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byronius

(7,369 posts)
Fri Dec 30, 2016, 05:54 PM Dec 2016

Please, tell me I'm paranoid.

Since the hack I've observed long-term posters who faded away many years ago return to engage in what I consider well-crafted and well-thought-out disruption that is always presented under the guise of requesting more evidence or pointing out minutiae that generally leads the discussion astray.

I think it's possible that the hack of the entire user database with emails and passwords was used to resurrect personalities using defunct/abandoned/spoofed email addresses, and that these hijacked personalities are being used to damage the dialogue in extremely cunning ways.

Most of them do not have stars, although this may be coincidental.

I say this publicly because I'm certain other members have noticed. As intelligent and scripted as the penetration would have to be to escape detection, there are certain signs that what I'm saying might be true.

I say it because I love Democratic Underground, and because I believe the hack was not in any way a joke, but a serious act of directed revenge on a well-respected resource as an act of war.

If I'm right, it's just beginning. They may also evolve to personal sabotage of individual lives; this is historically an effective investment for emerging anti-democratic regimes, and the internet provides a new arena for this purpose.

And if I'm right, I'd like everyone to be aware, and study the tactics and methods employed. Not every troll misspells or fails to grasp the basic liberal sensibilities; this new crew is a better breed, smarter and more circumspect.

Given the intense weight of destiny upon these days, I don't believe it would hurt to consider my point. I don't wish to engage in witch-hunting, I just have noticed and wish to remark on a recent phenomenon.

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guillaumeb

(42,641 posts)
3. I agree with bravenak. I think it is extreme anxiety.
Fri Dec 30, 2016, 06:00 PM
Dec 2016

People have no idea how Trump will actually respond to anything when he is President. Suggestions that he will somehow become Presidential are, I believe, unrealistic. His immaturity and personal meanness are a 70 year behavior pattern.

Pachamama

(16,875 posts)
4. Your paranoid
Fri Dec 30, 2016, 06:10 PM
Dec 2016

I am one of the original DU members and had disappeared from DU for personal reasons as I battled cancer and some serious health issues.

I used to have stars and haven't renewed because I just haven't had it at top of my list as I have been dealing with many holiday activities.

Old DUers know me and I have even met Skinner in DC at an anti- war rally. My favorite old time DUers were Bartcop and SwampRat.

I believe our hack on election night may have been coordinated by Russian Hackers, but I seriously doubt that they would bother to assume identities. Too much effort with not as much return value IMHO.

Be paranoid about a lot of things, especially what is coming under Comrade Trumpsky. But don't go all worried that all DUers that disappeared and are back without Stars are Russian cyber spy's. Even if we may question things from time to time.

lunasun

(21,646 posts)
5. Some people from JPR returned after the election . I saw one was removed yesterday for a nasty post
Fri Dec 30, 2016, 06:10 PM
Dec 2016

I also notice low poster count who signed up years ago but maybe the election made them come back .i don't know . Plenty of outright trolls too show up

 

Alekzander

(479 posts)
6. Well I do not have a star & I was here for so long & such an old email address, could not remember
Fri Dec 30, 2016, 06:11 PM
Dec 2016

Last edited Fri Dec 30, 2016, 06:43 PM - Edit history (1)

so I start all over of which I did not mind. I even went ahead & took a new name to coordinate with my other social/political online activities.

However, if people get paranoid enough about me I have no trouble leaving either. DU is not that important in my life.

AmericanActivist

(1,019 posts)
7. I was a DU member from right after the Nov 2004 "election"
Fri Dec 30, 2016, 07:25 PM
Dec 2016

I was here under a different name then. I remained until approximately 2008. I got busy with difficulties and challenges in life and I didn't worry with PBO & VP Biden in the WH, for once after 8 long years of GWB/Cheney & their insane criminal cabal.

I came back this year. I lost my old password and email so I started fresh here. During my previous membership here I was a Gold Star member ever chance I was able to make a contribution. I donated this year just before 11/9 when it was announced star members would have priority login here during the "election" and as I always have, I'll contribute as funds allow.

