Ratfucking
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Ratfucking is an American slang term for political sabotage or dirty tricks. It was first brought to public attention by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein in their book All The President's Men.
Former Committee to Re-elect the President staffer Donald Segretti told the authors, during their investigation of activities leading to the Watergate break-in on June 17, 1972, of a program of orchestrated political sabotage by supporters of Richard Nixon against Nixon's political opponents. These included, but were not limited to, cancelling meeting-hall reservations just prior to rallies, releasing false press releases or "leaked documents" in the name of political opponents, spying on rival campaigns, stuffing ballot boxes, ordering vast quantities of food for delivery in the name of rival campaigns, conducting deceptive or offensive get out the vote phone canvasses, push polls, and similar activities.
There is a fine line between this type of political sabotage and more clever political pranks, such as those practiced by Dick Tuck, who was perhaps the model who drove Nixon to hiring agents against his opponents.
Apparently the term originated in surfer culture for tricks on the waves causing a surfer to fall. The term was coyly taken by Ed "Big Daddy" Roth for his cartoon character Rat Fink, who had the letters "R.F." on his chest. Those in the know would realize that the name really meant this term.
[edit] College Prank
Also refers to a Caltech prank in which a dead rat is dipped in liquid nitrogen and then thrown into someone's room, whereupon the shattered rat carcass will thaw. Usually abbreviated "RF", it is now mostly used in the term non-RF-able, signifying which items may not be the target of a prank by another member of the Caltech community. The most famous example of a non-RF-able item is the Fleming Cannon.
[edit] Usage in the US Military
Ratfucking is the term dubbed by Army Soldiers (possibly other branches) in reference to MREs (Meals Ready-To-Eat). It is the process of opening a case of MREs, which there are twelve to a box, and opening up individual MRE packages, removing the items they desire (generally M&M's or other candies), and leaving the rest of the items in the box for others to take. It is generally frowned upon, but widely done.
