Ayn Rand Institute behind social media to promote helping "refugees" (1 Viewer)

[Natan]

Apparently following conspiracy (?) is doing the rounds in Germany, that US think tanks are creating social media (Twitter) profiles to promote helping "refugees".

Apparently the site https://randomuser.me/ is used to create some of the profiles. As illustrated, some profiles have same profile pic but different name.

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/russia/comments/3jqat0/us_based_ayn_rand_institute_runs_a_website_that/
German link (use Google translate): https://morbusignorantia.wordpress.com/2015/09/24/linke-gutmenschen-oder-us-agenturen/

 

[DDD]

Can anyone summarize what this is about?

 

[zyzygy]

Apparently tanks are creating social media.

 

[Natan]

Can anyone summarize what this is about?

Ayn Rand Institute promoting refugee smuggling, a still highly illegal activitity that has already landed some social justice activists (or whatever) in jail. Leftwing German politicians are already pushing for helping refugees without requesting financial compensation to become no longer a criminal offense. For a US think tank to become involved in a highly criminal activity in Europe and have destructive politics towards us should be no laughing matter.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayn_Rand_Institute

 

[zyzygy]

Blog, Wikipedia and a random user generator. Convincing proof.

 

[Natan]

Blog, Wikipedia and a random user generator. Convincing proof.

Is this the "conspiracy theory forum" or "the penultimate truth with undeniable proofs provided forum"?

 

[zyzygy]

Is this the "conspiracy theory forum" or "the penultimate truth with undeniable proofs provided forum"?

So you have no real proof. Understood.

 

[Natan]

You can do a whois.net query yourself, currently much the same data occurs but registrant organization has changed to "The Escape Institute".

So you have no real proof. Understood.

What did you expect? Get lost from this forum if you expect any.

 

[zyzygy]

You can do a whois.net query yourself, currently much the same data occurs but registrant organization has changed to "The Escape Institute".


What did you expect? Get lost from this forum if you expect any.

I'll stick around. It's not your forum. If you find any real proof of these accusations then feel free to present it here.

 

[Natan]

Finally found an English language link detailing a bit more what this is about:

UPDATE: Who is behind the Peng! Collective and their Fluchthelfer.in campaign? | ROOTS MESSENGER

 

[zyzygy]

From that link

'So even though these hints might show, that Ayn Rand Institute IS NOT behind this “prank” it is still worth paying some critical attention to their agenda as you can see further below."

 

[Natan]

'So even though these hints might show, that Ayn Rand Institute IS NOT behind this “prank” it is still worth paying some critical attention to their agenda as you can see further below."

Ha. "The Escape Institute” doesn't exist at that non-existent address in San Diego, CA (or any address at all). The change should give you a clue they ARE behind this and changed when found out.

 

[zyzygy]

A blog about two pranksters. Hardly world shaking news.

 

[Natan]

Thanks for your opinion, Mr. Yaron Brook.

 

[DDD]

Ayn Rand Institute promoting refugee smuggling, a still highly illegal activitity that has already landed some social justice activists (or whatever) in jail. Leftwing German politicians are already pushing for helping refugees without requesting financial compensation to become no longer a criminal offense. For a US think tank to become involved in a highly criminal activity in Europe and have destructive politics towards us should be no laughing matter.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayn_Rand_Institute

From the link above:

The Ayn Rand Institute (ARI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit think tank in Irvine, California that promotes Ayn Rand's philosophy, Objectivism. It was established in 1985, three years after Rand's death, by Leonard Peikoff, Rand's legal heir. Its executive director is Yaron Brook.

ARI's stated goal is:

. . . to spearhead a cultural renaissance that will reverse the anti-reason, anti-individualism, anti-freedom, anti-capitalist trends in today's culture. The major battleground in this fight for reason and capitalism is the educational institutions—high schools and, above all, the universities, where students learn the ideas that shape their lives.

