If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything...

February 26, 2011 4:07 PM

Anonymous announces action against Koch brothers. Anonymous, apparently decided to stand up for something. They have announced their intention to use their internet powers for "good" and to "spread the word of the Koch brothers' political manipulation, their single-minded intent and the insidious truth of their actions in Wisconsin, for all to witness." I for one, welcome our new anonymous rulers. (via Reddit)
posted by daq (176 comments total)

They may be a bunch of juvenile assholes, but even a broken clock is correct twice a day. May their crusade against the Kochs be a successful one.
posted by zardoz at 4:09 PM on February 26, 2011 [7 favorites]

This is good news.
posted by creasy boy at 4:10 PM on February 26, 2011

I wish them luck.
posted by Stonestock Relentless at 4:10 PM on February 26, 2011

AnonNews uses an open-posting concept. Anyone can post to the site

Nice idea, but I think this is just an announcement by _someone_ until it gathers critical mass. Consumer boycots don't really sound like core Anonymous. Hope it takes off, but I'll wait until the majority hive mind engages before I get too excited.
posted by memebake at 4:11 PM on February 26, 2011 [8 favorites]

THEIR INTENTIONS: A+. The Koch brothers are evil fucks and I hope they're destroyed top to bottom.

THEIR TACTICS: C-. Why would you warn the enemy that you're coming?
posted by EatTheWeak at 4:13 PM on February 26, 2011 [3 favorites]

All hail the moralfags.
posted by klangklangston at 4:14 PM on February 26, 2011 [48 favorites]

Even if this is real, going after big US money tends to not end well. See: Julian Assange immediately after announcing his intent to release documents from a certain large US financial concern.
posted by Thorzdad at 4:15 PM on February 26, 2011 [8 favorites]

THEIR TACTICS: C-. Why would you warn the enemy that you're coming?

Anonymous have to announce their actions, otherwise they dont know about them. They are legion, etc.
posted by memebake at 4:17 PM on February 26, 2011 [32 favorites]

I'm kind of hoping they just hack Koch websites and fill them with shopped child porn.
posted by klangklangston at 4:17 PM on February 26, 2011 [1 favorite]

Guys, Anonymous announces a lot of stuff. This means literally nothing.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 4:17 PM on February 26, 2011 [13 favorites]

Anonymous exists for the lulz. Ain't seeing the lulz here boys : No video. Boycots are too stiff. etc.

We'll all LOL when you hack the Koch brothers email or phones, paint sexual graffiti of Walker and the Koch brothers, ideally on Walker's house, etc.
posted by jeffburdges at 4:18 PM on February 26, 2011 [2 favorites]

Boycotts? Um, no. This isn't the Anonymous I've come to expect.
posted by foggy out there now at 4:20 PM on February 26, 2011 [1 favorite]

I luv when the anarchists organize.
posted by Ardiril at 4:20 PM on February 26, 2011 [2 favorites]

I for one, welcome our new anonymous rulers.

New?
posted by UrineSoakedRube at 4:21 PM on February 26, 2011 [1 favorite]

This is not anon-like enough for me.
posted by empath at 4:21 PM on February 26, 2011 [2 favorites]

Boycotts? Um, no. This isn't the Anonymous I've come to expect.

There's something a bit Illuminati (the SJ Games version) about playing "Boycott Paper Products" the first turn.
posted by fairytale of los angeles at 4:21 PM on February 26, 2011 [19 favorites]

Can we hold off on the anony posts until they actually accomplish something We should have learned our lesson from the WBC announcement.
posted by muddgirl at 4:22 PM on February 26, 2011 [8 favorites]

THEIR TACTICS: C-. Why would you warn the enemy that you're coming?

seeing as anyone can be anonymous, i think this is more like a recruitment call than a warning
posted by pyramid termite at 4:24 PM on February 26, 2011 [6 favorites]

Barf.
posted by grobstein at 4:27 PM on February 26, 2011 [1 favorite]

If you want lulz, albeit not anonymously, Dan Savage will soon reinvigorate his spreadingsantorum.com campaign in honor of the senator's expressed interest in a presidential run.

Santorum : The frothy mix of lube and fecal matter that is sometimes the byproduct of anal sex.

We still need more mini-translations of the neologism's wikipedia article into other languages, even two paragraphs will help more people understand what Santorum truly means.
posted by jeffburdges at 4:28 PM on February 26, 2011 [7 favorites]

Well that was quick
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 4:30 PM on February 26, 2011 [7 favorites]

More of this sort of thing.
posted by ob at 4:33 PM on February 26, 2011

THEIR TACTICS: C-. Why would you warn the enemy that you're coming?

Psychological warfare? I wonder how many security meetings there will be at Koch Industries this week.
posted by the_artificer at 4:36 PM on February 26, 2011 [5 favorites]

Well that was quick

Shouldn't surprise you Anonymous lurks the Blue, he/she is on Ask all the time.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 4:37 PM on February 26, 2011 [52 favorites]

Generally - I don't go for the whole "The enemy of my enemy is my friend" kind of thinking. But in this instance - I could make an exception.
posted by helmutdog at 4:39 PM on February 26, 2011

Just fyi, Agent Pubeit has generally been accepted as acting on behalf of Anonymous. Boycotts get tarred as moralfags.

Imagine you present Walker with a poop sculpture of the Koch brothers. Isn't that actually more likely to get the Koch industries involvement discussed on air than your precious little boycott? I doubt you can present sculptures anonymously of course, but still..
posted by jeffburdges at 4:41 PM on February 26, 2011

Are their press releases need t have a sinister tone rather than reading as if concocted by three 15 year olds over IRC They need to do a lot better at the foreboding.
posted by the noob at 4:42 PM on February 26, 2011

"On the first day of a revolution, he is a perfect treasure; on the second, he ought to be shot."
posted by Abiezer at 4:47 PM on February 26, 2011 [5 favorites]

Georgia Pacific

First they came for the facial tissues, and I didn't speak out, for I didn't use facial tissues. Then, they came for the paper towels, and I didn't speak out , because I don't use paper towels. Then they came for the toilet paper ...
posted by PareidoliaticBoy at 4:49 PM on February 26, 2011 [5 favorites]

Anonymous has announced "moar pics of feet!"
posted by Ad hominem at 4:53 PM on February 26, 2011 [4 favorites]

It's 2011 and the fastest-rising influence in American politics is a nameless, faceless, anarchic hacker collective, which arose from a community best known for distributing pornography and humorous cat pictures.

