General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe divide and conquer posts are out full force
Things to think twice about wasting time on:
Obama's speaking fees (a total non-issue, who cares)
Warren said this or that (note that there is a billionaire backed GOP smear campaign aimed at her right now).
Bernie's purity (enough pixels wasted on this to sink a ship).
It's Hillary's fault for XYZ issue (so tired of these - and they are so unproductive).
Feel free to add to this list, but know that the trolls are out to divide and distract.
yardwork
(61,588 posts)TheDebbieDee
(11,119 posts)Us in preparation of the 2018 elections. Some of us will fall for this crap no matter how many times we are warned!
All we can do is keep on reminding boardmembers as to what is going on...
Leith
(7,808 posts)There may be one in this thread already (no, not you, Debbie).
Here's what I do: if a post pisses me off and I want to reply, I open Notepad, type up a big ol' response to it, and get all my anger and frustration out in it. Then wait 10 minutes.
If it's a good post, I rewrite it so that it looks like it was written by an intelligent, mature adult. If I didn't really have a good point to make, I delete it.
Sometimes the post that made me angry has been juried out of existence before I reply. That's the best case scenario.
Maraya1969
(22,474 posts)posts by doing an advanced search and putting their name in the post author part. Now it does not seem to work. Know anything about that? I am a paid whateveryoucallit
k8conant
(3,030 posts)and the posts appear!
Bernardo de La Paz
(48,987 posts)... with patterns of trolling: concern, wedging in between sides, "it doesn't bother me but ...", etc.
Naturally, most high velocity short-timers are NOT trolls or bots or web brigade members or based in St. Petersburg (Russian S.P.). So caution is needed before bringing it to the attention of MIRT.
YOHABLO
(7,358 posts)I agree with you that we need to be united to make the changes we need in our gov'
L. Coyote
(51,129 posts)Right wing is the same no matter where the poster is on the globe, hateful and narrow minded idiots.
Warpy
(111,222 posts)thrown out elsewhere and they just can't resist starting useless post after useless post here, doing Russia's work for it because they still harbor a big grudge against one side or the other in the primary.
The primary is over. So is the election. GIVE IT A FUCKING REST.
One of those the other day posted almost 100 times in a single thread.
Lady Freedom Returns
(14,120 posts)ck4829
(35,041 posts)Their opposition to Obama was built on obstructionism and absolutism, that can not function when they have the government.
They are hoping their links to Putin get forgotten about.
Their support from the Adam Lanza and Dylann Roof Wannabes that is the Alt Right has been far from completely normalized.
We can't wait until 2018 to begin working against them, and there are things we can do here, today, but as long as we are divided against ourselves, we are not as effective.
frankieallen
(583 posts)gratuitous
(82,849 posts)You want to take a position? Fine. Others are going to take another position, just as defensible as yours. What's the point? Frommy observation, these topics aren't discussed; it's vitriolic flaming that degenerates into "No, you're the REAL poopyhead!" Engender a lot of enmity and mistrust among Democrats? Whose interest does that serve?
Not that I'm saying anything, but I double checked the OP and it seems to be prescient.
frankieallen
(583 posts)so I won't. I think I've made my point.
gratuitous
(82,849 posts)Because nobody said to kill all discussion and that everyone has to agree or else. But somehow that's where your post went.
frankieallen
(583 posts)charlyvi
(6,537 posts)That made me laugh!
L. Coyote
(51,129 posts)snooper2
(30,151 posts)what would you like to start with?
Adrahil
(13,340 posts)maddiemom
(5,106 posts)I WAS an English teacher and my kids learned this word in junior high. Certainly they didn't use it in daily speech, but they knew what it meant and could use it in writing.
frankieallen
(583 posts)access to a proper education. Your responses are hurtful, If it makes you all feel superior, than no, I didn't understand all the " big words".
maddiemom
(5,106 posts)I don't feel superior to you, BUT I have little respect for anyone who, in turn, has no respect for education. After all, Trump is on record as "loving the poorly educated." (who else but his peers would vote for him?). You sounded exactly like someone who agrees with him. I don't believe I really "hurt your feelings," so I'll go a little further: There is a book called a "dictionary." Every home should have one (I know, you'll say you're too poor to afford one, but you're obviously on line and can look up words there , as well). This book will save you from sounding poorly educated, unless you mean to be sarcastic. I assume you come from a poor third world village, or you would have access to a free (to the necessary point) education.
frankieallen
(583 posts)because of their weight too?