Since Objectivism advocates atheism, ARI promotes the separation of church and state, and its writers argue that the Religious Right poses a threat to individual rights.[32] They have argued against displaying religious symbols (such as the Ten Commandments) in government facilities[33] and against faith-based initiatives.[34] The institute argues that religion is incompatible with American ideals[35] and opposes the teaching of "intelligent design" in public schools

And especially:

Islam and the War on Terror

ARI has taken many controversial positions with respect to the Muslim world. They hold that the motivation for Islamic terrorism comes from their religiosity, not poverty or a reaction to Western policies.[37] They have urged that the US use overwhelming, retaliatory force to "end states who sponsor terrorism", using whatever means are necessary to end the threat.[38] In his article "Ends States Who Sponsor Terrorism", which was published as a full page ad in The New York Times, Peikoff wrote, "The choice today is mass death in the United States or mass death in the terrorist nations. Our Commander-In-Chief must decide whether it is his duty to save Americans or the governments who conspire to kill them." Although some at ARI initially supported the invasion of Iraq, it has criticized how the Iraq War was handled.[39] Since October 2, 2001, the institute has held that Iran should be the primary target in the war against "Islamic totalitarianism".[38]

Which does not really supports the claims made.

But speaking of which, the following seems hypocritical:

ARI is generally supportive of Israel.[40] Of Zionism, executive director of the institute Yaron Brook writes: "Zionism fused a valid concern – self-preservation amid a storm of hostility – with a toxic premise – ethnically based collectivism and religion."

So no to religion as far as Christians and Muslims go, but should the issue be about Israel then yes to Zionism and "collectivism and religion?"

 

[Ben K.]

Why on Earth would an American libertarian think tank want to promote Islamic immigration into Europe? Even the most bizarre conspiracy theories try to pose a credible motive.

 

[Natan]

Why on Earth would an American libertarian think tank want to promote Islamic immigration into Europe? Even the most bizarre conspiracy theories try to pose a credible motive.

I don't know. I'm just posting the info. It DOES seem to be the case that they're behind this, from the whois query earlier. As to why, I don't know but would like to know.

 

[zyzygy]

Thanks for your opinion, Mr. Yaron Brook.

Never heard of him.

 

[zyzygy]

I don't know. I'm just posting the info. It DOES seem to be the case that they're behind this, from the whois query earlier. As to why, I don't know but would like to know.

Info?

 

[Natan]

Apparently tanks are creating social media.

it's not exactly a "conspiracy theory" that the US manipulates social media. This is from The Guardian:

Revealed: US spy operation that manipulates social media
Military's 'sock puppet' software creates fake online identities to spread pro-American propaganda

Revealed: US spy operation that manipulates social media | Technology | The Guardian

But keep sticking your head into the sand. As to whether the Ayn Rand Institute is into the same business, I don't know, but it looks like it.

 

[zyzygy]

Be like me. Tale no notice of social media. Don't believe everything that you read.

 

[Natan]

Some more info on ARI's position on immigration:

ARI on Immigration

Yaron Brook on Immigration Policy 2 - Ayn Rand Institute - Video Dailymotion

 

[zyzygy]

Some more info on ARI's position on immigration:

ARI on Immigration

How many people believe ARI? It doesn't seem to be a huge problem. The internet is full of nonsense.

 

[zyzygy]

Some more info on ARI's position on immigration:

ARI on Immigration

Yaron Brook on Immigration Policy 2 - Ayn Rand Institute - Video Dailymotion

That has nothing to do with European immigration.

 

[Natan]

How many people believe ARI? It doesn't seem to be a huge problem. The internet is full of nonsense.

If only a few of these people become indoctrinated, it could become a huge problem.

Out of its Washington, DC office ARI regularly hosts what it calls “educational briefings” for Congressional staffers. According to ARI’s Impact newsletter of July 2013: “Through these briefings, we introduce congressional aides and assistants to Ayn Rand’s moral principles, we indicate how to apply those ideas to current issues and we stress the real-world impact of approaching policy issues from the framework of Rand’s philosophic thought.”
ARI on Immigration