Thought-police is here

[Scurrilous]

Rona Kuperboim slams Foreign Ministry’s plan to hire pro-Israel talkbackers

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3744516,00.html

<snip>

"The Foreign Ministry unveiled a new plan this week: Paying talkbackers to post pro-Israel responses on websites worldwide. A total of NIS 600,000 (roughly $150,000) will be earmarked to the establishment of an “Internet warfare” squad.

The Foreign Ministry intends to hire young people who speak at least one language and who study communication, political science, or law – or alternately, Israelis with military experience gained at units dealing with information analysis.

Beyond the fact that these job requirements reveal a basic lack of understanding in respect to the dynamics of the online discourse – the project’s manager argued that “adults don’t know how to blog” – they are not too relevant either. An effective talkbacker does not need a law degree or military experience. He merely needs to care about the subject he writes about.

The sad truth is that had Israeli citizens believed that their State is doing the right thing, they would have made sure to explain it out of their own accord. Without being paid.

Foreign Ministry officials are fighting what they see as a terrible and scary monster: the Palestinian public relations monster. Yet nothing can be done to defeat it, regardless of how many foolish inventions will be introduced and how many bright communication students will be hired.

The reason is that good PR cannot make the reality in the occupied territories prettier. Children are being killed, homes are being bombed, and families are starved. Yet nonetheless, the Foreign Ministry wants to try to change the situation. And they have willing partners. “Where do I submit a CV?” wrote one respondent. “I’m fluent in several languages and I’m able to spew forth bullshit for hours on end."

[UndertheOcean]

1. "who speak at least one language " ?

who doesn't .

[LeftishBrit]

3. I suppose it may be intended to exclude Bush and Palin?

[UndertheOcean]

2. "Error: You can't recommend threads from this forum "

that's a shame

[pelsar]

4. can i quit my day job? n/t

[Violet_Crumble]

5. Hey, you can moonlight while you keep yr day job. That's the beauty of surfing the net!

You'd only be in trouble if you had a draconian employer like mine who has a filter set up that blocks places like DU, Facebook, ebay, youtube, just about anywhere that's worth surfing to during a lull in the working day....

I'd be so into doing this online paid talbacking, but unfortunately I'm only kind of semifluent in English and nothing else. Oh, well...

[pelsar]

7. welll i've been told..

that my english sucks especially...when it comes to spelling "Palestinian."...probably get me disqualified in writing about the I/P conflict.....(though i have learned to use the spell checker...)

[LeftishBrit]

6. PULLLEASE don't give our politicians in the UK the idea!

Or maybe please do. It would be one way of dealing with unemployment, I suppose.

Spin over substance; everyone a spin doctor. Sounds like New Labour or Cameron's Tories.

Spin-doctoring for Avigdor Lieberman looks like a particularly thankless job!

[azurnoir]

8. They're planning on?

well that's news, I see a career for a couple of folks here:P