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Qutzupalotl

(14,230 posts)
Sun Jan 19, 2020, 03:56 PM Jan 2020

Wittes calls out the trollbots on Twitter:




Benjamin Wittes

@benjaminwittes
As an experiment in disinformation, I just ran all of the hostile responses to this tweet from Lisa through @BotSentinel. All were reported to have high probability of being troll bots. That should tell you something. @jack, worth a look at automated activity sliming Lisa.

Lisa Page

@NatSecLisa
All I can say is this: I very much look forward to Rod’s deposition.


Then they attack him, and he responds...







...proving his point!
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Wittes calls out the trollbots on Twitter: (Original Post) Qutzupalotl Jan 2020 OP
Since personal sites are being used to dishonestly mislead the public, I say don't permit Karadeniz Jan 2020 #1
should be handmade34 Jan 2020 #2
Cooooool. Makes me want to sign up for twitter Mersky Jan 2020 #3
Yep. Seems to be true for all social media: Qutzupalotl Jan 2020 #4
Noted. Is good to know Mersky Jan 2020 #5

Karadeniz

(22,283 posts)
1. Since personal sites are being used to dishonestly mislead the public, I say don't permit
Sun Jan 19, 2020, 04:03 PM
Jan 2020

Political messaging. The SCOTUS, of course, would protect your right to lie and receive lies because they're so concerned with protecting trees, they don't notice that pollution is undermining the forest.

Mersky

(4,969 posts)
3. Cooooool. Makes me want to sign up for twitter
Sun Jan 19, 2020, 04:29 PM
Jan 2020

Just so I can go around flagging bots. Is a brilliant thread from Wittes, as I think I now have a better grasp of how to spot bot type responses just from the nature of the posts.

Is somewhat cathartic going over his thread defending Lisa Page.

Journaled.

Qutzupalotl

(14,230 posts)
4. Yep. Seems to be true for all social media:
Sun Jan 19, 2020, 06:51 PM
Jan 2020

Watch out for over-the-top emotional reactions far out of proportion to the situation, along with gratuitous insults directed to a poster or beloved figure.

Some say the best response is no response, due to Twitter’s “echo effect” — where any response amplifies the offending tweet.

There are tools available to verify your suspicions, as Wittes used, although they are far from perfect. Some do what Wittes did, responding with screen shots, often only to the other real people in the conversation, since tangling with a bot directly only encourages them — and bots sometimes swarm.

Mersky

(4,969 posts)
5. Noted. Is good to know
Sun Jan 19, 2020, 07:06 PM
Jan 2020

Are all-around helpful pointers you’ve mentioned.

I probably won’t ever join twitter, as I’d likely never get anything else done in my daily life. Shucks, I can barely handle a few DU posts a day.

I certainly read a lot of twitter threads, though, and I find Wittes’ thread elucidating.

Generally, I prefer to avoid flaming, bully, and trolling crap. Had enough those experiences in comment sections during the bush years. A bot swarm would be next level aggravation.

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