Subject: A warning?
From: k920775@dcs.king.ac.uk (Phil Trickett)
Date: 13 Mar 1995 10:21:59 GMT
Message-ID: <3k16c7$211@mercury.kingston.ac.uk>


	I was just reading comp.sys.psion when I came across this article,
I don't know how true it is. See what you make of it.
	Phil Trickett
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===phil@dcs.king.ac.uk======k920775@vulture.king.ac.uk======
===k920775@atlas.king.ac.uk====k920775@king.ac.uk===========
======http://www.dcs.king.ac.uk/scratch/Phil/home.html======
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Path: kinguni!warwick!slxsys!doc.news.pipex.net!pipex!howland.reston.ans.net!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!colt-3.slip.uiuc.edu!lgilbert
From: lgilbert@firefly.prairienet.org (Luke)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.psion
Subject: Caution: Alt.syntax.tactical
Date: Sat, 11 Mar 1995 22:08:25
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
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I found this on another newsgroup I read. It is copied here verbatim. I 
value the comp.sys.psion newsgroup and I would hate 
to see it disrupted or destroyed by these "people." I apoligize 
for it's length, but I think it is important enough to post. BTW, given the 
reponse to previous flames, I don't think they would have much success here, 
but one can never be too sure.

Luke
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v---------- Copied message ------------v

Just something I think you should all be aware of ... there are groups of
people, who appear to have set thmselves up, solely for the reason of destroying
news-groups, with sick threads and deliberate flame-baits. I was amazed to
find this message posted on one of the other groups, but it should be known
to all ... I have seen these guys in action (and sometimes ... it even works)

Just be aware of deliberate flamers.


The following message is what I found ...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"I don't know 'bout y'all but I consider the following to be an insult to
the group integrity (whatever that means).  These guys appear to be
institutionalizing one of our favorite "trips"!  Not only that, but doing
it from the shadows and working to give y'all a bad name! 

I don't know 'bout y'all but I'm pretty steamed about this.  I apologize 
for taking up bandwidth with the whole thing, but I think in this case 
you'll understand why."


Le Kielbasa Grande
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ObQoute:  "Jazz isn't dead.  It just smells funny!"  F. Zappa

*       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

Found on alt.mcdonalds 


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 Alt.syntax.tactical appears to be a clique of pre-pubescent morons
 who delight in "invading" newsgroups in an attempt to wreak havoc
 and cause distress to the regular posters to their intended targets.

 Their most recent excursion was into rec.pets.cats.  As you'll see
 from their so-called "FAQ", their "victory" conditions are pretty 
 nominal.  I haven't seen a single one of them with the ability to 
 "flame" their way out of a paper bag impregnated with gunpowder, 
 much less debate or express themselves with any degree of
 rhetorical competence.  Their goal is to be a nuisance, and this 
 they are able to accomplish without wit or substance.
 
 The first message was sent in an attempt to "recruit" me.  The
 second details their "FAQ".  The third is a mailing list of the members
 of this group. 
 

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 From antebi@chaph.usc.edu Thu Feb 10 03:48:04 1994
 Received: from chaph.usc.edu by metronet.com with SMTP id AA12144
  From: "J.A. Gaussardia" <antebi@scf.usc.edu]
 Message-Id: <199402100348.TAA16457@girtab.usc.edu]
 Subject: [.]
 To: xxx
 Date: Wed, 9 Feb 1994 19:48:04 -0800 (PST)
  
 Hello,

 Someone over at alt.bigfoot thought enough about your postings to give
 me your name. I've neither read any of your posts or know why he/she
 suggested you, so i'm just going to give you the basics and wait for a
 reply.
 
 I am part of a group who essentially invade unsuspecting newsgroups.
 We do extensive preparation and always send people in to act as
 "friends of the newsgroup". We then send in a number of different
 waves, each with a different set of people and goals. The end result
 is to send |] a newsgroup into total chaos, hopefully permanently.

 We are not alt.flame or alt.tasteless. The significant differences are
 that we don't use a newsgroup as a home base, so as to not draw
 attention.  And we also are very subtle in our form. We bring people
 into the loop because of skill more than obnoxiousness.

 If you are interested, let me know and I can let you know more.
 