Your not a very nice person.
maddiemom
(5,106 posts)("your" is possessive; "you're" is you are) I'll wind this up. I STILL don't believe for a minute that your feelings are hurt, but that you're just being contentious.
frankieallen
(583 posts)charlyvi
(6,537 posts)So instead of whining, why don't you try to educate yourself. You are the only one responsible for your education. You have an internet connection. Get to worrk.
byronius
(7,392 posts)Lady Freedom Returns
(14,120 posts)CousinIT
(9,234 posts)We know this was going on during and before the election. Now that Russia has Trump installed in the WH, their objective is to further weaken our Democratic Republic and exert continued influence on both the Trump admin and American citizens using the same tactics - no doubt.
There are likely just bamboozled and gullible people who swallowed whole the bullshit and are posting a lot of the divisive crap here. Maybe that's even most of it.
But I don't believe for a minute that Russia's tactics and attempt at influencing our people and our government stopped when the election was over. Whether it's the alt-right, Russian influencers, or just divisive American idiots who bought the bullshit over the years about Hillary, it's good to have an outline of how the influence shit operates.
And bytheway if you're on Twitter, Clint Watt is a good person to follow. He's @selectedwisdom - and the excerpt below is from his website: https://warontherocks.com/2016/11/trolling-for-trump-how-russia-is-trying-to-destroy-our-democracy/
Undermine citizen confidence in democratic governance;
Foment and exacerbate divisive political fractures;
Erode trust between citizens and elected officials and democratic institutions;
Popularize Russian policy agendas within foreign populations;
Create general distrust or confusion over information sources by blurring the lines between fact and fiction
In sum, these influence efforts weaken Russias enemies without the use of force. Russian social media propaganda pushes four general themes to advance Moscows influence objectives and connect with foreign populations they target.
Political messages are designed to tarnish democratic leaders or undermine institutions. Examples include allegations of voter fraud, election rigging, and political corruption. Leaders can be specifically targeted, for instance by promoting unsubstantiated claims about Hillary Clintons health, or more obviously by leaking hacked emails.
Financial propaganda weakens citizen and investor confidence in foreign markets and posits the failure of capitalist economies. Stoking fears over the national debt, attacking institutions such as the Federal Reserve, and attempts to discredit Western financial experts and business leaders are all part of this arsenal.
In one example from August, Disneyland Paris was the site of a reported bomb scare. Social media accounts on Twitter reported that the park had been evacuated, and several news outlets including Russian propaganda stations RT and Sputnik published alarming stories based on the tweets, which escalated in hysteria as the afternoon stretched on. In fact, the park had not been evacuated. But that didnt stop Disneys stock from taking a temporary hit. This fluctuation could be exploited by someone who knew the fake scare was coming, but we do not have access to the data that would allow us to know whether this happened.
https://warontherocks.com/2016/11/trolling-for-trump-how-russia-is-trying-to-destroy-our-democracy/
GoCubsGo
(32,078 posts)I have been using "Trash this thread" an awful lot lately.
Mr. Evil
(2,833 posts)Most any democrat is better than any republican or libertarian. Also any independents that don't pander to big business or evangelical christians could get my vote too. The only 'purity' test I need is if a republican is running for election, I'm voting for the other candidate.
Wounded Bear
(58,619 posts)so they probably couldn't sink a ship.
On a more serious note, yeah, it's getting tiresome.
byronius
(7,392 posts)TheBlackAdder
(28,179 posts)kacekwl
(7,016 posts)Any post I see with the above topics go unread.
MrScorpio
(73,630 posts)Oh no, they can't be appropriating common symbology in order to give notice to other white supremacists that their ideology has a place in the Executive Branch now.
It's all just a joke, right?
Never mind that most symbols and signs that white supremacists use are actually appropriated from elsewhere and repurposed, in order to present some semblance of legitimacy.
(Who knew that the original creators of ancient runes and the swastika were themselves the Nazis of antiquity?)
All you have to do is disregard the intent of the people using them.
If a non-white supremacist is seen using the same common gesture or symbol, it's all just the same. Never mind.
world wide wally
(21,739 posts)Whoever the Dems decide upon can rest assured they will get my vote. That person may not be my first choice, but you already know what your options will, and they ain't pretty.
I recommend the rest of you commit to the same thing. We cannot allow Trump or Pence or anyone else from the other side to continue reeking havoc on whatever is left of our country.
Argue all you want for now, but when the time comes, there is only ON.e side to be on.
Don't fuck it up!
AtheistCrusader
(33,982 posts)If I'm ok with 1-3, but 4 bothers me when it comes up in the context of 'we don't need to change the message/shore up platform, Russia Russia russia', how much of a troll does that make me?
Sculpin Beauregard
(1,046 posts)1. Full-on fascism (no more voting! Ever!)
2. Continuing democracy
the choice is pretty clear. Things are becoming more alarming by the day. This is not a hard choice.
kimbutgar
(21,103 posts)We can't take our eye off the ball. We have to be united against chump. I could give a shit about Obama's speaking fees, or Hillary blew it or Bernie could have won. I just don't care. I care about weakening chump period!!!!!!
Leith
(7,808 posts)Those are just some of the most recent troll posts that divert attention and drive wedges between us. Fellow Democrats, liberals, progressives - whatever we call ourselves - are NOT the problem. rethugs, trolls, and traitors are.
You know what the worst part is? They are doing it for shits'n'giggles, and for the paycheck in many cases.
Locrian
(4,522 posts)Sculpin Beauregard
(1,046 posts)CanonRay
(14,093 posts)snort
(2,334 posts)[link:
|Hayduke Bomgarte
(1,965 posts)Resemble my former wife, in that they are unable to ever see the bigger picture and instead focus on trivialities their tunnel vision lands them on.
ProudProgressiveNow
(6,129 posts)DFW
(54,328 posts)I have enough to do without churning up bile.
benpollard
(199 posts)We need to learn from Hillary's mistakes and not repeat them.
Xipe Totec
(43,889 posts)mtngirl47
(988 posts)and since 2012 I've seen these time wasters and the incessant belly button gazing...took me years to even want to post...so I have found the back arrow and go on to read something more enlightening!
We are stronger in our resistance than we were in supporting our Democratic President and Democratic Congress.
Will Rogers was so right...."I am not a member of any organized political party. I am a Democrat."
L. Coyote
(51,129 posts)peeps seem to not be able to let go of the emotional baggage of the fake news and agiprop bullshit we had to endure.
Alice11111
(5,730 posts)Petty BS.
IronLionZion
(45,404 posts)This forum is what you make of it.
liberal N proud
(60,334 posts)joshcryer
(62,269 posts)And politics in general.
We'll just have to let capitalism run its course, the Republicans are trying their best to stop progress, but stuff like self-driving cars and automation are going to cause the good stuff to happen. It's just a shame that the left is too self-critical of its own for us to overcome and unify. And those that defend the divisiveness are the ones to blame. I fucking hate it so much it makes me sick. I spent a decade fighting it. To no avail. What a waste of time.
Sculpin Beauregard
(1,046 posts)is scared and alarmed people just trying to make sense of things. All we have is each other right now and we're all frustrated and angry.
riderinthestorm
(23,272 posts)Mountain Mule
(1,002 posts)I thought it was just me. THANK YOU!
Please stop questioning the loyalty of Hillary supporters or Bernie supporters or Warren supporters, etc., etc., etc. The problem here is the current Oligarchic Regime. I'd be willing to bet that every active member of this board (since it's pretty damn self-selecting) voted in the last election and voted for Hillary - not some 3rd party candidate - I imagine the Greens have their own "underground."
We are lost ONLY when we can no longer encourage one another and help one another fight the good fight. Petty quarrels and factionalism serves only the Traitor and his core of delusionals and bigots.
We are all on the same side, already!
Steven Maurer
(459 posts)We have more than enough fools and useful idiots in the Democratic party as it is.
Maraya1969
(22,474 posts)applegrove
(118,577 posts)sarah FAILIN
(2,857 posts)but the non-posts and by that I mean the people alerting for no reason just to get anyone with a good point hidden. I posted about it over the week-end because I think reps are trolling here trying to keep us from talking about anything significant.
I was promptly hidden for "interfering", lol.
Skittles
(153,138 posts)ms liberty
(8,572 posts)I've decided to go back to the good old days. I note their concern and move on. I am disappointed that there are so many DU'ers who should know better but still take the bait so readily.
Skittles
(153,138 posts)SOMETIMES, IT IS JUST WORTH IT
ms liberty
(8,572 posts)m-lekktor
(3,675 posts)For me, anyway.
IndianaDave
(612 posts)I love President Obama, I love Bernie, I love Elizabeth Warren, and I love Hillary! We Democrats have good, caring, insightful people who are willing to lead this nation (and don't give me any crap about Bernie not being a "real" Democrat - he's one of us, and he has a lot to offer!). None of them are perfect, but they are all uplifting, positive people who want to move us into the future. I would gladly vote for any of them -- or any younger, similar-minded Democrat over the idiot who is currently pretending to be President. I'm sick to death of the stupid, petty divisiveness that seems to plague us. Let's move beyond this BS and support each other. Come on!
MountCleaners
(1,148 posts)I'm sad to say that there are people on both sides who, I've noticed, don't post unless it is to a controversial thread. They have personalities that are attracted to anger, controversy, and conflict.
We should all try to focus our energies on defeating the right and the Republicans. Put our energy into posting threads about everything they are doing wrong. If your main objective is to vent anger at anyone other than Republicans, then you are not working to stop policies that will hurt a lot of people. What are you doing here? The priority should be fighting the right. Put the egos aside.
MountCleaners
(1,148 posts)To put as much anti-Orange Hitler posts on the first page of GD as possible. We have to set an example. For every divisive thread you see, put up threads against the Republicans or threads that show that you can be a Democrat AND progressive. Teaching by example is the only way to get the bitter people (on both sides, IMO) to think twice about starting another grudgeful thread.
betsuni
(25,442 posts)One of my favorite poster's latest OP's was called "disturbing fecal matter." Who the hell do people think they are that they can decide what's "wasting time"? Life is wasting time, it's wasting time until you die. So what?
PA Democrat
(13,225 posts)hoping that the divisiveness of the primaries would be long gone. It seems I was wrong. I've never gotten so many jury requests, seen so many flame wars. I do believe there are still a lot of trolls but I also see too many long time DU members involved in these nasty and counterproductive insult fests.
I just don't understand why people cannot accept the fact that NO Democrat is perfect, and to demand blind allegiance to some party standard is counterproductive. Discussions and debates are one thing but the thing that bothers me is that so many threads seem as though they are started for the sole purpose of starting a nasty argument. There are days that I get so tired of hiding threads and dealing with jury requests that I just give up and walk away. It's not worth it.
I think we all need to do some introspection and think before posting. Sometimes you may think you've "won" the argument but all you really accomplish is to alienate people with whom you probably have more in common than not. There is SO MUCH that should unite us and to waste precious time and energy on these continuous flame wars does nothing more than move us further away from our ultimate goals.
Response to PA Democrat (Reply #60)
Skittles This message was self-deleted by its author.
MaeScott
(878 posts)Nitram
(22,776 posts)If it doesn't put liberals at each other's throats, it makes people swear of politics forever because it is just so exhausting to re-fight these same stupid battles over and over again. People, just say no to divide and conquer clickbait.
ananda
(28,854 posts)Our only real issue is resisting 45 and electing Reep opponents.
gordianot
(15,237 posts)DownriverDem
(6,227 posts)We have a two party system. Left leaners could be on the verge of a huge wave if we just join forces. It's a no brainer for me.
The Wizard
(12,541 posts)who I suspect of being trolls.
ProfessorPlum
(11,254 posts)with my Ignore list.
For me, DU is blessedly quiet of infighting, divisiveness, and pitting us against each other. Like the DU of old.
And somewhere, I imagine, there is another DU, where the trolls are being obnoxious and rec'ing each others posts up. My hope is that eventually it will just be trolls there.
Kimchijeon
(1,606 posts)mvd
(65,169 posts)For example, I'm not one who assigns no blame to Hillary and I prefer President Obama was different with his fees. But I agree that some posts haven't helped anything.