It's like Kurt Vonnegut and William Gibson collaborated on a novel and forgot to tell anyone and also we're living in it.
posted by kagredon at 4:53 PM on February 26, 2011 [133 favorites]

A boycott? Anonymous is supposed to be organizing a freaking boycott? This is really boring, guys.
posted by koeselitz at 4:53 PM on February 26, 2011

As long as they don't screw with the pipeline subsidiary (specifically I hope don't hack the pipeline control software, because that could kill people), I wouldn't be entirely sorry to see Anonymous make some trouble for the Koch brothers. I'm not sure a boycott is what I had in mind, though.
posted by immlass at 4:55 PM on February 26, 2011

Anything that sheds light on the Koch brothers string-pulling is a good thing but boycotting a couple of 70 year old guys worth 21.5 billion each who believe is more likely to give them a chuckle than the cold sweats.
posted by vapidave at 4:56 PM on February 26, 2011

So, I was watching "Nova" on PBS the other night, and was totally stunned to learn that David Koch is a major underwriter of the series. (Go to the bottom of that webpage and you'll see him listed alongside CPB and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute)

After taking a moment to enjoy that little slice of cognitive dissonance, I wonder now if I am supposed to support PBS like a good liberal or oppose it like a good liberal.
posted by briank at 4:57 PM on February 26, 2011 [8 favorites]

"that webpage" = Nova's webpage
posted by briank at 4:58 PM on February 26, 2011

The Koch brothers are known for lurking in the background, influencing the political foreground by secret donations through shell organizations. They mistakenly believed they had a monopoly on The Power of Anonymous.
posted by twoleftfeet at 4:59 PM on February 26, 2011 [1 favorite]

Agreed: a boycott? The Koch brothers have a lot of assets (/understatement). I remember when they bought GP not that long ago. I'm not a financial analyst or anything, so I may be wrong here, but given that they could buy the entire company with all of its assets and still go on being evil political masterminds, a temporary reduction in sales is unlikely to hurt all that much.
posted by salvia at 5:02 PM on February 26, 2011

We've had one prank that's like actually funny, btw.
posted by jeffburdges at 5:02 PM on February 26, 2011

As long as they don't do something like a big newsworthy hack. And then publicly and loudly tell the world that Koch ind. facecream(tm) at select locations will contain traces of fecal matter from dead badgers. cause that would be wrong.
posted by Greald at 5:03 PM on February 26, 2011 [1 favorite]

Man I'm gonna start boycotting Quilted Northern and Angel Soft right away. That'll show those dastardly Koch brothers!

Wait, is this an Anonymous plot to stop me from wiping my ass?
posted by Nelson at 5:06 PM on February 26, 2011

Dead Badger Fecal Matter is the only way to get the best Facecream.

I should know: I live in Wisconsin. It's really all we do here: Eat cheese, and process the fecal matter of dead badgers.
posted by thanotopsis at 5:07 PM on February 26, 2011 [2 favorites]

Dead Badger Fecal Matter would also make a great band name.
posted by thanotopsis at 5:08 PM on February 26, 2011 [1 favorite]

Nationalize Toilet Paper!
posted by lslelel at 5:08 PM on February 26, 2011 [1 favorite]

The Koch brothers also give money to the ACLU.

more cognitive dissonance
posted by lukemeister at 5:08 PM on February 26, 2011 [3 favorites]

I thought the whole point of Anonymous is that they're decentralized, with no command structure. So why is it that within the last 2 weeks, they've reportedly made two announcements about concerted efforts they're making as a group? Since anyone can pretend to be Anonymous and say anything they want to say, and because it would make more sense for them to just do whatever, and then have the news report it after the fact, I'm a little incredulous about this story.
posted by crunchland at 5:08 PM on February 26, 2011 [2 favorites]

The Koch's also gave $20M to the ACLU's fight against the PATRIOT act. Libertarian kochsuckers.
posted by msbutah at 5:09 PM on February 26, 2011 [4 favorites]

Doh shanked by lukemeister
posted by msbutah at 5:09 PM on February 26, 2011

The Koch Bros. support a great many worthy causes, cultural and otherwise. It is cheap PR for them. They are cynically pulling the strings of their Tea Bagger puppet sheep to achieve real political power across the country. Pretty sure this article was mentioned on the blue before, but here it is again.

On another note, I want a sticker of the Anonymous logo on my car.
posted by Shike at 5:10 PM on February 26, 2011 [3 favorites]

This is significant because they seem to be reaching out to other groups and acting in solidarity with them, rather than just doing their own thing. Yeah, the boycott thing is pretty lame, but that lameness reflects the lack of meaningful options for collective action on the side of the groups they're reaching out to. For their part, Anonymous routinely does things that have led to the arrest of some members, with probable jail time - you can jump in and participate in those activities at any time.

Why would you warn the enemy that you're coming?

Their motto ends with "Expect us." I think the whole point is even if you do know they're coming, you can't do anything.
posted by AlsoMike at 5:10 PM on February 26, 2011 [2 favorites]

I've heard that support for some PBS shows often indicates the supporting corporation will eventually get indicted for very immoral or illegal things, briank. I donno if Nova counts though, maybe they're Randroids who feel guilty when they support fundies?
posted by jeffburdges at 5:10 PM on February 26, 2011 [1 favorite]

By the way, that's Metafilter's own Anonymous.

Asks a lot of questions, never gives an answer. Gets a lot of favorites, never gives one out.
posted by twoleftfeet at 5:11 PM on February 26, 2011 [12 favorites]

Why would you warn the enemy that you're coming?

I dunno, worked like a charm for Bruce Willis in those Diehard movies.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:14 PM on February 26, 2011 [1 favorite]

Pronounced "cock." Go get 'em, Anonymous!
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 5:16 PM on February 26, 2011 [1 favorite]

crunchland: I thought the whole point of Anonymous is that they're decentralized, with no command structure. So why is it that within the last 2 weeks, they've reportedly made two announcements about concerted efforts they're making as a group?

Anyone can make the announcements, but they only catch on and snowball into something if enough Anons get behind it. Which means (as multiple people have said in this thread) you need to take these announcements with a pinch of salt.

The need to create a snowball effect also means that even tenuous announcements will be worded to make it sound like shit is already happening.

