Clemson Professors protecting the Republic

[SlovenskoTiger]

http://www.charlottemagazine.com/Charlotte-Magazine/December-2018/The-Troll-Hunters/

Cool article and plug for one of my favorite board games, Pandemic

 

[mnc1981]

A very long, and terrifying, article.

 

[Smiling_Tiger]

Scary. You can argue and debate all you want about whether the Trump campaign had anything to do with it but, in the end, that's somewhat irrelevant. What Russia did to influence the election is absolutely terrifying because so many people just blindly believe what they read on social media and are so impacted by it.

 

[CUFam98]

I'm sure that throughout all of history the US has never once tried to influence the elections of a sovereign state.

Absent any direct collaboration with folks in the Trump White House, are we mad that Russia "interfered" with the election? If so, where is the outrage about pretty much every election since the 50s?
Are we mad that they did it better than us?
Are we mad that they used tools developed in the US against us?
Are we mad that the basic status quo is being used an excuse from the eternally offended on why they lost an election where they ran a terrible candidate with terrible baggage?
Are we mad that the Russians did such an obvious job of it and folks were still duped?

 

[tigerGUY]

Scary. You can argue and debate all you want about whether the Trump campaign had anything to do with it but, in the end, that's somewhat irrelevant. What Russia did to influence the election is absolutely terrifying because so many people just blindly believe what they read on social media and are so impacted by it.

Absolutely correct. But Trump didn't solicit the Russians as has been embarrassingly attempted to prove. Didn't happen. Anyone that doesn't believe we've attempted the same against other countries has not only there head in the sand, their buried up to their freaking asses.

 

[RUBDROC]

The US routinely tries to influence foreign governments .
Obama tried his best to get BiBis rival in office in Israel. Fact!

 

[Jfcarter3]

I'm sure that throughout all of history the US has never once tried to influence the elections of a sovereign state.

Absent any direct collaboration with folks in the Trump White House, are we mad that Russia "interfered" with the election? If so, where is the outrage about pretty much every election since the 50s?
Are we mad that they did it better than us?
Are we mad that they used tools developed in the US against us?
Are we mad that the basic status quo is being used an excuse from the eternally offended on why they lost an election where they ran a terrible candidate with terrible baggage?
Are we mad that the Russians did such an obvious job of it and folks were still duped?

Of course we have. Still do it today, I'm sure.

I think "mad" is the wrong word. I think it is very disconcerting that a foreign country helped, and still helps, plant that seeds and facilitate the growth of discord for that sole purpose. It is equally disconcerting that people allow it to happen because we trust what we read as gospel and are, as a society, very quick to get offended and are often times ruled with emotions without the benefit of intellect.

 

[ddot7]

I'm sure that throughout all of history the US has never once tried to influence the elections of a sovereign state.

Absent any direct collaboration with folks in the Trump White House, are we mad that Russia "interfered" with the election? If so, where is the outrage about pretty much every election since the 50s?
Are we mad that they did it better than us?
Are we mad that they used tools developed in the US against us?
Are we mad that the basic status quo is being used an excuse from the eternally offended on why they lost an election where they ran a terrible candidate with terrible baggage?
Are we mad that the Russians did such an obvious job of it and folks were still duped?

Why are you using “we” when clearly you’re happy with the result? If it had been Hillary who had business and other ties to Russia and they had influenced the election, I’m pretty confident you would be part of the “we” that’s “mad”.

I think it’s funny how now the right uses terms like “eternally offended” when every single thing Obama did was offensive to them. Meanwhile, now you have “your” President who laughs in the face of respect for the values that your party supposedly holds so near and dear and you make every possible excuse for him. The same morals you wanted upheld when Clinton was getting his dick sucked and lying about it no longer matter when Trump is doing the same...and apparently paying off porn stars in order to avoid their stories affecting the election.

Now you say “the Russians did such an obvious job of it and folks were still duped” yet all of the claims from Trump’s side were that they had nothing to do with it, blahs blah blah. I guarantee if you look back on this board every Trump supporter was claiming that there was no way the Russians interfered.

Had that been any Democratic candidate, the outrage from your side who be at an all-time high. Be honest for once.

 

[SlovenskoTiger]

Welp, we're prob getting moved to the round table haha.

 

[Transference]

I'm sure that throughout all of history the US has never once tried to influence the elections of a sovereign state.

Absent any direct collaboration with folks in the Trump White House, are we mad that Russia "interfered" with the election? If so, where is the outrage about pretty much every election since the 50s?
Are we mad that they did it better than us?
Are we mad that they used tools developed in the US against us?
Are we mad that the basic status quo is being used an excuse from the eternally offended on why they lost an election where they ran a terrible candidate with terrible baggage?
Are we mad that the Russians did such an obvious job of it and folks were still duped?

