker-P143.aspx) that RWM uses in their attacks
on the “Mainstream Liberal Media.” Others are message control, as when RWM [takes the time to
coordinate a message before reacting to breaking news]
(eventhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/10/31/how-conservative-media-reacted-
to-the-mueller-indictments/?utm_term=.9148277ef0dc), or using an [external enemy to keep the
audience frightened and clinging to their authority source](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-
fix/wp/2017/10/31/hillary-clinton-on-the-conservative-media-it-appears-they-dont-know-im-not-
president/).

These techniques have been exacerbated by the Russian state. Agents of that government have taken to
social media to spread [dishonest messages across the internet](https://www.theguardian.com/us-
news/2017/oct/14/russia-us-politics-social-media-facebook). It is a form of warfare, typically called
[hybrid warfare](http://www.popularmechanics.com/military/a22778/hybrid-warfare/), against the
United States and they are using RWM as their proxy to attack America. If our officials won't deal with
this threat we citizens will have to counter it ourselves.

**A Solution**
RWM requires message discipline and repetition to drive messages to its audience. A message that
comes from a FOX news commentator will be repeated across the station and by other right-wing news
sites and right-wing radio shows. This is sometimes called the effective frequency. To fight the danger
of RWM we, all of us citizens of the internet, must disrupt that message discipline. That means we need
to get messages to the RWM audience as often as possible. Call in to right-wing radio shows posing as
a supporter but offer a counter-point if you get on the air. Respond to every awful Facebook message
from that cousin you don't actually see too often. Go into the comments of your local newspaper and
tell the Nazi who spends his day making that comment section awful that he's Nazi garbage. There can
be no safe place for the messages of RWM.
It's also important to note that RWM conditions people to think like a cultist. This may mean that the
people who debate with are unlikely to change their minds. That's fine. Many times you are debating
for the sake of people watching the debate who have not been fully indoctrinated. So making a good
argument matters even if the result is an alt-righter sulkily declaring victory and running away.

**Some Tips**

**People Who Don't Believe What You Believe Are Not Dumb**
The goal here is to communicate with people who are victims of a large and well-funded propaganda
effort. Some empathy is required to help them see the truth. If you insult them they are less likely to
listen to you and you aren't telling them anything that will help them see your point. Influencing people
has little to do with intelligence. A person who smiles at you isn't making a better or more logical
argument but you're more likely to listen to them than someone who scowls at you. So point out
problems with RWM with a smile.

**Be Consistent**
The easiest way to do this is to set aside some time. An hour, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, any time will do.
Your goal is to use that time to reach out to people in the right-wing bubble. It may be something to do
while on your lunch break or on the bus ride to work or just after you put the kids to bed. But being
consistent will both make it easier to get done and will help you get in the right mindset.

**Expect to Fail a Lot**

Arguing is a skill and RWM feeds its followers talking points that they'll repeat without thinking about
it. Learn to be more persuasive, learn the talking points, and work on subverting them. Even if your
argument is clearly better you may not get through to everyone. That's okay. If your racist aunt loves
Sean Hannity you might never talk her into seeing how he cons his audience but if you keep poking
holes in his arguments she will probably learn not to trust Hannity as much. That's a start.

**Learn to Cover Your Internet Tracks**

People do get harassed or threatened for being outspoken so if you aren't willing to take the risk, stay
anonymous. Pay for a VPN. Use a security-focused browser like Epic or Tor browser. Things like
Google and Facebook track you whenever they can so make a fake account if you're going to use those
services. Use throwaway email addresses that don't link to a personal email.

**Talking to People Close to You**

It's harder when the people trapped in the RWM bubble are close friends or family. You don't want to
be mean to your dad or sister but you do want them to get out of the bubble they're in. But the fact is
that RWM conditions people to think like cultists and the most effective way to bring people out of a
cult is through relationships with friends and family. Arguing with them may just harden their position.
Instead, find ways to bring up problems or inconsistencies with their positions in a way that isn't as
threatening. For example if you disagree on a point of fact look that fact up together and do not do a
victory dance when you are vindicated. You may even want to suggest counseling if their devotion to
RWM is hurting your relationship. If RWM is making it hard to connect with a close friend or family
member that's a big problem and you should tell that person that's how you feel. It may help them
realize they are being influenced in a negative way.

**It's Okay to Troll**

That said, when you aren't talking to people close to you it's okay to be dishonest. This is a battle for
the safety of the country. So create a fake account and pretend you are a conservative who is very
concerned about the message sent by RWM. Pretend you are a centrist who just can't get on board.
Pretend you're a white supremacist who just can't quite understand why Persians from the Caucus
region aren't considered Caucasian. It is okay to lie to disrupt the enemy. It is a good thing if the people
who interact with RWM are suspicious of each other. RWM already lies to get its message across. We
are be free to use the same tools.

**Possible actions**
Comment on the message board of a RWM news site
Comment on your local news site
Engage with a right-wing talking point on social media
Call in to a right-wing radio show posing as a supporter. Offer criticism if you get on the air
Talk to a friend or family member who is caught up in the bubble
Attend a public political function where you will be allowed to speak, such as a town hall
Write a letter to the editor

**Lies Fox News Has Told Me**

If you want some examples of the ways RWM misleads or outright lies to its audience here are some
good examples
[They fabricated the Seth Rich story](https://www.npr.org/2017/08/01/540783715/lawsuit-alleges-fox-
news-and-trump-supporter-created-fake-news-story%E2%80%AC)
[They ran with a fake story that Hillary was about to be indicted]
(http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-elections/hillary-clinton-emails-fbi-
indictment-clinton-foundation-fox-news-us-election-2016-a7397956.html)
[They buried stories about indictments brought by Mueller]
(http://money.cnn.com/2017/10/31/media/fox-news-employees-russia-mueller-coverage/index.html)
[They lied about there being European “No-go zones]
(https://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/nogozones.asp)
[They keep pushing stories about masses of illegal voters without evidence]
(https://www.mediamatters.org/blog/2017/06/21/right-wing-media-attempting-resuscitate-already-
misused-survey-push-debunked-voter-fraud-claims/216985)
[They predicted an “Anti-Fa Apocalypse” that never happened](https://www.mediaite.com/online/fox-
news-pushed-debunked-antifa-apocalypse-conspiracy-theory-multiple-times/)
[They propped up a security expert who was actually just a con man]
(https://www.salon.com/2015/10/16/fox_news_gets_suckered_11_outrageous_lies_by_their_terror_ana
lyst_who_was_was_actually_a_con_man/)
[They repeatedly ran with a story about a “Knockout Game” trend that never existed]
(http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2013/11/25/why_the_knockout_game_trend_is_a_myth.html)

And those are just big lies that were promoted across the station. Fox news hosts and commentators
also [regularly tell smaller lies to their audience](http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-
meter/article/2015/feb/26/fact-checks-behind-daily-shows-50-fox-news-lies/)

**Further Reading**
Freedom of Mind by Steven Hassan
Dark Money by Jane Mayer
The Loudest Voice in the Room by Gabriel Sherman
Weaponized Lies by Daniel J. Levitin