So announcements and press releases can get a little messy, but Anonymous' highly experimental way of operating also has lots of advantages. We really havent seen anything like this before; they are a prototype human hive mind. Bound together with lulz.
posted by memebake at 5:18 PM on February 26, 2011 [3 favorites]

Crap, I have some Quilted Northern. Usually upon discovering this I'd decide to wipe my ass with the product, but the Koch brothers remain one step ahead...
posted by floam at 5:20 PM on February 26, 2011 [17 favorites]

The Koch brothers are libertarian. Yes, I agree with them on the Patriot act and the drug war. No, they aren't getting anyone elected who is actually doing anything about it, instead we get standard Republicans like Koch. Rich libertarians will always prioritize the economic libertarianism over the social libertarianism which is why they also donate to organizations like the Heritage Foundation who, ya know, don't see eye to eye with your average liberal on a damn thing.

There is no cognitive dissonance in liberals opposing them any more than there is in liberals not voting for Ron Paul.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 5:28 PM on February 26, 2011 [4 favorites]

*Standard Republicans like Walker, give me my damn edit window.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 5:29 PM on February 26, 2011

There's a lot of discussion in the comments under the announcement, if you want to get a feel for how these things go down with anons. It seems split between things like:

Anonymous - 2011-02-26 09:09:13
+ muchos
if fuckin up the Koch brothers and other corporate assholes is moralfag, then so be it.
Wiscounsin is a clear case of corporate power vs people's power. Screw corporate power.

Anonymous - 2011-02-26 18:27:18
LOL lefties don't get it. Righties don't get it. NYPA means NYPA. Issues of the day mean nothing. Lulz are everything. Quit trying to co-opt Anonymous to push your pet agenda.

Anonymous - 2011-02-26 12:10:06
Do not want. No lulz to be had.

Anonymous - 2011-02-26 14:26:17
I am 12 and wtf is this?!?!?!?!

posted by memebake at 5:36 PM on February 26, 2011 [11 favorites]

I luv when the anarchists organize.

I guess that's supposed to be some sort of witty, ironic comment, but anarchist =! radical individualist.
posted by Saxon Kane at 5:36 PM on February 26, 2011 [9 favorites]

It's 2011 and the fastest-rising influence in American politics is a nameless, faceless, anarchic hacker collective, which arose from a community best known for distributing pornography and humorous cat pictures.

They're certainly fun to talk about. Their tactics are sexier than the grunt-work and endless meetings that characterize a lot of the activism out there.

But influential?

Nah.
posted by jason's_planet at 5:37 PM on February 26, 2011 [2 favorites]

So- if I stand for nothing will I fall for nothing?
posted by IndigoJones at 5:40 PM on February 26, 2011

"Governor Walker" says:

"Anonymous" sounded familiar so I did some research. Turns out they wrote a lot of old poems. I dropped that class. Bring it, Anonymous."

posted by desjardins at 5:40 PM on February 26, 2011 [11 favorites]

What does "all hail the moralfags" mean? we can call people fags on the blue now? cool!
posted by Stonestock Relentless at 5:44 PM on February 26, 2011 [2 favorites]

Paypal dollar for the first person to troll Freepers with this.
posted by klangklangston at 5:46 PM on February 26, 2011

Anonymous is a lot like EVE to me: something that I have neither the time nor the inclination to get involved with, but I always find it makes for fascinating reading. These last two Anon FPPs show how Anonymous will eventually collapse again, I think: more people proposing more actions with lame no-lolz tactics like boycotts will eventually drive the real party people away. I could be wrong, and I hope I am. The older I get the more I think I'm chaotic neutral at heart.
posted by Bookhouse at 5:55 PM on February 26, 2011 [3 favorites]

What does "all hail the moralfags" mean? we can call people fags on the blue now?

At Metafilter, the residents cherish the chance to express offense on behalf of vegans, feminists and other stock campus leftist types.
posted by twoleftfeet at 6:00 PM on February 26, 2011 [20 favorites]

We are Legion.

We do not forgive.

We do not forget.

Expect us...

to not buy your products, because previously we were heavy supporters of:

U.S. Product Boycott List

Vanity Fair
Quilted Northern
Angel Soft
Sparkle
Brawny
Mardi Gras
Dixie


European Product Boycott List

Demak'Up
Kitten Soft
Lotus / Lotus Soft
Tenderly
Nouvelle Soft
Okay Ktchen Towels
Colhogar
Delica
Inversoft
Tutto

If it makes me a moralfag to stop buying Vanity Fair, so be it.

Anonymous, not Kitten Soft since '11.
posted by filthy light thief at 6:02 PM on February 26, 2011 [8 favorites]

memebake, old copypasta is old. The same four opinions are expressed every time anon is thinking about doing anything. Sometimes they don't follow through, sometimes they do.

I imagine junior high schoolers imagining what anonymous would think.

op's a fag, by the way.
posted by Trochanter at 6:03 PM on February 26, 2011

What does "all hail the moralfags" mean?

Not that I'm defending it, but just to explain it: (something)fags is how Anons seem to refer to different subgroups within the main. E.g. moralfags, lulzfags, newfags, oldfags, amerifags, eurofags. Moralfags is the term used to describe the sub-groups within anon who would like to see them take more principled stands. So klangklangston's comment was referring to the apparent rise of that sub-group within Anon.
posted by memebake at 6:03 PM on February 26, 2011 [4 favorites]

As long as I don't have to boycott Nova and Neil deGrasse Tyson...
posted by 445supermag at 6:11 PM on February 26, 2011 [3 favorites]

desjardins: ""Governor Walker" says:

"Anonymous" sounded familiar so I did some research. Turns out they wrote a lot of old poems. I dropped that class. Bring it, Anonymous."

Yay, game on!

What does "all hail the moralfags" mean? we can call people fags on the blue now? cool!

That's parroting the lingua franca from /b and I don't use it and wouldn't dare but "fag" as appended to any number of terms is used mostly to denote people or persons that identify strongly with a specific thing. You could be a republicanfag, a fagfag, an atheiestfag, a gamerfag a proscriptivistfag &c &c.
Again I wouldn't use it but usage shifts uncomfortably (and I would argue for the better) sometimes.

OP: what memebake said
posted by vapidave at 6:13 PM on February 26, 2011 [1 favorite]

Did Stephen Colbert join ‘Anonymous’?
posted by homunculus at 6:20 PM on February 26, 2011

Seeing Koch's come up in the end credits to NOVA is always such a nauseating thing, and it just make me wonder why Big Oil has had such a hard on for public television for so long pouring in major money, as does ADM the farming conglomerate come to think of it, who are also in the energy business now with ethanol I believe.
posted by Skygazer at 6:21 PM on February 26, 2011

Did Stephen Colbert join ‘Anonymous’?