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 From jpdavid@netcom.com Wed Feb 16 21:48:47 1994
 From: jpdavid@netcom.com (john kordic)
 Message-Id: <199402162148.NAA22027@mail.netcom.com]
 Subject: invasions!! :)
 To: xxx
 Date: Wed, 16 Feb 1994 13:48:47 -0800 (PST)
  
 Jeff asked me to forward the invasion faq, for our little party. enjoy...
  
                      The Invasion FAQ of A.S.T.

 Although not exactly a FAQ, this file is more of an explanation of
 why alt.syntax.tactical and the Tactical-List were created. It also
 lays down the foundation for the structure, strategy and protocol of
 usenet invasions.

                            * Invasion *

 Each of us brings our own reasons, backgrounds and motivations into
 this scheme. What is important is that each individual brings into
 this their own brand of inspired mischief. In someways it is completely
 innocent.

 In someways it is completely destructive.

 Anyone can walk into alt.sex and post that pornography should be
 banned. Anyone can walk into rec.sport.baseball and say "baseball
 sucks".

   It takes unbelievable skill and discipline to cause a PROLONGED
   flame war.
   That is what we do. But it can only be done with talent, and numbers
   to match that talent. We only bring into the fold people who have the
   knack to use smarts to incite chaos, not stupidity to incite being
ignored
   when people see a post and know what you're up to.

  To keep things running smoothly, Jeff (antebi@usc.edu) is our
 'moderator'. Dave (jpdavid@netcom.com) was responsible for creating the
 mailing-list and setting up the initial newsgroup. Everyone is equal
 in suggesting and voting on invasion sites and other basic day-to-day
 workings of the group. Everyone here gains or loses merit only in the
 invasion arena.
   
                * Waves of Invasion *
   
 Flames and wars between groups are as old as Usenet. What we do is
 in many ways fundamentally different from what is or has been done
 in this area.

 After picking a site, we call for an invasion on that site.  There are
 a number of phases to an invasion. Each person can volunteer for
 which wave they want to be in, but more times than not, it is a first
 come-first served policy. It is always important that no one jump the gun

 and go in before we have time to prepare and bounce ideas off each
 other. It's also important that people don't switch waves without letting

 everyone know.

 Flexibility is the key, as is communication.

 Typically, we use between two and five Waves of attack.  Waves will
 generally break down into this kind of structure:
   
    a: Reconnaissance (RECON): These people will go in early and usually
set
                        up camp as "friends of the newsgroup". They will
                        become trusted and participate by joining previous
                        discussions or starting non-controversial ones
                        themselves. They will also act as "double-agents"
                        to counter-flame the other waves as the invasion
                        progresses. They key is building a bit of
credibility.
  
   b: Wave One:         Wave one will usually be what starts the flame
war.
                        Those involved in this wave can go on and each
have
                        a different flame, or go on and flame in unison.
                        They can bring in a subject of their own or flame
a
                        previous discussion. What matters is that this 
                        initial wave will be the one that the invaded
newsgroup
                        will have their attention on. This wave calls for 
                        extreme subtlety. The quality of the flame MUST be
at
                        its highest point here.
  
  c: Wave Two:          Wave Two will consist of tactics to attack the
people
                        who were sent in as recon and attempt to start
totally
                        new flame threads. The key here is that even if we
                        attack a group of people restrained enough to
resist
                        our flame-bait, wave two will stir things up and
get
                        others to join in.
  
  d: Wave Three:        Wave three will generally change depending on the
                        campaign, but will generally be added to push the
                        confusion and chaos over the top. Flame the recon,
                        flame the first wave, flame the second wave. These
                        guys are our balls out, rude SOB's. Mop up and
clean
                        out. 
                        
                        Sometimes (usually with bigger groups) Wave three
                        will simply be along the lines of a wave two. We
will
                        call for a wave four (or five) to be the balls out
                        routine. We will sometimes add a wave or two
because
                        depending on the size and intelligence of a
newsgroup.

  Miscellaneous Tactics:
 
 There are three other things that we typically use, depending
 on the sophistication of the invasion.
 
 LOOSE CANNONS are people who come in and act so strange and obtuse
 that it makes the rest of the flames look genuine. 
 
