Re:Open source ‘protestware’ harms Open Source
by dmos62 on Friday March 25, 2022 @04:49AM
(#30799875)
> Put another way, I think being neutral and silent by default is a necessary defense against manipulation.
I can sympathize with the sense of confusion, but this is one of the principal purposes of information warfare. When successful it does one of following things:
1. disengages people who would otherwise be opposed;
2. sows doubt and division;
3. makes people believe the propaganda is true.
We often fixate on #3, but #1 and #2 are the principal goals of today's information warfare, because they're much easier to achieve. When the other side's population doesn't know what to think, you're in a great position. It's effectively demobilizing the enemy.
I can sympathize with the sense of confusion, but this is one of the principal purposes of information warfare. When successful it does one of following things:
1. disengages people who would otherwise be opposed;
2. sows doubt and division;
3. makes people believe the propaganda is true.
We often fixate on #3, but #1 and #2 are the principal goals of today's information warfare, because they're much easier to achieve. When the other side's population doesn't know what to think, you're in a great position. It's effectively demobilizing the enemy.