...I thought I imagined that.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 6:22 PM on February 26, 2011

thanotopsis: "Dead Badger Fecal Matter would also make a great band name"

But a really shitty governor.
posted by symbioid at 6:24 PM on February 26, 2011 [3 favorites]

You could be a republicanfag, a fagfag, an atheiestfag, a gamerfag a proscriptivistfag &c &c.
Again I wouldn't use it but usage shifts uncomfortably (and I would argue for the better) sometimes.

The weirdest part is that by now, the modified usage has become frequent enough (on 4chan) that it's become distinct from the slur: it's not uncommon to see "heterofag"/"homofag" used as (self-)descriptors.

The use of the unmodified term remains pretty solidly identical to how it's used among junior-high boys, though.
posted by kagredon at 6:30 PM on February 26, 2011 [1 favorite]

Lucky me, my giant stockpile of toilet paper is all Cottonelle.

I'd say it's because I hate the Koch brothers, but really it's because they have a puppy on the package.

And my paper towels are Bounty because really and truly, they work better than Brawny. Oh dear G-d, what have I sunk to that I have an actual preference for paper towels?
posted by sonika at 6:36 PM on February 26, 2011 [5 favorites]

Anonymous - 2011-02-26 18:27:18
LOL lefties don't get it. Righties don't get it. NYPA means NYPA. Issues of the day mean nothing.

I don't get this tautology--WTF is NYPA?
posted by leftcoastbob at 6:36 PM on February 26, 2011

Not Your Personal Army.
posted by marchismo at 6:38 PM on February 26, 2011

Thanks. That makes sense.
posted by leftcoastbob at 6:39 PM on February 26, 2011

Speaking of Colbert, here's a funny bit on another raid.
posted by Trochanter at 6:58 PM on February 26, 2011

Gee, SK, really?
posted by Ardiril at 6:59 PM on February 26, 2011

This isn't even NewsFilter, it's PR-Filter. When somebody actually does something beyond just making an announcement, then it deserves consideration for making a post on it.
posted by scalefree at 7:08 PM on February 26, 2011 [1 favorite]

Great Scot!
posted by clavdivs at 7:14 PM on February 26, 2011

I always thought the reason why I have to watch a minute of commercials about how excited oil companies are about algae was because it was a way for them to get tax credits for spending advertising dollars.
posted by chemoboy at 7:44 PM on February 26, 2011 [2 favorites]

Those guys at B might enjoy appending a homophobic sleight to the end of everything, but let's try not to make it a habit here. And I don't mind if Encyclopedia Dramatica makes fun of me for it.
posted by Astro Zombie at 7:50 PM on February 26, 2011 [8 favorites]

Slight, rather.
posted by Astro Zombie at 7:51 PM on February 26, 2011

but let's try not to make it a habit here.

I don't see it creeping beyond 'knowing, cheeky reference when someone mentions anon / 4ch' to be the way we talk to each other here, basically ever.
posted by Space Coyote at 7:58 PM on February 26, 2011 [5 favorites]

Not that I'm defending it, but just to explain it: (something)fags is how Anons seem to refer to different subgroups within the main. E.g. moralfags, lulzfags, newfags, oldfags, amerifags, eurofags. Moralfags is the term used to describe the sub-groups within anon who would like to see them take more principled stands. So klangklangston's comment was referring to the apparent rise of that sub-group within Anon.

It predates Anonymous. There was a zine called Gunfag circa 1995, based on a term used by cops at the time for someone who was overly into guns.
posted by msalt at 8:02 PM on February 26, 2011 [3 favorites]

Fucking Koch Bros. and their nasty god hates gags church. We hates them!
posted by clvrmnky at 8:14 PM on February 26, 2011

I think the Koch Brothers actually got punked by someone. Someone said "hey, we're libertarians, we are starting this AFP thing, would you give us seed money?" KFF says yes, and then AFP instantly takes the money and turns into a Cuthlu of right wing nuttery. Most of the Koch "evil" stems from them, doesn't it?

It just doesn't make sense that they would support so many good things, and also support a fucked up org like AFP.
posted by gjc at 9:01 PM on February 26, 2011

Also, [anything]fag is not cool.
posted by gjc at 9:02 PM on February 26, 2011

gjc: Also, [anything]fag is not cool.

You can say anything you like, but I absolutely guarantee they don't want your approval. The more pissed off you get, the more they'll use it. Getting you all tweaked about their language is very amusing.

It'll last until they're tired of it, and the more attention you give it, the longer it will be interesting.
posted by Malor at 9:09 PM on February 26, 2011 [11 favorites]

^ He's talking about here.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 9:22 PM on February 26, 2011 [2 favorites]

All hail the moralfags.

Fuck you. Seriously.

How many people would favorite "All hail the moral niggers"?
posted by bukharin at 10:19 PM on February 26, 2011 [5 favorites]

gjc: It just doesn't make sense that they would support ... a fucked up org like AFP.

Unless it was in their best interests financially. Then it makes sense.
posted by fartknocker at 10:32 PM on February 26, 2011

You guys are aware of the irony of the repeated repetition of the phrase in order to condemn it, right?
posted by furiousxgeorge at 10:41 PM on February 26, 2011 [5 favorites]

I'm offended when the slur is "ironic," now I'm the stupid asshole?
posted by bukharin at 10:49 PM on February 26, 2011 [1 favorite]

I'm just gonna let you go on and be offended, k?
posted by furiousxgeorge at 10:52 PM on February 26, 2011

I'm offended when the slur is "ironic," now I'm the stupid asshole?

What are you, some kinda self-hating hipster?
posted by chemoboy at 10:53 PM on February 26, 2011

Fuck you. Seriously.

How many people would favorite "All hail the moral niggers"?

The word "fag" is hate speech. I get it and I'm sure that the vast majority of MeFites get it. If you'd stop wallowing in your bath of moral indignation for just one second you'd see that no one here is calling anyone else a fag. They are quoting or referencing the parlance of another site. If you do feel as strongly about this as you appear to, I suggest taking this to 4chan, the place that originated the term quoted here.
posted by ob at 11:08 PM on February 26, 2011 [24 favorites]

Oxygen. Get some in your lungs. Seriously.
posted by Burhanistan at 11:11 PM on February 26, 2011

"You can say anything you like, but I absolutely guarantee they don't want your approval. The more pissed off you get, the more they'll use it. Getting you all tweaked about their language is very amusing."

This! There are a significant number of people who think like this - I know many of them, and some of them are into anonymous. This is viewpoint is very important to understand.

Because we need to fight homophobia in the world; we need equal rights for all! You! And I! Need to give time and Money to organizations like Stonewall Youth, Gay-straight alliance, and Planned Parenthood. Broke? Hold a sign. Once a month, for like 3 hours. Not broke? Give money!

