There are two things that the NYT has a lot of trouble with: Statistics and anthropological forays into red state America. So I was really expecting to hate this article a lot, but it's actually pretty good.
I am starting to wonder how state elections will go this year in California. I don't want to take anything for granted. Maybe I will have something coherent to say about the NYT article and the partisan divide later today... It seems ominous in a way I can't quite pin down.
When I read any of the Krugthulhu threads on twitter it seems very obvious that a lot of the responses are from bots - just one line comments like "your so stupid" and "give back your noble prize."
So not sure how convincing those bots are, but yes, it is depressing that China and Russia are trying so hard to spread hate and misinformation.
The president of the United States is putting out tweets accusing a former member of Congress of murder. The boys aren't the main problem.
You sure about that?
will have something coherent to say about the NYT article and the partisan divide later today...
Will hold you to that.
Kiefer! Snort this line and calm the fuck down.
A problem is that we lack the common terminology to accurately describe the bad actors. We've got:
1. actual bots that flood the zone with automated messaging, often with intentionally varying typos in a thin attempt to foil automated detectors
2. sock puppets that are probably controlled dozens at a time by human agents that purport to be things that they're not. Common variants include sports avatars, guys with goatees and mirrored sunglasses, white women who love God and country, black dudes blexiting the Democratic party, trans folk parroting TERF points, etc.
3. trolls actively trying to get a rise out of people by fanning the flames
4. actual, earnest folk who legitimately agree with the memes being boosted by (2), that can be easily triggered into perpetuating the outrage cycles but wouldn't likely generate them organically
Of these, it's the sock puppets that are the most pernicious. When I run across an #ADOS dude spouting anti-Biden memes, the chances are very, very good it's a sock puppet, but it's essentially impossible to say for sure. There are legitimately folk who believe that who, much as I hate what they're saying, legitimately have a right to be heard. But their presence in the memosphere is far out of proportion to their actual occurrence in the human population.
It's inaccurate, but I think colloquial use of "bot" covers both your (1) and (2).
FB talks about "inauthentic" (your 3) and "coordinated inauthentic" (your 1 and 2) behavior.
We used to only have authentic assholes.
Is this like that chaotic/neutral/evil/good diagrams?
Talking of which, I would like a Venn diagram of the people now comploaining that poverty kills so we must lift the lockdown, and the people complaining ten years ago that poverty kills so we shouldn't be practising austerity. I would be surprised if there are even ten members of the intersection.
What are the laws related to requiring masks where you guys live? How are they enforced? We are considering a mask ordinance here.
I don't think they were ever legally required here.
hey, this is a super annoying bleg but a former commenter posted on FB about whether hypnosis was real, and for the life of me I cannot remember who it was. But I'd really like to share a personal tidbit there. Anyone have any clue who it might have been? (it might be diplomatic to email me instead of posting and linking their pseud to their name...)
It's truly driving me crazy.
16: First name like Disney, last name like what holds up a flag but spelled with an h.
Of course now I'm sitting here trying to think of whose handle sounds most like "Schmizney Hole".
I went darker with it and came up with "Princess Cohffin"
14: Masks are required in businesses and government buildings, and encouraged outdoors, by city ordinance. (Fresno, CA)
Both the police chief and sheriff have told people that they won't enforce the ordinance.
In New Jersey, masks are required only indoors in public places. Stores are putting up signs, and most people seem to be going along. Some retailers have been fined for non-enforcement, and theoretically they can be shut down or lose business licenses. Non-mask wearers are not being ticketed.
When it comes down to it, the police are always going to put loyalty to the conservative movement over the law.
(Also could have put that comment in the other thread, I suppose.)
Have Darius Kazemi's various threads (more linked therein) expressing skepticism about the bot papers' figures been linked yet?
It's hard to make a reply-bot. That's why I make comments on my own still.
14,22: Our city put out an actually helpful inforgraphic -- https://www.facebook.com/FresnoCA/photos/a.199471230020/10159055825780021/
28 is good.
According to someone on the internet, masks are a waste of time and if I really wanted to save lives I'd oppose abortion.
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Oh boy, it's Siberian Apocalypse Watch season again. The year has just flown by.
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27 - it's considered impolite to comment on someone else's still.