What better way to reach a lot of people with your message, people already interested in a particular issue, perhaps even predisposed to a particular outcome. For example, if I had a company getting into the performance auto-parts business, by targeting a couple of dozen hot-rod hobbyist websites, you could have access to immense numbers of potential customers, all of them interested in spending money. Its a lot more cost-effective than phony letters-to-the-editors of Auto Sport magazines.

The same goes for people with a religious message, and certainly a political one. The example of a pro-Israeli propaganda operation is quite plausible (as is a pro-Palestinian one).

And of course, the websearch engines can disseminate the links far and wide.

A conmpany organized to do this on a mass scale could easily peddle this to customers interested in using their services to generate grass roots support. It would be cheap (workers would use their own computers), and all the consultant would have to provide is training and targets, and perhaps some guidance as to topics. A small amount of supervision could ensure by spot-checks that the workers were doing their job properly, all handled from the home office.

The Zone used to be perfect for this. What better way to reach large numbers of people in, or interested in, space tech; or perhaps persuade others what people in that field or industry were actually thinking? It would be ideal for propaganda, and counter-propaganda (frustrating similar operations from your opponents and competitors.

Remember, it doesn't actually have to work. All you have to do is convince your client it IS working, or that it MIGHT work.

This particular example does have a sort of anomalistic aura to it (puppet masters controlling us through the internet, etc), but the idea is sound, and for some applications it might even work. Even the idea that Mossad is trying to manipulate US public opinion on Israel is now out on the net, and on Google. This could be a sophisticated defensive operation from the other side.

I used to work in PR, although we worked in the open, not surreptitiously. I agree with the writer how you have a tendency to get emotionally involved in the message, and enjoy correcting (and demolishing) your critics and skeptics, because you are so much better prepared than they are. This has the ring of truth to it. Its just the sort of thing some young executive would propose at a policy session, and run up the flagpole to see if anyone saluted.