I cannot say if you're paranoid. However, I can say I miss the DU of the past. I see many repeat threads now as people post same info without checking first. I've noticed there isn't as much dialogue in threads as I recall meaning lots of people posting threads without conversations within threads. I see more info about what tRump says or does and what Russia/Putin says or does than I care to here. I see way too much of we have to "accept tRump" because he was "duly elected" although that hasn't been proven or disproven to date. I find this to be especially sad since when I joined DU there was rigorous review and discussion of electronic voting and verified voting and the results of 2004. Also, I see many people here saying "only we the people can stop tRump" but I doubt that is possible. How exactly can we stop him? Only people in power have the ability and authority to do that. We can resist, and we must, we can avoid normalizing him and his regime, we can organize, etc. but ultimately we cannot stop him; perhaps someone can convince me this is possible, however, short of an actual revolution or civil war, I don't see it working...I'm not advocating either by the way.

I love DU and DUers yet these are things I observe. So, are you paranoid? Am I?

SledDriver

(2,049 posts)
8. Real me here
Fri Dec 30, 2016, 07:29 PM
Dec 2016

Long time lurker, casual poster. Been a member since around 2006ish. Dropped off after * left, but still came here for news and insight.

Warren DeMontague

(80,708 posts)
9. I've been on MIRT, and I've seen zombie accounts over a decade old taken out of storage to troll.
Fri Dec 30, 2016, 07:31 PM
Dec 2016

I don't pretend to understand it.

Another thing is, there are sockpuppets all the fuck over the place. A lot of the sort of one-note axe grinding and DU-focused drama farming that happens on this board, it's designed to make you think it's coming from a whole big group of people, but it's pretty much the same crowd, they just use a whole bunch of accounts. Maybe 5-10 actual people, max.

They think they're being clever, but it's pretty fucking transparent.

nini

(16,670 posts)
13. I'm not so sure about that
Sat Dec 31, 2016, 01:26 PM
Dec 2016

I come and go in spurts and don't have a huge number of posts even though I've been here since 2001 or so.

Skinner and team put in a decent process to get access to the site after that mess.

Perhaps it's just the usual DU bickering that has always been here and it's at a peak again since the trumpster is making us all nuts?

Equinox Moon

(6,344 posts)
14. It's good to be aware.
Sat Dec 31, 2016, 01:30 PM
Dec 2016

I don't trust this next administration with the government's massive spy apparatus.
That is real.

What do you suggest we do or don't do to protect ourselves on DU?

byronius

(7,369 posts)
15. Awareness is key, I believe. Perhaps not taking the bait that's offered.
Sat Dec 31, 2016, 06:51 PM
Dec 2016

Provocation as a tactic requires response to work.

Plus, skepticism is worthwhile, and a part of what makes this site excellent -- but there's a line beyond which it becomes counterproductive. I've seen that more often recently -- insisting that speculation be forbidden without absolute proof, and setting benchmarks that make that proof impossible.

It's a classic Cold War technique -- silencing dialogue under the guise of concern for intellectual standards.

I posted because I found myself falling for the minutiae-distraction tactic. Reading over the exchange made it all become absolutely clear.

Warren DeMontague's sockpuppet comment upthread was also quite salient. I didn't think about that until he commented -- and now I see it everywhere. When three low-post commenters pile on one after another in an attempt to heap scorn over a reasonable post, that's trolling. A post the other day about Neil deGrasse Tyson's statement concerning the possibility of the universe being a simulation was immediately mocked by two posters -- now that I look back at it, it's as clear as day.

They've been doing this for generations. And by 'they' I mean the forces of conservative monarchy, the people who fear more than anything the absence of a figure of absolute authority they may surrender their minds to. Some humans aren't programmed to be capable of independent thinking. They need to be bound to a gravitic body, regardless of that body's irrational behavior. Those people fear us, and this site.

I'm probably overstating the case. Nonetheless, it's what I see.

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