I'm not in any way advocating for offensive language. I hate it. But it exists, and it's use is propagated
by people who find my offense amusing. So, fuck it. I'll keep my offense to myself, and put my money where my mouth would have been.
posted by special agent conrad uno at 11:12 PM on February 26, 2011

God, guys, do I really sound like that when I get all offended? "BAD THING I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS BAD AND ALWAYS BAD!"

I bet I do.

Sorry about that. I'll try to be a little less humorless.
posted by klangklangston at 11:14 PM on February 26, 2011 [2 favorites]

It just doesn't make sense that they would support so many good things, and also support a fucked up org like AFP.

Good? Please, they want money. Good ain't got nothing to do with it.
posted by vapidave at 11:31 PM on February 26, 2011

You guys are aware of the irony of the repeated repetition of the phrase in order to condemn it, right?

This. They're changing the very definition of the word, by stripping it of its hateful connotations. If you aren't a "newfag" you're an "oldfag." Everyone in the community self-identifies in this fashion, stripping it of the marginalization it once represented, and also the hatred. From what I've been told, a large portion of their community is homosexual. To be offended would be a truly superlative example of missing the forest for the trees.

Perhaps it would be more accurate anymore simply to say that they're speaking a different language from the one we currently are.
posted by Alcibiades. at 12:21 AM on February 27, 2011 [9 favorites]

So they'll also be going after George Soros in the future then, right?
posted by ZenMasterThis at 12:26 AM on February 27, 2011

This. They're changing the very definition of the word,

No no, not that. I'm saying you can condemn use of the word without saying it over and over and tossing in an unnecessary N-word for good measure.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 12:28 AM on February 27, 2011

Apparently they are also working to strip the hateful connotations of child porn. Indeed, a large portion of their community are children.
posted by ryanrs at 12:30 AM on February 27, 2011

No no, not that. I'm saying you can condemn use of the word without saying it over and over and tossing in an unnecessary N-word for good measure.

Oh. Well, I would suggest you rethink the whole foundation of your offense. The N-word overdramatization was ridiculous, yes, but so too would be to utterly disregard the context and overall proclivity of a word.

I think what we're actually seeing is our adolescent-young adult generation rejecting a word by stripping it of its hateful connotations and diluting it into meaninglessness.
posted by Alcibiades. at 12:38 AM on February 27, 2011 [3 favorites]

Apparently they are also working to strip the hateful connotations of child porn. Indeed, a large portion of their community are children.

That would be horrible, yes, but let's not create a straw man in this conversation. Abusive, illegal actions fall into a category that is unfit for this discussion.
posted by Alcibiades. at 12:41 AM on February 27, 2011

Oh. Well, I would suggest you rethink the whole foundation of your offense.

I'm not offended, let 4chan be 4chan. MeFi will be MeFi, and this kind of stuff isn't that welcome here.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 12:43 AM on February 27, 2011

I always thought Anon was doing the same thing that South Park episode did where the kids start referring to bikers as "fags" and eventually the whole town's doing it, until finally the bikers self-identify as fags.
posted by creasy boy at 12:43 AM on February 27, 2011

This is not 4chan, and you should keep 4chan slang to 4chan, even in threads about 4chan.
posted by empath at 12:53 AM on February 27, 2011 [3 favorites]

I just like how in the gay porn threads on 4chan's /b/ when people post pictures of girls, others will complain that "straightfags" are ruining the thread.

Also, these oversensitive remarks outside of the gray are a really great way to derail/ruin these threads, so, thanks for that.
posted by GooseOnTheLoose at 1:20 AM on February 27, 2011 [13 favorites]

For fucking crying out loud, Metafilter. Lets not give a fuck about the barn being on fire, let's all piss and fucking whine about the barn being the wrong color and who was supposed to paint it because it wasn't my job and you always say that you'll paint it but it's still that ugly avocado color and jeeze.

Seriously who gives a flying fuck? Scientology, Westboro, Koch brothers, and people who attack wikileaks, but you STILL aren't sure if you support Anon? And you probably don't because you are too fucking fragile to see the letters FAG in row?

Fuck. You people disappoint the shit out of me sometimes.
posted by paisley henosis at 1:20 AM on February 27, 2011 [29 favorites]

I am generally a supporter of anon. I don't mind the usage at 4chan, because I understand it's full of 14 year old children who don't know any better. We just don't need to see it here, because we are not 14 year old boys, and this is not 4chan.
posted by empath at 1:34 AM on February 27, 2011 [4 favorites]

Getting upset about anon/4chan usage of the suffix '-fag' has about as much effect, and a fairly similar root cause, as getting pissed about a town named Fucking. Sure, it's a dirty word for you, but at a certain point you have to realize that the natives are straight speaking another fucking language.
posted by FatherDagon at 1:52 AM on February 27, 2011 [14 favorites]

We must derail this MetaFilter in order to save it.
posted by feloniousmonk at 1:57 AM on February 27, 2011 [8 favorites]

Somebody needs to quote the comment where someone was getting indignant about 4chan doing it for me. The complaint is about doing it here, not there.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 1:58 AM on February 27, 2011

Failing to see the reapplication of a word in what is pretty clearly a completely separate context from that in which it is used hatefully is taking your sensitivity and begging to have it used as an excuse not to take you seriously. You can't really talk about Anonymous as a cultural movement, linking to their primary sources, without getting the fact that "moralfags" and "fags" in the "why don't you and your boyfriend get up out of this bar and go back to where you belong" sense are morphologically and etymologically related, but are in any other sense not even the same word (cf. Fucking AT, thanks FatherDragon). It kind of saddens me to see a thoughtful place like Metafilter even having a fight about this.

To rerail, this is sort of the point of Anonymous-as-philosophy, and pretty much the biggest positive thing you can take from a cultural movement led by fourteen year olds (in body or spirit). "Doing it for the lulz" means not taking anything seriously, not even yourself, which is kind of refreshing to see in fourteen-year-olds come to think of it. The alignment with first-amendment absolutism isn't so much a political position as an assertion that we are going to find funny whatever the fuck we want to. Xenu.net? Wikileaks? These are not bastions of free information against authority, these are source material for jokes.

And that is sadly why I'm afraid this particular press release will lead to nothing, much as I want to see the bad guys in Wisconsin go down, as a proxy for the whole array of forces that are slowly killing my homeland. You can't unleash the Anons against the Koch brothers, at least not this way. Anonymous doesn't work when it takes itself seriously.
posted by Vetinari at 3:02 AM on February 27, 2011 [3 favorites]

Yeah, sorry, not a lulz rich environment.

