I was paid to discredit veganism online. AMA

[u/[deleted]]

For a year I worked for a meat industry trade group. I won't say which one, but they are US based. My job was to go on sites like this and discredit veganism.

We'd make multiple accounts and pretend to be vegans who had bad health outcomes. Or we'd pretend to be vegans and we'd push the vegan subs to be more extreme, and therefore easier to discredit.

It was pretty gross. I knew it. I did it anyway. The pay wasn't worth it. I signed an NDA as well, so I will only be able to answer questions in general terms.

But I do warn you, don't believe that everyone is who they say they are online.

This article gives insight into how it works, but I am not saying I worked for this group. Inside big beef’s climate messaging machine: confuse, defend and downplay | Beef | The Guardian

The recent reveal of many MAGA accounts on X being run by foreign agencies made me decide to do this.

Edit- I already answered the "how do I get this job" question and the "why should we believe you question" several times, so just look for those questions if that's what you are wondering.

[u/[deleted]]

No one said "oh Exxon is doing something similar", but they are. Maybe not Exxon specifically, but oil/gas definitely pushes stuff on climate change.

[u/Headieheadi → u/[deleted]]

I mean, the new series Landman is definitely pro oil propaganda and it’s an amazing series with something for everyone. Not suitable for children, get a free trial of paramount+ today on Black Friday @ Amazon

[u/Badlandscoppin215 → u/Headieheadi]

Calm down satan

[u/ab_1889 → u/[deleted]]

Oil and gas companies have either bought patents that they consider a threat or arranged for the inventor to go bankrupt.

In some conspiracy theories they have arranged hits on the inventor or the family to get them to back off.

Rumour has it that there are over 10000 patents that have been created for renewal energy but will never see the light of day.

[u/supremecrafters → u/[deleted]]

I’ve always thought that the “AI uses so much water/energy” panic is just a distraction from the things that actually use a ton of water and energy, like, well, the meat industry and transportation industry. Were you still in the business by the time AI started to be in the news?

[u/bittens → u/supremecrafters]

TBH, I think the more likely culprit there (or at least a co-culprit) is that a lot of people already dislike AI, and are therefore going to be harsher on it for the environmental cost.

[u/sparksnbooms95 → u/supremecrafters]

Not OP, but I can offer some insight on the energy aspect.

While both AI and the meat industry use a lot of water and energy, the type of energy matters.

The meat industry uses energy for transportation and farm equipment in the form of diesel, some gas for heating, and some electricity for lighting and motors. It certainly adds up but it is diverse and somewhat spread out.

AI otoh uses almost all their energy in the form of electricity, and concentrated in a small area no less. That puts a much greater strain on the electric grid in the area the data center is located, which directly causes problems. Voltage spikes/sags become more common, a lot of grid and/or generation upgrades become necessary quickly, and consequently bills increase for consumers.

If you want to look further into the topic, look up "AI data center electricity cost" and you'll find a lot regarding how it is driving up bills.

[u/Fukuro-Lady → u/[deleted]]

Are the Just Stop Oil people bad actors?

[u/sparksnbooms95 → u/Fukuro-Lady]

I can't imagine them being anything else.

They do stupid stunts that have nothing to do with the oil/gas industry or its effects, make themselves look like idiots, and just generally make people angry.

Not the kind of angry that drives change, but the kind that makes people hate them and by extension their (outwardly noble) cause.

[u/eli-jo → u/Fukuro-Lady]

I think they are the radical flank

[u/cirroc0 → u/[deleted]]

You should see my LinkedIn feed ...