They’re here. Not in the numbers reddit used to have, but they’re here. Occasionally we get a good one too. If you find yourself being argued with unreasonably, there’s a good chance that’s a russian troll. They have a scent.
I immediately went to check that “SaltyAmerican” guy that often gets in my “All” feed and latest post was week ago. 🗿
Nothing gives away a Russian troll posing as an American person like trying really hard to emphasize their “Americanness” - with those “as an American”/“we Americans”.
They had a lot of posts on “Late Stage Capitalism” community, and I suspect that community as a whole may probably be run by Russian trolls. Simply because of a contrast with other lefty communities - like you can have civil conversations in most places, and in there it’s just a perpetual hate boner machine, that just wants to get you upset and angry.
They definitely have a playbook for infiltrating communities and taking them over. There’s a lot of subreddits on Reddit that are worker aligned but have questionable viewpoints.
I have written comments about this before, but the very simplified guide on, how to spot the russian and chinese propagandists on lemmy, is:
Defending russian invasion in Ukraine, defending genocide of the chinese minorities, claiming Tianamen square massacre and the treatment of uighyr people are a hoax, being racist towards tibetans, doing the “I do not support [them], but…”
Equating the USA = NATO, claiming everything any NATO country does is NATO as a whole doing it, blaming NATO for trying to attack Russia, saying NATO is trying to expand when border countries are joining voluntarily, blaming small border countries for aggression towards Russia
Talking about “the West”, starting to speak about colonization times in unrelated discussions, trying to dismiss you by blaming you or you country for European colonization
Trying to downplay and derail discussion on what Russia/China does, because the USA/“the West”/someone else has done bad things as well
Writing longer and longer responses with multiple claims, often so you have to look into their sources/find reliable sources on the things by yourself, so you can argue against, in attempt to tire out out by making you answer each claim individually
Using chinese state sponsored sources, supporting pro-russian/chinese politicians
Blaming you for supporting genocide in Gaza, when you talk about some other genocide being bad, especially if it is related to Ukraine or China
Dissing capitalism and saying China and/or Russia are true communists, marxists, etc., supporting the governments of China/Russia, either directly or hinting they are Better Options, arguing against calling China/Russia authoritarian regimes
You know, you found them, when your comments saying anything negative about Russia/China get downvoted, or someone starts arguing against you. Essentially there is no difference between the useful idiots and the bots and propagandists themselves. The people honestly identifying as tankies or defending tankies, are hanging in the metaphorical nazi bar without realizing it, and will not change their opinions, because they belive you are either bad, or brainwashed, so arguing does not get you anywhere.
The easiest way to deal with these, is to block the and move on. Arguing against will only give them more visibility, and make you tired and angry. If you feel pissed off, just explain these points as an answer, so others can consider with a different perspective, what they are reading, then block and move on.
Trying to downplay and derail discussion on what Russia/China does, because the USA/“the West”/someone else has done bad things as well
Blaming you for supporting genocide in Gaza
Nice try at derailing. I am against all genocide, everywhere. I do not defend nor deny European powers or the USA doing shit all around. I am talking against Russian and Chinese propaganda.
Still a miss. I am Finnish, and have the fuck all to do with the politics of the USA. There is a reason, why I am familiar with the Russian propaganda tactics.
Ironically proving my point… lmao. Though I should have added, “calling Ukraine/you/your country nazis”, and “trying to insult you/your country personally, being rude in attempt to get you enraged”. There are probably a few more I forgot.
They’re here. Not in the numbers reddit used to have, but they’re here. Occasionally we get a good one too. If you find yourself being argued with unreasonably, there’s a good chance that’s a russian troll. They have a scent.
I immediately went to check that “SaltyAmerican” guy that often gets in my “All” feed and latest post was week ago. 🗿
Nothing gives away a Russian troll posing as an American person like trying really hard to emphasize their “Americanness” - with those “as an American”/“we Americans”.
There’s another obnoxious troll that’s similar to yours that is so bad at it, I’m pretty sure he’s an american.
Who’s this guy? Sounds like a fun read
They had a lot of posts on “Late Stage Capitalism” community, and I suspect that community as a whole may probably be run by Russian trolls. Simply because of a contrast with other lefty communities - like you can have civil conversations in most places, and in there it’s just a perpetual hate boner machine, that just wants to get you upset and angry.
https://lemmy.blahaj.zone/comment/22444072
Definitely not American if they use the west unironically
They’ve taken over the Late Stage Capitalism community and have started banning comments that say voting against the GOP is a good thing.
They definitely have a playbook for infiltrating communities and taking them over. There’s a lot of subreddits on Reddit that are worker aligned but have questionable viewpoints.
can you give an example?
These are old and some of them on just their techniques, but it’s a good start.
https://sh.itjust.works/post/33277983
Hope that helps!
I have written comments about this before, but the very simplified guide on, how to spot the russian and chinese propagandists on lemmy, is:
You know, you found them, when your comments saying anything negative about Russia/China get downvoted, or someone starts arguing against you. Essentially there is no difference between the useful idiots and the bots and propagandists themselves. The people honestly identifying as tankies or defending tankies, are hanging in the metaphorical nazi bar without realizing it, and will not change their opinions, because they belive you are either bad, or brainwashed, so arguing does not get you anywhere.
The easiest way to deal with these, is to block the and move on. Arguing against will only give them more visibility, and make you tired and angry. If you feel pissed off, just explain these points as an answer, so others can consider with a different perspective, what they are reading, then block and move on.
Lmfao your list is just anyone who doesn’t deepthroat western propaganda on every aspect of their “enemies”
Do you believe western news and governments that they are not in the middle of genocide in the middle east?
Nice try at derailing. I am against all genocide, everywhere. I do not defend nor deny European powers or the USA doing shit all around. I am talking against Russian and Chinese propaganda.
Oh you’re against genocide!! That’s great! Which third party candidate did you vote for?
Still a miss. I am Finnish, and have the fuck all to do with the politics of the USA. There is a reason, why I am familiar with the Russian propaganda tactics.
Congrats on finally getting rid of the Nazi symbols, lmao.
100% agree. If you’re explaining, you’re losing. Some of the replies to your list are hilarious.
Ironically proving my point… lmao. Though I should have added, “calling Ukraine/you/your country nazis”, and “trying to insult you/your country personally, being rude in attempt to get you enraged”. There are probably a few more I forgot.
like persimmons or bad bo?
Smug cloud
My truck is to just never read replies ever.
Then I can never argue with a bot!
If I don’t naturally come across the post again then I just forget it ever happened. Like old forums!