Unless the lure of taking down such a large target is too strong or...

Unless someone directly challenges Anonymous.



"Governor Walker" says:

"Anonymous" sounded familiar so I did some research. Turns out they wrote a lot of old poems. I dropped that class. Bring it, Anonymous."


Hoo boy.
posted by louche mustachio at 3:36 AM on February 27, 2011

Unless someone directly challenges Anonymous.

You realise that Governor Walker account isn't actually the Governor, right?
posted by Infinite Jest at 3:44 AM on February 27, 2011

Failing to see the reapplication of a word in what is pretty clearly a completely separate context from that in which it is used hatefully is taking your sensitivity and begging to have it used as an excuse not to take you seriously.

Wait, we're worried about Anon taking us seriously now?
posted by empath at 3:45 AM on February 27, 2011 [3 favorites]

There's some cross-purpose fightin' going on. I think what people are objecting to is the use of the (-fag) convention here, on MetaFilter, where it has a different meaning and isn't readily accepted (yet?).* Just dropping it in a thread as if it were commonly understood with its 4chan meaning suggests that this is the kind of place that has and uses the convention freely. I think some people might object to that, even if the original intention was well-meaning or jokey.

It's like there are two fights...the fight against the meaning and the fight against what it means to use it here.

*I think Alcidbiades. covered the meaning/reappropriation aspect of the convention really well upthread. I would argue that the meaning doesn't transfer here (possibly yet) and therefore it's grating to some to just drop it in a thread as if this place had already accepted it. Those boundary pushers, always trying to change up the language, I swear.
posted by iamkimiam at 3:46 AM on February 27, 2011 [2 favorites]

[maybe take the -fag derail to metatalk if you need to?]
posted by jessamyn at 4:13 AM on February 27, 2011 [1 favorite]

It predates Anonymous. There was a zine called Gunfag circa 1995, based on a term used by cops at the time for someone who was overly into guns.

I certainly remember the term "guitar fag" being used in music circles in the early '90s, so the precedent is even older.
posted by nowonmai at 4:32 AM on February 27, 2011 [1 favorite]

I worry that teenage anarchist types attacking the Kochs will only generate sympathy for the Kochs, especially since most people (I'm guessing most Average Americans never heard of the Koch Brothers) will hear on CNN and Fox and ABC News only that a bunch of juvenile delinquents are making potty mouth jokes about some Pillars of the Economic Community.

Part of the purpose of boycotts is that they get people engaged in a cause, they feel like they are doing something and become emotionally invested. Economically, boycotts hurt corps that depend mostly on retail consumer products and services, of course, which Koch Industries does not. Even GP's paper products are not the largest part of its business - building materials are.

So please, boycott Brawny, and educate folks about the Evil Assault on Democracy that is the Kochs, but this uptight old fart would discourage vandalizing websites and spray painting dirty words on lumber trucks. Ain't gonna help.
posted by tommyD at 5:05 AM on February 27, 2011 [2 favorites]

Anonymous in a sly but gingerly distributed note said that any bad remarks made about their efforts and targets posted as comments at Metafilter would cause them to take down Big Blue for two weeks. Be warned.
posted by Postroad at 5:13 AM on February 27, 2011

That's a bit ungrateful after all that free advice.
posted by nowonmai at 5:25 AM on February 27, 2011 [3 favorites]

Let us refrain from publicizing Anonymous' alleged targets until there are lulz or p0wnage. Until then it is just some script kiddie wannabe trying to get the real hackers into something.
posted by humanfont at 5:34 AM on February 27, 2011 [5 favorites]

Agreed.
posted by chemoboy at 7:07 AM on February 27, 2011

This is starting to look like support for Malcolm Gladwell's position.

Social networks are built on facetime. This is why Anon is a media event and not a political force.
posted by warbaby at 8:02 AM on February 27, 2011

I do not approve of extra-legal political actions, be it by Richard M. Nixon or Anon.
posted by Ironmouth at 8:47 AM on February 27, 2011

Anyone can post anything as 'anonymous' people.

Let us refrain from publicizing Anonymous' alleged targets until there are lulz or p0wnage. Until then it is just some script kiddie wannabe trying to get the real hackers into something.

Um, 'they' are calling for a boycott. How exactly is that supposed to work if it's not publicised. It's a list of prodcts I've seen in other places so actually what's probably happening is that someone is just trying to get more attention for a bocott that someone else already called for. In other worods, someone is trying to amplify the the reach of this message by sticking anon's name on it.

Come to think of it, I wonder when we're going to see Anon extolling the virtues of cool-ranch doritos. After all, if political activists can use it why not marketers and PR people? I think that could be the downfall of anon.

It predates Anonymous. There was a zine called Gunfag circa 1995, based on a term used by cops at the time for someone who was overly into guns.

There seem to be people who treat the right to bear arms in public (open carry) as a civil right the same as gay marriage or anything. It really does come across like they are literally in love with guns and view their rights to be in public with their guns the same way gay people feel they have a right to be in public with their Significant others. Pretty weird, really.
posted by delmoi at 9:15 AM on February 27, 2011

delmoi: After all, if political activists can use [Anonymous] why not marketers and PR people?

You'd be either incredibly brave or stupid to try that! It'd be regarded with at least as much acceptance as the HBGary dude's claim to have infiltrated anonymous. Try to astroturf anonymous and your brand will be "that brand that has child porn all over the website" before you you know it. It'd be a cornucopia of low-hanging lulz.
posted by nowonmai at 9:24 AM on February 27, 2011

crunchland: "I thought the whole point of Anonymous is that they're decentralized, with no command structure. So why is it that within the last 2 weeks, they've reportedly made two announcements about concerted efforts they're making as a group? Since anyone can pretend to be Anonymous and say anything they want to say, and because it would make more sense for them to just do whatever, and then have the news report it after the fact, I'm a little incredulous about this story"

Because the media has much greater reach. A step by step guide to Anon action:

1. You decide on a target.
2. You set up infrastructure (IRC channel, website, etc).
3. Publish an announcement that Anonymous is Taking Action. Not that you took a vote or anything.
4. Media reports on your announcement, in effect stirring interest and support.
5. Other websites push announcement further into public conciousness, where complain about the planned action, discuss techniques, and likely targets.
6. One or two crazy people read all that, and actually do it.
7. They get arrested while the you and everyone else walks away hands clean. After all, you only called for a boycott.

