Agent provocateur

[RandiFan1290]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agent_provocateur

An agent provocateur (plural: agents provocateurs) is a person assigned to provoke unrest, violence, debate, or argument by or within a group while acting as a member of the group but covertly representing the interests of another. In general, agents provocateurs seek to secretly disrupt a group's activities from within the group.

[NVMojo]

1. got any suspects?

[RandiFan1290]

2. Oh yeah I have a list.

I am kind of new around here and don't want to start too much trouble. I just want people to read this and keep it in mind.

[Skidmore]

3. Care to share?

[bryant69]

4. Nothing like a witch hunt eh?

I mean that always brings a community together.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[klook]

6. "I have here in my hand a list of 205 people

that were known to the Moderators as being members of the Republican Party, and who, nevertheless, are still working and shaping the policy of DU."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_McCarthy

[bryant69]

11. You get it from a secret pumpkin?

[LibertyLou]

5. Man, this is the 60's and 70's all over again...

Folks would do well to read up on 'COINTELPRO'

The counter-intelligence program with actively subverted rights of speech, assembly, press...against Americans...by framing, killing, slandering, smearing, provacations, etc.

[applegrove]

7. I wonder about the thread titles that qualify our discussion of the issues

as "let's use this" or "talking points" or "let's spin". I know some are real DUers who are just parroting the GOP. But some .... ?

[petronius]

8. Darn it - I thought this was a Kylie Minogue thread

Oh well, carry on then...

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. Though that's not the dictionary definition

Merriam-Webster: "one employed to associate with suspected persons and by pretending sympathy with their aims to incite them to some incriminating action"

WordNet: "a secret agent who incites suspected persons to commit illegal acts"

You describe a disruptor. The dictionary definitions (which are the only use of the phrase I've heard) are about someone who tries to get people to go further than they otherwise would, so that they can be caught and punished. Quite different things. The second paragraph of the Wikipedia entry does agree with the dictionary.

[txaslftist]

10. "Paranoia strikes deep. Into your heart it will creep."

:tinfoilhat: