this post was submitted on 23 May 2024
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[–] [email protected] 33 points 6 months ago (7 children)

Don't normalize this shit.

Opposing viewpoints are fine. Disingenuous viewpoints that conveniently show the egregious fallacies of that viewpoint and ignore them when pointed out deserve all the criticism they get.

And we know what one specific viewpoint we're talking about. Lemmy is so deeply infested with it now with the exact same bend that it's a disgustingly obvious disinformation campaign and voter suppression tactic.

Again, don't normalize this shit.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 6 months ago (2 children)

And we know what one specific viewpoint we're talking about.

Dang it! I'm always out of the loop.

[–] VinnyDaCat 9 points 6 months ago (1 children)

As am I. I'm a bit curious as to which viewpoint they're discussing.

I don't think it's bad for people to be somewhat suspicious of bots/misinformation campaigns that occur online. We do know they occur.

That said, I believe we should still try to communicate on the various media platforms in the event that there is in fact a human behind the screen.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago (1 children)

My guess: The Russian bots current aim for the US left version of the Internet is mostly trying to discourage them from voting.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Low turnout amount old people overexposed to Facebook and cable news would hurt Trump more than Biden.

[–] nomous 0 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Old people's vote is vastly more difficult to suppress. Old people go vote, the youth though? Just tell them shits fucked and their vote doesnt matter and they eagerly give up and sit home.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

They are either lying or deeply overexposed to only one portion of the platform lol. While a lot of it has to do with US electoral stuff, that is far from the only context I have seen bot accusations thrown around. Seen it on some gaming-related communities, some vegan places for some reason? It might be fair to say the mindset stems from the anger of the political subs but that’s just a guess. (:

[–] [email protected] 12 points 6 months ago

And we know what one specific viewpoint we're talking about. Lemmy is so deeply infested with it now with the exact same bend that it's a disgustingly obvious disinformation campaign and voter suppression tactic.

You're doing the thing in the meme

[–] [email protected] 9 points 6 months ago

Mfs never heard the word epistemology.

Sorry I legit don't know who you are talking about

[–] Katana314 8 points 6 months ago (1 children)

The other important point to make:

It’s normal to view wild ideas like troves of automated users with some skepticism. But consider: Foreign entities would likely have a huge incentive to destabilize domestic elections. If you were them, and had plenty of spare personnel, and A.I. resources…what would you do?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (2 children)

If I were Russia or China and I had the ability to influence US elections, I would try to stabilize the country. I'd want someone predictable who I can negotiate with and reasonably expect to have agreements last more than 4 years. This is what Putin said to Tucker, by the way, explaining why he'd prefer Biden over Trump, so that he can negotiate a lasting treaty. China, with all its economic ties to the US, would likely feel the same (though with all of Biden's jingoism and saber-rattling, I don't know that there's much difference from that perspective).

Geopolitics is not a zero-sum game, and the world is more complex than moustache-twirling cartoon villains. Destabilizing the US means the most militarized country in the world acting completely unpredictably and lashing out randomly to distract from problems at home.

Also, like, it's easy to make a bot but it's harder to make a bot that actually sounds like a human being and is able to make coherent arguments. Throwing around accusations based purely on a person's stance, even when the format isn't bot-like at all, is pure paranoia. It's just a way to categorically dismiss everything you disagree with without consideration.

Also also, what about the US intelligence community? Surely they'd have both means and motive to influence political discussions, moreso on both than foreign governments. Why aren't you concerned about that? Or what about the possibility of corporations hiring people to say stuff? Wouldn't it be way easier for entities that are based on America who could hire Americans directly?

It's really a nonsense belief that falls apart under scrutiny. But what it really is is a symbolic belief. It's obviously not true but by saying it you can performatively demonstrate your loyalty to the US government and hatred of the Other. There's no evidence for it and it's unfalsifiable.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Damn... Well said... Really hope you're not a Russian troll bot! Lol

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago

If I am, then whoever programmed me deserves a raise lol

[–] Katana314 4 points 6 months ago (2 children)

Russia already interfered with the 2016 election, so they disagree with you.

AI doesn’t have to be used as an autoprompter. Paid workers can still review their output or use them for prompting.

If I were Chinese, I might suspect the US intelligence committee enacting foreign influence. But locally, they want functioning government so they get paid.

Also, besides the over-the-top insults, note this guy’s account is new.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil 3 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Russia already interfered with the 2016 election

Unless you've got evidence that James Comey works for the FSB, I'm not sure how this miniscule ad buy sank Hillary ten points in the polls from October.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

Russia already interfered with the 2016 election, so they disagree with you.

Well, you asked what I would do. I don't think it's rational for Russia to destabilize the US right now which is consistent with Putin's current stated position. Of course he could easily be lying, and he did support Trump in the past. It's possible that he's consistently pro-Trump, but it's also possible that his priorities changed based on changing circumstances, or that his perception of Trump changed after seeing him in office. It's impossible to know what's going on in his head, but it is possible to speculate based on what would benefit him and what he's said.

AI doesn’t have to be used as an autoprompter. Paid workers can still review their output or use them for prompting.

Convenient! That means that you can accuse anyone you disagree with of being a bot, regardless of evidence! I imagine that's much easier than engaging with conflicting ideas.

But locally, they want functioning government so they get paid.

A government doesn't have to be particularly well-functioning in order to afford to pay it's spies. Unless we're talking about total collapse and balkanization of the US, they're still getting paid. In the meantime, they're free to persue whatever agenda they want with no oversight, and even when they do get caught, not only are they not punished or stopped, but whoever exposed the crime becomes an enemy of the state and is hunted to the ends of the earth.

Also, besides the over-the-top insults, note this guy’s account is new.

My cashier at the grocery store was wearing reflective glasses (clearly this means they're a lizard person hiding their slit pupils), my barber asked me how my day was going (clearly he's an FBI agent collecting data about my life) and a person I disagreed with online had a new account (clearly a paid agent of a foreign government).

Tell me, how long have you had these sorts of beliefs?

[–] Linkerbaan 7 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

~~People disagree with me~~ Lemmy is deeply infested!!!

You would enjoy reddit.com a lot more than this place. How about some r/worldnews?

[–] Shardikprime 2 points 6 months ago
[–] UnderpantsWeevil 0 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Disingenuous viewpoints that conveniently show the egregious fallacies of that viewpoint and ignore them when pointed out deserve all the criticism they get.

Nice try, Russia. But I'm not falling for it.

And we know what one specific viewpoint we’re talking about.

turns to the camera conspiratorially

Big wink

Giant thumb pointed at Joe Biden

Large okay symbol with other hand

Thumbs up with penis