book burning party looks like something Discordians would do

[The Good Reverend Roger]

All I know is that I got away with my response to the Taylor Swift thing, because Nigel wasn't here and the page moved on.

Don't worry, I'll quote the post sometime she's around.

You wouldn't.

[kingyak]

It sounds like you feel it was "unfair" to keep people who would have enjoyed being part of the stunt "out of the circle of cool kids" pulling the gag.

Not quite, but the first part is in the ballpark. It's not so much that they're not allowed in on the prank as that there's no way for those who do their due diligence to find out what's really going on before they start screeching about something that, as presented, deserves to be screeched about.

[Cain]

Sure there is.  They could ask the event organisers if they are serious, or if they are using hyperbolic rhetoric to make a point.

[kingyak]

does your dilemma come from if its ok to manipulate people for good things?

a type of means dont justify ends?

It's more about the people being manipulated than the manipulation itself. I'm perfectly ok with manipulating the people who are willing to give up their library for a small tax cut AND the people who came to the page and started screaming about book burning without ever bothering to look beyond the sign and the surface of the FB page. Just seems like there were probably at least a few people who Did Everything Right (TM) and still ended up making jackasses of themselves anyway. 

And I think I mentioned before that in this case, I think the ends justified the means.

[kingyak]

Sure there is.  They could ask the event organisers if they are serious, or if they are using hyperbolic rhetoric to make a point.

True, but that still requires some indication that they're nos serious, and line between hyperbolic rhetoric and rhetoric these days is pretty thin.

[The Johnny]

cant keep everyone happy, if they let people know it was exageration with a plan... howmlong till a jackass ruined the operation?

[ñͤͣ̄ͦ̌̑͗͊͛͂͗ ̸̨̨̣̺̼̣̜͙͈͕̮̊̈́̈͂͛̽͊ͭ̓͆ͅé ̰̓̓́ͯ́́͞]

In this summers thrilling suspense movie, where a posters nebulous insights towards the ethics of mindfucking bring about internal conflict and mutual accusations of trolling...

"The dullest tools in the toolshed failed to put 2 and 2 together!"



"And people USED them!"



C O M I N G    T O    A    F O R U M    N E A R    Y O U
S T A R R I N G
kingyak

[The Johnny]

    

[LMNO]

All I know is that I got away with my response to the Taylor Swift thing, because Nigel wasn't here and the page moved on.

Don't worry, I'll quote the post sometime she's around.

You wouldn't.

Just try me, old man.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

All I know is that I got away with my response to the Taylor Swift thing, because Nigel wasn't here and the page moved on.

Don't worry, I'll quote the post sometime she's around.

You wouldn't.

Just try me, old man.

Yeah.  But first I have to finally get around to filming something.

TGRR,
Nuclear Option, Dare Me To Drive?

[Freeky]

In this summers thrilling suspense movie, where a posters nebulous insights towards the ethics of mindfucking bring about internal conflict and mutual accusations of trolling...

"The dullest tools in the toolshed failed to put 2 and 2 together!"



"And people USED them!"



C O M I N G    T O    A    F O R U M    N E A R    Y O U
S T A R R I N G
kingyak

omg


can't breathe



omg

[kingyak]

Wow, I didn't realize I was that upset about it. I really need to learn to control my temper.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

I basically agree with everything you guys are saying, and once again I think the end justifies the means in this particular case. I'm even fine with "tricking" the people who scream first, ask questions never. I just would have like to have seen some way (maybe a link somewhere in the "about" section or something) for the people who try to actually make sure they're informed on an issue before howling about it to get in on the joke. Otherwise, it's kind  of like writing a mystery novel where the killer is someone who isn't introduced until the final chapter. Also, as I said in my original post, I think it's a bad sign that this level of propaganda is required for something as seemingly obvious as keeping a library from shutting down.

DIG IN

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Go ahead, pull the other one.  Next you'll be telling me that Taylor Swift's popularity isn't soley based on her songwriting skills and vocal ability.

Balls.  She's the next Nina Simone.

BLASPHEMY!!!

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

"Informed"?  Like, "are they really going to burn books"?  That's... silly.

The information was out there.  This signs said, [paraphrase] "Vote to close the library on the 20th.  Book burning party on the 23rd".  The connection was there from the start.  You're saying that the voters needed their hands held.

Maybe our difference here is geographical. Where I live, the likelihood of a sign like that meaning exactly what it says is at least as high (and probably a little higher) than it being a clever propaganda tool.

Wait, what?  Your point is that the signs didn't reflect their intentions?


Their point is that if the library closes, you may as well burn the books.  Which is exactly what their signs said.


Are you mad at their use of nuance?

Until the reveal, there wasn't any way to know for sure that nuance existed.

You know, when I've been had

and had in a way that sways me

the reveal lends me greater respect for the ones who pulled it off, and not a sense of betrayal.