Absolutely correct. But Trump didn't solicit the Russians as has been embarrassingly attempted to prove. Didn't happen. Anyone that doesn't believe we've attempted the same against other countries has not only there head in the sand, their buried up to their freaking asses.

The US routinely tries to influence foreign governments .
Obama tried his best to get BiBis rival in office in Israel. Fact!

Given the article, these responses seem like satire. But alas...

 

[CU1TruTiger4Life]

Scary. You can argue and debate all you want about whether the Trump campaign had anything to do with it but, in the end, that's somewhat irrelevant. What Russia did to influence the election is absolutely terrifying because so many people just blindly believe what they read on social media and are so impacted by it.

And?

 

[clemsontiger02]

Why are you using “we” when clearly you’re happy with the result? If it had been Hillary who had business and other ties to Russia and they had influenced the election, I’m pretty confident you would be part of the “we” that’s “mad”.

I think it’s funny how now the right uses terms like “eternally offended” when every single thing Obama did was offensive to them. Meanwhile, now you have “your” President who laughs in the face of respect for the values that your party supposedly holds so near and dear and you make every possible excuse for him. The same morals you wanted upheld when Clinton was getting his dick sucked and lying about it no longer matter when Trump is doing the same...and apparently paying off porn stars in order to avoid their stories affecting the election.

Now you say “the Russians did such an obvious job of it and folks were still duped” yet all of the claims from Trump’s side were that they had nothing to do with it, blahs blah blah. I guarantee if you look back on this board every Trump supporter was claiming that there was no way the Russians interfered.

Had that been any Democratic candidate, the outrage from your side who be at an all-time high. Be honest for once.

It is true that my hardcore Democrat and Republican friends have essentially swapped places, with the outrage and offendedness coming from whichever party is not in power.

Kinda funny to watch it all (predictably) unfold.

 

[gcsoccer16]

Russia trolls or the fact that HRC was the worst possible candidate ever.

 

[SDTiger9]

Of course we have. Still do it today, I'm sure.

I think "mad" is the wrong word. I think it is very disconcerting that a foreign country helped, and still helps, plant that seeds and facilitate the growth of discord for that sole purpose. It is equally disconcerting that people allow it to happen because we trust what we read as gospel and are, as a society, very quick to get offended and are often times ruled with emotions without the benefit of intellect.

All the words you just said especially in the 2nd half of your statement are the clear reasons why everyone should develop ones own thoughts.

Prior to the 21st Century, the opposite was true. Let’s the idiots be idiots, they have very little impact to the big game. As population size becomes overwhelming and authorization of communication is delivered at the lowest common denominator, you MUST become educated. If we don’t support education to all, the real smarts ones will get swallowed up by the idiocacy.

I laughed at your choice of word gospel. Intended or not, that is the major problem to the powderkeg passions of religion and politics. Too many people are blind(ed). And they don’t know, and/or don’t care to investigate reality.

 

[Earle36]

It seems Hillary’s and the Clinton Foundation’s
Crimes would dwarf anything ticky tacky thing Trump did. Plus Obama running guns in Mexico, letting our ambassador get murdered, sending billions in cash to our enemy in Iran( top terrorist state), and illegally spying on Trump( a political opponent). HRC and Barry Obama make Trump seem
Like an Angel.

 

[rjohn19]

Russia trolls or the fact that HRC was the worst possible candidate ever.

Russian trolls or the fact they convinced you she was the worst possible candidate ever?

Never underestimate the power of propaganda- it works because all of us- even the slowest- think we're too smart to be affected.

 

[CUFam98]

Why are you using “we” when clearly you’re happy with the result? If it had been Hillary who had business and other ties to Russia and they had influenced the election, I’m pretty confident you would be part of the “we” that’s “mad”.

I think it’s funny how now the right uses terms like “eternally offended” when every single thing Obama did was offensive to them. Meanwhile, now you have “your” President who laughs in the face of respect for the values that your party supposedly holds so near and dear and you make every possible excuse for him. The same morals you wanted upheld when Clinton was getting his dick sucked and lying about it no longer matter when Trump is doing the same...and apparently paying off porn stars in order to avoid their stories affecting the election.

Now you say “the Russians did such an obvious job of it and folks were still duped” yet all of the claims from Trump’s side were that they had nothing to do with it, blahs blah blah. I guarantee if you look back on this board every Trump supporter was claiming that there was no way the Russians interfered.

Had that been any Democratic candidate, the outrage from your side who be at an all-time high. Be honest for once.

I wouldn't say I'm happy about the result. I prefer it to the alternative of Hillary, but this wasn't the result I was looking for back in the primary. I wish our realistic choices weren't an *******, a crook and a crazy socialist. Thats the punchline of a joke, not a Presidential election....even if I tend to agree more with the *******'s policies.

