I think Russia has little to nothing to do with this. Just as it’s a common meme that the left is internally extremely divided, so is the right. There are so many groups, and they hate each other almost as much as they hate the left, in general.
I’m sure many of them are bots (as has been documented and proven on other platforms) but I assume they’re mixed in with the actual people that happen to agree with the bots or get swayed by the bots’ takes.
Don’t underestimate the stupidity of the average flesh-and-blood American. (And before anyone says it, yes, I know there is stupidity elsewhere, but I happen to be an American, so I don’t feel bad about criticizing them).
I try not to get into the habit of assuming that every braindead comment or post comes from a bot (though they may be indistinguishable). I am very aware of the bot/paid trolls issue, but I also assume there’s the possibility of at least a non-zero share of the firehose of Internet stupidity which is generated by the sausage-like appendages of someone who is very much alive that I am forced to share a country with, and that they may typing those things in earnest without irony.
I think Russia has little to nothing to do with this. Just as it’s a common meme that the left is internally extremely divided, so is the right. There are so many groups, and they hate each other almost as much as they hate the left, in general.
Russian trolls are everywhere. I would be more surprised if they weren’t involved. They love to feed the fire.
I highly doubt that Russia is just standing on the sidelines not stoking the fires via bots on social media
100% they are. You can tell in almost every post about going after Dems. Just bots stir the fire up. These MAGA fucks fall for it everytime.
I’m sure many of them are bots (as has been documented and proven on other platforms) but I assume they’re mixed in with the actual people that happen to agree with the bots or get swayed by the bots’ takes.
Don’t underestimate the stupidity of the average flesh-and-blood American. (And before anyone says it, yes, I know there is stupidity elsewhere, but I happen to be an American, so I don’t feel bad about criticizing them).
I try not to get into the habit of assuming that every braindead comment or post comes from a bot (though they may be indistinguishable). I am very aware of the bot/paid trolls issue, but I also assume there’s the possibility of at least a non-zero share of the firehose of Internet stupidity which is generated by the sausage-like appendages of someone who is very much alive that I am forced to share a country with, and that they may typing those things in earnest without irony.
exactly. isn’t there a common saying “don’t assume malevolence where stupidity suffices as an explanation”?
people really are just dumb, largely. it could be perfectly well that that already explains the conflicts.