 THE ANON SERVICE can be used to send posts anonymously. This is a good 
 way to post and pretend to be scared of retribution. Only problem is
 that this is usually the first sign that a post is a flame, so it should 
 only be used with a TREMENDOUS amount of DISCRETION.
 
 CROSS POSTING is also a popular method of choice by other flame
 groups, so it is important to Cross Post with discretion. If we can 
 cross post to bring in other newsgroups to unwittingly assist us,
perfect. 
 If we crosspost to suspicious newsgroups, our intentions will be obvious.

                        * Victory  
 
      Ideally, signs of victory are the following:

 o Our names appear in killfiles
 o Majority or ALL threads in invaded newsgroup were started by us      
 o Regulars/legit people abandon invaded newsgroup
 o Receiver much hate mail - as does our SysAdmin
 o Recruit the untrained to become talented flame 'artists'

                        * Notes *

 Most important is the need to be SUBTLE when it is required. One
 misplaced post can ruin it for the rest of us. Those of you who have
 participated in widespread flame wars know the feeling of having a
 newsgroup going for a long time, then someone posts an obvious flame
 or something so far out of context, that everyone says to just ignore
 the flames, which eventually includes all of us. Blowing a flame war
 will occasionally happen, but if it could have been avoided with a
 little thinking, then it's not as excusable.

 We've got to share duties. Everyone should get practice playing
 different roles and different waves.

 It has been assumed that if you don't want to participate, fine. No
 one will hold it against you. What is expected is that if you don't
 want to participate you don't have to, but that also means that you
 wont go warning that newsgroup when an invasion happens. You will
 close your eyes and turn a blind eye. NO NEWSGROUP IS OFF
 LIMITS!!!!!!

 Another thing many people seem to be talking about are SIGS AND
 NAMES.  Try to take on appropriate names. If you are on alt.rap, D.J.
 Trouble is not going to stir things up...if you show up on
 soc.culture.physics with that name, you're caught before your first
 word of text.  If a Sig is going to blow your cover, lose it. 

 Official Kudos:
 We officially acknowledge Robert Trent's brilliance with the Lefty
 Award for his inspired genius in the invasion of Rec.Pets.Cats.

 Also receiving kudos: Wild Bill and Dewme.

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 From jpdavid@netcom.com Fri Feb 18 19:55:57 1994
 Received: from mail.netcom.com (netcom7.netcom.com) by metronet.com
 with SMTP id AA20520
   (5.67a/IDA1.5hp for <xxx@metronet.com]); Fri, 18 Feb 1994
 14:00:55 -0600
 Return-Path: <jpdavid@netcom.com]
 Received: from localhost by mail.netcom.com (8.6.4/SMI-4.1/Netcom)
        id LAA18777; Fri, 18 Feb 1994 11:56:00 -0800
 From: jpdavid@netcom.com (john kordic)
 Message-Id: <199402181956.LAA18777@mail.netcom.com]
 Subject: one for the road
 To: tactical-list@netcom.com
 Date: Fri, 18 Feb 1994 11:55:57 -0800 (PST)
 X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.4 PL23]
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 Status: RO
 
 I have a couple of new guys added to the list: naql, and brotman.
 May the next invasion wreak havoc on many innocent civilians.
 
 the updated list: 
 jpdavid@netcom.com (Dave, John Kordic)
 trent@mprgate.mpr.ca (Robert Trent)
 lefty@iastate.edu (Lefty)
 sdew@tulip.usd.edu (Dewme)
 bill@suntan.vid.ilstu.edu (Wild Bill)
 rbowers@mcvax.csusb.edu (?)
 domet@ucbeh.san.uc.edu (Luke)
 grossy@netcom.com (Grossy)- Doug Weber
 slis.rbc@ncdcr.ncdcr.gov (St. Bob)
 dtroop@netcom.com (Jon-Boy)
 antebi@scf.usc.edu (Rev. Antebi)
 lynchsp@NeXTwork.Rose-Hulman.edu (Flat4)
 nc-cah@equalizer.cray.com (Hooten)
 EOCZKO31@MAINE.CAPS.MAINE.EDU (Alex)
 brotman@netcom.com (Yzer-GOD)
 wilf@sce.carleton.ca (Wilf - say no more!)

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Subject: A.B.O.I. Ignore the flamers (jumpin' jack/tommy gunn, etc...) (fwd)
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