I was using the general "we" as in the US. I thought I set the stage for that with the acknowledgement that "We" have been doing what "We" are mad at for probably 60 years. "We" have benefitied from that same action since WWII. And in fact "We" have had it done to us by the same folks that "We" are now mad at for about as long. "We" should be mad at Russia, but "We" should let the CIA figure out what happened and how to respond vs CNN/Fox/Democrat/Republican. "We" are at a selective outrage now because of the result. The folks that are white-hot, weren't doing much about it when they knew it was occurring but thought their side was going to win anyway. In fact that same party and political cronies were mocking a previous presidential candidate for worrying about Russia calling it a "return to the 80s." The side was saying that this could happen back in 2012 and were mocked for it benefited from it in 16. Now the roles are reversed with the side minimizing back in 12 are blaming all ills on it and the side warning in 12 is minimizing now.

There is a huge difference between "Russian interference" and "collaboration with Trump." I bet when "We" interfere with other counties elections we don't send a memo to the candidate letting them know we want to help them, and I'm betting Russia didn't either. Honestly I think Russia wanted to create turmoil more than they cared about either party winning. If it was about blackmail and control, they could have been puppetmaster to either.

Frankly I think the whole Russian thing should be a final indictment on the perils of social media. That should be the study, not some political result. Social media has allowed untruths to run rampant and unchecked for years and in lightspeed. Whoever came up with the idea of mass broadcasting stupid should be strung up by their nutsack. You could make the case that the toxic political climate is the result of social (and regular) media. Its not a stretch say that the 2 biggest "controversies" and residual effects (Trump and Black Lives Matter) is directly the result of unchecked social media ********.

If Facebook and twitter went away tomorrow, I would bet that 90% of the "United States of the Offended" would be cured. And neither side has the monopoly on being offended. ****, I'm still waiting on my mother in law who was so afraid of Obama to move to Belize and my Uncle who is so afraid of Trump to move to Canada.

 

[CUFam98]

Of course we have. Still do it today, I'm sure.

I think "mad" is the wrong word. I think it is very disconcerting that a foreign country helped, and still helps, plant that seeds and facilitate the growth of discord for that sole purpose. It is equally disconcerting that people allow it to happen because we trust what we read as gospel and are, as a society, very quick to get offended and are often times ruled with emotions without the benefit of intellect.

I would agree with this completely, but why is it disconcerting when it happens to us, but not when we do it to someone else? We are just aware of the goose and gander in this situation.

And as you mentioned, its a testament to the fact that our ability to share, digest and interpret information is basically gone. We just "like" and "retweet."

 

[johnhugh]

Absolutely correct. But Trump didn't solicit the Russians as has been embarrassingly attempted to prove. Didn't happen. Anyone that doesn't believe we've attempted the same against other countries has not only there head in the sand, their buried up to their freaking asses.

Two uses of there, two chances to get it right, both absolutely botched

 

[92TigerME]

Scary. You can argue and debate all you want about whether the Trump campaign had anything to do with it but, in the end, that's somewhat irrelevant. What Russia did to influence the election is absolutely terrifying because so many people just blindly believe what they read on social media and are so impacted by it.

Democrats are harvesting vote and you believe Russia is influencing our elections?

The Democratic party is Russia.

Leon Trolski division

 

[Spare Jock]

Two uses of there, two chances to get it right, both absolutely botched

Who cares?

 

[tigerjl]

I would agree with this completely, but why is it disconcerting when it happens to us, but not when we do it to someone else? We are just aware of the goose and gander in this situation.

And as you mentioned, its a testament to the fact that our ability to share, digest and interpret information is basically gone. We just "like" and "retweet."

Please take your thoughtfulness and ability to recognize nuance to another board sir. Our supreme leaders (assuming they are on “our side”) are infallible and Machavelli done settled this.

There was no Russian meddling, Hillary’s emails, derp.

 

[avengermg73]

What is scary is that over 30 million Americans information was hacked by a foreign government in 2015. The largest cyber attack on our DOD. All background checks were halted for over 9 months for all DOD employees.

Guess who said this in 2012?
“the 1980s, they're now calling to ask for their foreign policy back because, you know, the Cold War's been over for 20 years,"

This shows how reactive the previous administration was.

 

[grazhoppa]

Two uses of there, two chances to get it right, both absolutely botched

“Theirs no their their.” —Gertrude Stein

 

[iceheart08]

This thread is filled with enlightening intelligent posts. Solid whataboutism @avengermg73, @92TigerME and @Earle36

 

[MBRO]

I'm sure that throughout all of history the US has never once tried to influence the elections of a sovereign state.

Absent any direct collaboration with folks in the Trump White House, are we mad that Russia "interfered" with the election? If so, where is the outrage about pretty much every election since the 50s?
Are we mad that they did it better than us?
Are we mad that they used tools developed in the US against us?
Are we mad that the basic status quo is being used an excuse from the eternally offended on why they lost an election where they ran a terrible candidate with terrible baggage?
Are we mad that the Russians did such an obvious job of it and folks were still duped?

