Thanks to a user for calling this term to attention. It’s going on full force right now.
I think a way to counteract it is to call attention to the debates and/or good things from the other side.
There is one thing that is absolutely certain about throwing a dead cat on the dining room table – and I don’t mean that people will be outraged, alarmed, disgusted. That is true, but irrelevant. The key point, says my Australian friend, is that everyone will shout, “Jeez, mate, there’s a dead cat on the table!” In other words, they will be talking about the dead cat – the thing you want them to talk about – and they will not be talking about the issue that has been causing you so much grief.[1]
I’ve always called that the “look at the distraction!” strategy, but I like the cat one better.
It’s super appropriate for the times right now too. They’re using the immigrants eating cats to do it.
