Thread by @TheRealAlice333

A little *THREAD* about #Discernment :

1. It is a FACT that bad actors are out there, posing as "friendlies"; to control/shift the narrative, distract/disrupt... and also to lure survivors/victims back to their handlers. How can we tell?

2. We can't tell for certain, unless they openly admit it. So discernment is key. We all have to decide for ourselves what is true for us individually, and what is not. What I look for, personally, are patterns of BEHAVIOR. And this is with all interactions.

3. Does the person claim to stand for one set of principles, yet consistently exhibit behavior that sharply contrasts with what I know to be true of those principles? If I see it once, I can dismiss it. More than that, it's a pattern.

4. Does the person attack others who question them or react in a disproportionately emotional way to a simple statement of an opposing viewpoint? Bad actors will exhibit patterns of this behavior.

5. Does the person twist/ distort another's words in an extreme way, changing the meaning without first asking if that was in fact what the person actually meant to begin with? Look for patterns of this behavior... it is telltale.

6. Does the person "talk around" other people within a group instead of speaking to them directly, especially when disagreeing with them? This is the first stage of triangulation, and it is a psychological TACTIC.

7. Does the person attack others or overreact and then immediately play the victim, or even adopt an air of moral superiority, depending on the reactions to their extreme behavior? There will be patterns of this, too.

8. Does the person make you feel confused or off-balance with abrupt shifts in their tone, intensity or seem to say one thing and then say something totally opposite directly afterward?

9. Does the person feign innocence or change the subject or attack credibility of anyone who addresses the confusing behavior? "Close the subject" rather than resolving the issue?

10. All of these behaviors are things that everyone should look out for, in daily life. Some are simply defensive behaviors that everyone will employ at some point. What you're looking for are patterns.

11. Patterns can be repeated instances of the same behavior, or clusters of multiple behaviors. If I personally see either happening more than once, it is a clear sign that I am dealing with a bad actor. As a survivor, it is extremely important to identify.

12. However, manipulative tactics aren't good for anyone, in any circumstances, and manipulators are VERY good at what they do. They seek to subvert and control, regardless of agenda. As a race of beings, we've been subverted enough.

13. Again, only you can decide what your truth is. Trust in yourself is paramount. But knowing things to look out for can be helpful as we find our individual paths to #Discernment and personal #Truth.
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@threadreaderapp kindly unroll, please.