Other countries are responsible for securing the outcome of their elections, we are responsible for securing the outcome of ours.

I fail to see the comparison. Was it ok for the Soviets to deploy ballistic missiles to Cuba in 1962?

 

[iceheart08]

Also, love the nationalists in this thread defending other countries who meddle in our elections in an effort to support their supreme leader. Trump over country right?

Here's the response you were looking for.

**** them. We are America. We can do it to them, they can't do it to us.

 

[Jfcarter3]

I would agree with this completely, but why is it disconcerting when it happens to us, but not when we do it to someone else? We are just aware of the goose and gander in this situation.

And as you mentioned, its a testament to the fact that our ability to share, digest and interpret information is basically gone. We just "like" and "retweet."

I think my last statement is disconcerting because it is the de-evolution of the human condition - presumably across all nations with similar access to similar social platforms or under similar circumstances.

As to the "us" and "them" part of creating discord, that is a bit more difficult to verbalize. I guess from an objective perspective in a vacuum, neither is any more right or wrong than the other. That said, I, personally, am not actively trying to rile up another country's citizens and create or further social or political strife, but to whatever extent the Russians are doing it to us, I do live it through the news, through water cooler conversations, hell, even through conversations here. So as it has a least a minuscule impact on me, I can say what they are doing is wrong. Make sense? I guess it is a somewhat selfish perspective.

 

[Jfcarter3]

Prior to the 21st Century, the opposite was true. Let’s the idiots be idiots, they have very little impact to the big game. As population size becomes overwhelming and authorization of communication is delivered at the lowest common denominator, you MUST become educated. If we don’t support education to all, the real smarts ones will get swallowed up by the idiocacy.

Pretty sure this is the premise behind the movie Idiocracy.

 

[SDTiger9]

Pretty sure this is the premise behind the movie Idiocracy.

Ha. Heard of it. Haven’t seen it yet.

**********

What’s really frightening is I’ve seen this coming for 20 years. When you put the power to communicate in the lowest forms. When you no longer have to “prove” yourself of ability. What do you expect?

Social media has eliminated credibility, history of work ethic, stability. And for those that are doing good things, we try to find disparaging tweets from a decade ago..... when you’re a teen.

Ridiculous.

 

[Smiling_Tiger]

Ha. Heard of it. Haven’t seen it yet.

**********

What’s really frightening is I’ve seen this coming for 20 years. When you put the power to communicate in the lowest forms. When you no longer have to “prove” yourself of ability. What do you expect?

Social media has eliminated credibility, history of work ethic, stability. And for those that are doing good things, we try to find disparaging tweets from a decade ago..... when you’re a teen.

Ridiculous.

You should watch it. It's so stupid it's hilarious. Every day it looks more and more like a documentary made in advance. The scene with them explaining why they put Brawndo on plants instead of water is like a conversation I have 100 times a day.

 

[tigerGUY]

Two uses of there, two chances to get it right, both absolutely botched

I could blame it on auto. I wouldn't know. What's your fvcking point? Can you not be nice without being a fvcking *******...*******?

 

[92TigerME]

Also, love the nationalists in this thread defending other countries who meddle in our elections in an effort to support their supreme leader. Trump over country right?

Here's the response you were looking for.

**** them. We are America. We can do it to them, they can't do it to us.

There has been no evidence that Russia supplied the DNCLEAK

Much less Trump

Stop crying like a snowflake.

 

[tigerGUY]

Who cares?

Thank you.

 

[dfrctigersc]

Scary. You can argue and debate all you want about whether the Trump campaign had anything to do with it but, in the end, that's somewhat irrelevant. What Russia did to influence the election is absolutely terrifying because so many people just blindly believe what they read on social media and are so impacted by it.

Even more scary is CNN.

 

[TigerDeal]

http://www.charlottemagazine.com/Charlotte-Magazine/December-2018/The-Troll-Hunters/

Cool article and plug for one of my favorite board games, Pandemic

Who are the Russian trolls on this board?

 

[tigerGUY]

Given the article, these responses seem like satire. But alas...

SMGDFH. You and your ilk are a GD cancer to America. WTH....identifying your kind only makes it easier. Y...FYT. GDAH.

Yeah...your *** knows EXACTLY what the **** I know about you.

 

[iceheart08]

There has been no evidence that Russia supplied the DNCLEAK

Much less Trump

Stop crying like a snowflake.

Lol wut?

Are you arguing that russia didn't meddle in our elections?

 

[iceheart08]

Even more scary is CNN.

Yikes bro

 

[92TigerME]

Lol wut?

Are you arguing that russia didn't meddle in our elections?

Yes