I'm curious what happens though, if you substitute Al Qaeda for Anon. Gitmo for life?
posted by pwnguin at 9:24 AM on February 27, 2011

This is not 4chan, and you should keep 4chan slang to 4chan, even in threads about 4chan.

That's like saying we shouldn't quote The Big Lebowski in a The Big Lebowski thread.
posted by Rory Marinich at 9:26 AM on February 27, 2011 [5 favorites]

Come to think of it, I wonder when we're going to see Anon extolling the virtues of cool-ranch doritos. After all, if political activists can use it why not marketers and PR people? I think that could be the downfall of anon.

Hi, marketer/PR student here. I'd expect to be fired outright for suggesting something like that, and if my company hit upon that idea independent of me I'd tell them to watch the fuck out.

Anonymous is very good at negative, destructive work. They're not promoting somebody else in place of the Koch brothers, they're just targeting the Koches. HBGary they attacked, but not to support another company instead.

Their positive work is a lot spottier. Never Gonna Give You Up. Chocolate Rain. Cats. Lots of attempts to target things LIKE Rick Astley and Tay Zonday that fail because the chans' behavior is unpredictable.

If I'm a PR person pushing something to Anon, I couldn't talk about my product specifically, because then the backlash would be them attacking my product. So I'd have to devise some kind of a clever campaign to target my opponents, in some way that only affects my own company positively. And I'd have to do it without there being any suspicion that I'm playing that game, because if I'm caught then suddenly my company gets attacked even stronger.

Anonymous isn't a major buying power, or not one that can be readily identified as such. Almost all they can do involves morale-busting and PR-damaging. So they might push to associate my brand of chips with child pornography. Or they might harass my employees and try and get them to quit. That's what they'd do to my competitor also, which wouldn't benefit my brand whatsoever. It would just be inflicting needless negativity on a bunch of good people who I happen to be competing with.

In fact, I can only think of one possible reason to use 4chan for marketing purposes, and that would be if I'm trying to enter a category that has an established leader that seems impregnable. If I wanted to compete with PayPal, I'd absolutely feed Anonymous's hatred for it, while simultaneously pushing a new product. But I wouldn't push that directly on 4chan. Instead I'd push that to a neighboring community like Reddit or SomethingAwful, and use my credentials as an actual genuine community member there to spread it all grassroots-like.

(But at that point you're barely even being a soulless marketer! If my method of promoting my product is to tell a community of people that I love about it, and spend time talking to community members about it and helping them out, and only promoting a product that I'm genuinely attached to, then I'm treading dangerously close to being a human being.)
posted by Rory Marinich at 9:36 AM on February 27, 2011 [5 favorites]

It predates Anonymous. There was a zine called Gunfag circa 1995, based on a term used by cops at the time for someone who was overly into guns.

Hell, at my high school we called em "band fags" in 1980.
posted by scalefree at 11:08 AM on February 27, 2011 [1 favorite]

That's like saying we shouldn't quote The Big Lebowski in a The Big Lebowski thread.

Ve're Anonymous, Lebowski. We believe in nothzing lulz.
posted by kagredon at 11:48 AM on February 27, 2011 [1 favorite]

Hell, at my high school we called em "band fags" in 1980.

But that was an insult, right, not a self-proclaimed title?
posted by Bookhouse at 11:54 AM on February 27, 2011

It's a name they used among themselves as much as anyone else. It either had a negative connotation or didn't depending on who used it & how they said it. Dunno who started it, but given the times it pretty much had to be originally a slur.
posted by scalefree at 12:56 PM on February 27, 2011

How many people would favorite "All hail the moral niggers"?

This means something, something potent and a little ugly, but I don't know what it is.

I can't stop thinking about it.
posted by Sebmojo at 1:00 PM on February 27, 2011

It's a name they used among themselves as much as anyone else. It either had a negative connotation or didn't depending on who used it & how they said it.

Ditto the term "art fags." 99% of the time I've heard it used it's been self-applied. And 100% of the time, it's accompanied by an eyeroll.
posted by sonika at 1:08 PM on February 27, 2011 [1 favorite]

It would be great if they went after the Kochs' but I'm afraid this isn't the way to do it.

They would be better instigating an HBGary-type attack, where they reveal the mails and whatever other effluvia connecting the K-bros and/or their actors as conspirators in the actions of the Wisconsonian govmint.

I'll make some popcorn for this though.
posted by From Bklyn at 2:13 PM on February 27, 2011

This means something, something potent and a little ugly, but I don't know what it is.

Sounds like a line from The Last Poets to me.
posted by Bookhouse at 2:18 PM on February 27, 2011 [1 favorite]

This means something, something potent and a little ugly, but I don't know what it is.

Sounds like a line from The Last Poets to me.

Really? Judging by pretty much everything I've ever heard by The Last Poets, they're quite certain what the ugly is.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 3:34 PM on February 27, 2011

I sincerely hope that the word "fag" ceases to mean "gay" and it evolves into just another random insulting epithet. Language evolves, and if you are rigid in your view of that evolution--in other words, easily offended by language--then you're on the wrong side of history.

tl;dr Lighten up, people.
posted by zardoz at 3:44 PM on February 27, 2011

#OpWisconsin #DDoS brings down Americans For Prosperity website, forces Quilted Northern site into maintenance #WIunion #WeAreWI #Anonymous

@AnonNewsNet

posted by desjardins at 4:01 PM on February 27, 2011 [2 favorites]

Coule be fun, but what might the Kochs have secret that we can't already infer?
posted by nj_subgenius at 4:50 PM on February 27, 2011

"Sounds like a line from The Last Poets to me."

Moralfags are afraid of revolution?
posted by klangklangston at 4:52 PM on February 27, 2011 [1 favorite]

TP for my bunghole.
posted by fixedgear at 5:09 PM on February 27, 2011

> I sincerely hope that the word "fag" ceases to mean "gay" and it evolves into just another random insulting epithet.

