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Don’t defend, attack.
Never admit to being wrong about anything. Never concede that the movement has ever made a mistake. We no longer advertise the principle that we are the only legitimate government of Ireland but we do conduct ourselves in all affairs with a respect for this fundamental truth, no one knows better than we do what the nature of conflict is here and where the arc of history - our destiny - is taking us.
The best way in which you can serve our inevitable destiny is to scoff at those who doubt it. Treat their opinions as unworthy. In fact, do not engage with their arguments. Treat them as fools at best and more likely as liars and propagandists.
Instead of discussing the self evident truths that the nation is one and that the movement is the unwavering champion of that truth, attack their motives for denying it.
It is obvious why unionists cling to the fantasy that the Union with Britain can endure. They are colonial lackies behaving like children squealing when their comfort blanket is ripped away from them.
When their ancestors went to other countries they became nationals of those countries. They are now Americans and Australians and English. But here they thought they could remain British and carved out a corner of the country for themselves at the expense of the rest of us.
Well their time is running out.
But, ask yourself, why do some journalists and commentators sneer at republicans?
These are professional lackies of the unionist system. Remember, when they appear on the Nolan Show or in the papers, they are getting paid to say what they say. These are not their genuine opinions you hear. Indeed some of them are such spineless parrots that they don’t have opinions.
So tell them what you think of them, that they are gutless hypocrites and worse. They are traitors to the Republic.
The Republic is the ultimate destiny of a free Ireland. Pearse didn’t invent the idea. He recognised it as a fundamental truth. OK, don’t get into that argument or they will think you are being a bit mystical but remember, there is no alternative vision of Irish destiny that makes any sense.
In terms of tactics and approaches there are devices you need to deploy.
First, hide your identity. Make up a pseudonym or handle.
The party can advise you if you can’t think of one.
It is preferable to use a name that sounds cool and witty and at the same time Irish. Think modern Ireland. To be Gaelic is to be cool. But avoid the leprechaun, floppy green hat, Finn MacCool and shamrock stuff. Our project is not to be thought folksy or chauvinistic.
You will need several of these names because you will be setting up new accounts frequently. This is guerrilla warfare. We attack and retreat, regroup and attack again.
For example, if Jamie Bryson has said something outrageous on the Nolan show, use a new account to go after him. Just insult him. Don’t offer him the thread of an argument he can come back on.
Your comrades will be alert to the new account and will come on board as followers.
If Bryson checks your followers and sees that you only have five or six, he will ignore it. Likewise, you should watch out for your comrades' new identities and get in behind them.
And the beauty of it is that if Bryson then reacts he will bring your tweet to the attention of the thousands who follow him.
Don’t hold back, but remember it is always better to tell him that he is a dumb, proddy squirt than to say anything which accords any dignity to his position.
If you say something like, for instance, ‘Jamie, how will you preserve the Union when the demographics are against you?’ you are providing him with an opening.
He will say, ‘So it is about ethnic conquest, after all is it?’ And then you have to answer that and you have a debate going. And when there is a debate, you can lose.
You have to belittle him, not provide him with a platform. The objective is to make him tire of social media, to feel that it is always going to be a disheartening uphill struggle to be taken seriously.
What you want is for him to wake up some morning feeling that it is no longer worth the trouble to go back on twitter and face tons of abuse. That is our victory. And not just Jamie, but all of the turncoats and lickspittles.
If you get someone to refuse Nolan because it is simply too wearisome and demoralising to face another day of derision and scorn, that is a victory.
Be alert to those who will accuse the republican family of past atrocities. Don’t engage on their ground. Suppose someone says, what about all the children you sent out with bombs who blew themselves up? The worst response would be: ‘We were a young movement, finding our way and we made mistakes.’ No, it’s better to hit back with, ‘Have a bit more compassion for their grieving families. Anyway, What about the youngsters the Brits sent out with guns that were too big for them?’ It is never to be about our failings but about theirs.
Remember at all times that you are a party activist deploying techniques of counter propaganda that have been developed by professionals. These techniques have been tested and they work. If you doubt that, then look at how inept the commentariat are.
They have a simple weapon that they can use against you. All they need to do is block you. But they are so befuddled by their notions of free speech and liberal discourse and other blather they picked up in sociology seminars that they think they have a duty to allow you to attack them. It’s really quite funny but they don’t think strategically.
They are so full of themselves they don’t see that they have made themselves Aunt Sallies for the movement, until one day they do and they give up.
First and foremost, comrades, enjoy your baiting of these fools, then go about your lives with pride and satisfaction in the knowledge that they could walk past you on the street and they wouldn’t even know that you were the one that led the charge against them that morning.
Post Script
Since I wrote this, I realised that there is probably another piece of advice the trolls work by, that I could have included: don't engage, if there is nothing in it for us.
For example: During the week someone tweeted a tribute to a Fian who had died 'on active service' at 16. I interjected to say that I thought all the paramilitaries should be shamed for having sent youngsters to their deaths. I got a couple back saying, 'Ah but the Brits recruit them at 16 - that's just as bad'. But for the most part the mob that usually gathers round to sneer stayed away, presumably to avoid drawing attention to an embarrassing part of their history.
⏭ Malachi O'Doherty is a writer and Broadcaster. His latest book is Fifty Years On.
For example: During the week someone tweeted a tribute to a Fian who had died 'on active service' at 16. I interjected to say that I thought all the paramilitaries should be shamed for having sent youngsters to their deaths. I got a couple back saying, 'Ah but the Brits recruit them at 16 - that's just as bad'. But for the most part the mob that usually gathers round to sneer stayed away, presumably to avoid drawing attention to an embarrassing part of their history.
⏭ Malachi O'Doherty is a writer and Broadcaster. His latest book is Fifty Years On.
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