Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

AZProgressive

(29,934 posts)
39. When it comes to Twitter
Wed May 18, 2022, 11:38 AM
May 2022

Bernie Bros are a myth.

There is hard data that shows "Bernie Bros" are a myth

(Snip)

A few weeks ago I penned a story for Salon attempting to qualitatively disprove the Bernie Bro myth by pulling from psychological theory and the nature of online behavior. To summarize my conclusions: First, there is a general tendency for online behavior to be negative, known as the online disinhibition effect — but it affects all people equally, not merely Sanders' supporters. Second, pundits systematically ignore when other candidates' supporters are mean online, perhaps because of the aforementioned established stereotype; in this sense, the Bernie Bro is not dissimilar from other political canards like the "welfare queen." Third, Twitter is not a representative sample size of the population, and is so prone to harboring propaganda outfits and bots such that it is not a reliable way of gauging public opinion.

Now, to add to this qualitative assessment, there is quantitative evidence, too — reaped from studying hundreds of thousands of interactions online — that reveals the Bernie Bro myth as, well, a myth. Jeff Winchell, a computational social scientist and graduate student at Harvard University, crunched the numbers on tweet data and found that Sanders' supporters online behave the same as everyone else. Winchell used what is called a sentiment analysis, a technique used both in the digital humanities and in e-commerce, to gauge emotional intent from social media data.

(Snip)

"Bernie followers act pretty much the same on Twitter as any other follower," Winchell says of his results. "There is one key difference that Twitter users and media don't seem to be aware of.... Bernie has a lot more Twitter followers than Twitter followers of other Democrat's campaigns," he added, noting that this may be partly what helps perpetuate the myth.

https://www.salon.com/2020/03/09/there-is-hard-data-that-shows-bernie-bros-are-a-myth/

There are pro Russia leftists on Twitter but they use Bernie and his movement for their own selfish purposes but Bernie Bro was a campaign smear.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

I liked Connor Lamb as well . . ... Lovie777 May 2022 #1
Right. H2O Man May 2022 #17
The extraordinary thing about Fetterman's win? peggysue2 May 2022 #2
there is a worry he won't be able to pull in the Black vote though LymphocyteLover May 2022 #7
That was a bigger hurdle in the Dem primary than the general election IronLionZion May 2022 #12
Violent GOP. AllyCat May 2022 #19
They're always compensating for something IronLionZion May 2022 #20
Jmho, but Black voters like living in safe neighborhoods, too Deminpenn May 2022 #15
The man involved in the shotgun incident SUPPORTS Mr. Fetterman. The Jungle 1 May 2022 #22
Great! I had said that was a concern, but awesome if it's not an issue. LymphocyteLover May 2022 #40
That shotgun incident was blown wayyyyyy out of proportion because that's all they had. Hassin Bin Sober May 2022 #48
I figured it was. Still there is this piece of data LymphocyteLover May 2022 #52
I think Fetterman and his team are smart peggysue2 May 2022 #23
Yeah, that's my thought LymphocyteLover May 2022 #41
We could not have asked for a better team. The Jungle 1 May 2022 #56
"there is a worry he won't be able to pull in the Black vote though" BumRushDaShow May 2022 #35
Yes, and I saw Kenyatta endorsed Fetterman now, so hopefully a non-issue LymphocyteLover May 2022 #42
I know it will be a non-issue BumRushDaShow May 2022 #43
The choice is clear if Dems are to keep the Senate. What's more important right now? n/t TeamProg May 2022 #37
There are many "discouraged Democrats" in these Deminpenn May 2022 #14
I posted that a few days ago Cosmocat May 2022 #21
should celebrate the win bigtree May 2022 #3
I didn't trash him. madaboutharry May 2022 #4
Excellent statement Tree-Hugger May 2022 #6
That was a gracious statement by Conor Lamb peggysue2 May 2022 #9
Good respectful response IronLionZion May 2022 #13
Yeah, well Lamb is a good guy, gab13by13 May 2022 #5
Lamb is a moderate Dem and a good guy... Fetterman is a more exciting LymphocyteLover May 2022 #8
no more playing nice.. agingdem May 2022 #27
"Big ideas and big mouths"! Yes! Speaking as an introvert, I believe we need more Dem extroverts LaMouffette May 2022 #10
From his GED to his Harvard Graduate Degree. multigraincracker May 2022 #11
Last part is not his jam Cosmocat May 2022 #25
I expect them to say "he wants more illegal immigration. . .look at his wife" to be a campaign issue AZLD4Candidate May 2022 #34
madaboutharry..... Upthevibe May 2022 #16
Lot of black Twitter people saying they are sitting out AllyCat May 2022 #18
Good to hear that Kenyatta will be campaigning for Fetterman. Native May 2022 #24
Oh this is good news! AllyCat May 2022 #31
Why listen to anything on Twitter? gab13by13 May 2022 #26
90% are real people. Real black people whose opinions I trust. AllyCat May 2022 #33
When it comes to Twitter AZProgressive May 2022 #39
Can we please stop blaming Bernie for everything already? AntivaxHunters May 2022 #59
Legit Twitter people or trolls? With everything that is on the line right now, KPN May 2022 #28
Legit Twitter people. The shotgun incident. AllyCat May 2022 #32
Nobody here in Philly is talking about any "shotgun issue" BumRushDaShow May 2022 #38
That is good. Hoping that goes to the rest of the state AllyCat May 2022 #45
The main thing they are talking about here in the community is getting the ghost guns off the street BumRushDaShow May 2022 #46
It's just crybabies on Twitter who didn't get their way. Hassin Bin Sober May 2022 #49
+1 SunImp May 2022 #55
Except now his health will become the issue... Historic NY May 2022 #29
Malcom Kenyatta is needed in Harrisburg. ProudMNDemocrat May 2022 #30
PA Statewide: Fetterman 59% ! Lamb 26.5% Kenyatta 10.3% TeamProg May 2022 #36
Fetterman beat a little Lamb Polybius May 2022 #44
No need for that. Caliman73 May 2022 #47
I contributed to Lamb when he took the seat the first time around. Hassin Bin Sober May 2022 #50
You can name them. Sinema and Manchin have been horrible. Caliman73 May 2022 #51
If Conor Lamb had won the primary, I would have supported him FakeNoose May 2022 #53
I guess "The Swarm" hates these threads SunImp May 2022 #54
Who are "The Swarm"? Democrats? betsuni May 2022 #58
Looks like something the brogressives use to "swarm" Nixie May 2022 #60
Hope he stays in good health! progressoid May 2022 #57
Yeah, he's way cool. Not from PA, but I plan to support his campaign. nt Roisin Ni Fiachra May 2022 #61
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»It is really thrilling th...»Reply #39