South Park tried to do that with obnoxious Harley riders.
posted by Burhanistan at 5:54 PM on February 27, 2011

desjardins,
well, that was fast.
wonder how long this will keep up.

as to the lovely trolls who think that anon is only "for the lulz", go read up on the beandogs and other anon groups who were instrumental in targeting and bringing to light the crazy coming from several right wing candidates during the 2010 elections. Christine O'Donnell was targeted specifically and a lot of the crap from her past was brought to light by a campaign very similar to this one. mind you, most of the people who do it find amusement in trolling people they disagree with. hence, anon does do moral stands against people. they'd probably have gone after tipper gore during the 80's when she was doing the whole censorship shindig that brought us those wonderful Parental Advisory stickers on CD's and then later brought video game ratings, etc. Ah the good old days of the PMRC. Where have they gone that we can't troll them properly again.
posted by daq at 7:05 PM on February 27, 2011 [1 favorite]

It predates Anonymous. There was a zine called Gunfag circa 1995

Oh sure, the generalized "foo fag" existed before 4chan and 4chan's usage is clearly derived from that, but I think it's 4chan that has managed to strip the last of the homophobic tone from it, through sheer bludgeoning repetition.
posted by hattifattener at 7:06 PM on February 27, 2011

O'Donnell was targeted specifically and a lot of the crap from her past was brought to light by a campaign very similar to this one.

Like what? I thought it was all Bill Maher.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 8:00 PM on February 27, 2011

what does "foo fag" refer to?
posted by msalt at 12:11 AM on February 28, 2011

msalt, I'm not sure what exactly you're asking, but 'foo' is pretty much a wildcard if that's the misunderstood part.
posted by floam at 1:23 AM on February 28, 2011 [1 favorite]

Dave Grohl's groupies?
posted by nowonmai at 1:24 AM on February 28, 2011 [1 favorite]

"what does "foo fag" refer to?"

Welcome to our foop. Notice there's no p in it. Let's try to keep it that way.
posted by iamkimiam at 3:56 AM on February 28, 2011 [1 favorite]

I don't think 4chan gets to define that for the rest of the world. People are free to use their 4chan injokes in general conversation, and I am free to interpret those injokes in a context external to their culture - they are using bigoted language.
posted by muddgirl at 7:00 AM on February 28, 2011 [1 favorite]

Lets see how much "yucks" Anonymous is willing to go for:

Laugh 1 - a P2P "repuatation" system for data. Your only vote is where you spend your money....what if you could swap the documents that support "X do this" so, as an example if you don't like it when firms send about e-mails telling upper management to donate to the RNC/DNC that info can be passed around. Or if they give money to Y. Or the major shareholder is Z. Or they feed puppies. Whatever floats your passion boat.

Laugh 2 - Software to run on smartphones to act as local organization platform to pass info. Beyond providing local communication or coordination of a flash mob, tailor the 1st revision to be labeled JUST for union organization - AKA getting a union into a non-union shop. Make sure you have proper prompting to gather info about felony violations of law with the union busting/firings so that can be turned over to the local Grand Jury. Modify as the places get in the face of the customers.

Now imagine people with such software on their smartphone broadcasting in Wal-Mart. Imagine 2-3 weeks after the software is released a group of 5-10 people who took the job at Wal-Mart *JUST* to push for a union happens in many, many Wal-Marts. What is Wal-Mart gonna do? Stop smartphones from entering their stores? Keep people from using bluetooth? How much money/energy would they expend to try to "put a lid on it"? Rinse-lather-repeat at other large firms.


The prop comedy values here can be off the scales and to be part of such 'anonymous' is to have a iPad/iPhone/Android.......just for the yucks.

(I use wal-mart because they have a history of anti-union and odds are overreact)
posted by rough ashlar at 7:20 AM on February 28, 2011

I do not approve of extra-legal political actions, be it by Richard M. Nixon or Anon.
posted by Ironmouth

And if you were not a lawyer, would this change your approval?
posted by rough ashlar at 7:22 AM on February 28, 2011

The Koch's also gave $20M to the ACLU's fight against the PATRIOT act. Libertarian kochsuckers.

Too bad the Libertarians were not for effective and fair court system.
posted by rough ashlar at 7:25 AM on February 28, 2011 [1 favorite]

Really? Judging by pretty much everything I've ever heard by The Last Poets, they're quite certain what the ugly is.

I meant the line that sentence was referring to.
posted by Bookhouse at 9:17 AM on February 28, 2011

And if you were not a lawyer, would this change your approval?

Oh, snap!
posted by entropicamericana at 9:36 AM on February 28, 2011

THEIR TACTICS: C-. Why would you warn the enemy that you're coming?

According to Sun Tzu, because you're actually going somewhere else.
posted by Gelatin at 10:12 AM on February 28, 2011 [2 favorites]

Or, according to Sun Tzu, because having chosen the battlefield you have the decisive advantage.

What is Wal-Mart gonna do? Stop smartphones from entering their stores?

Randomly inspect employees' smartphones for unapproved apps, fire any employees with the app and if threaten to confiscate their smartphones. Why is this even a question?
posted by hattifattener at 10:56 PM on February 28, 2011 [1 favorite]

via desjardins, upthread:

#OpWisconsin #DDoS brings down Americans For Prosperity website, forces Quilted Northern site into maintenance #WIunion #WeAreWI #Anonymous

@AnonNewsNet

See also:

Politico: 'Anonymous' takes down Americans for Prosperity website
Politico: Americans for Prosperity calls on foes to condemn 'Anonymous' attack


OK, maybe this Op will get some traction. Interesting.
posted by memebake at 1:01 AM on March 1, 2011

There has to be a better way to make them hurt than to attack their websites.
posted by empath at 5:55 AM on March 1, 2011 [1 favorite]

There has to be a better way to make them hurt than to attack their websites.

Gosh, if there were only ideas out there to use networks and tech to make 'em spend a whole lot of money and overreact with, say, searching and confiscation of smartphones.
posted by rough ashlar at 6:49 AM on March 1, 2011

Magnanimous via Ars Technica.
posted by fixedgear at 5:33 AM on March 3, 2011 [1 favorite]

fixedgear: Magnanimous via Ars Technica.

Yeah, thats a good article. It shows some of the drawbacks of their structure, but also their dedication to its uniqueness, as they try to resolve their identity by having lots of anonymous people debate with each other online until some sort of consensus develops.

Not all Anons took kindly to this move [the creation of Magmaminous]. One Anon called them out, saying, "Anonymous cannot participate in joint operations; with anyone. We are everyone. You are a portion of Anonymous. We act as one. Cease using a separate title. The only possible implementation of a different title is in order to take claim for your actions; making you a disgusting little group that requires credit for the actions you take."

posted by memebake at 4:44 PM on March 3, 2011

The Wisconsin Senate has issued warrants for the arrest of the absconding Dems, and is asking anyone in Wisconsin who sees the errant legislators to call in and report them.

If I were in Anonymous, I'd be pulling up Wisconsin on googlemaps and looking for the goofiest named places in the state and reporting seeing a guy who looks just like a senator there (extra points for describing troll face).
posted by klangklangston at 4:59 PM on March 3, 2011 [2 favorites]