Second thoughts about... not responding to bots and trolls

[Hahn_Bikey]

We’ve all heard the advice: don’t respond to bots and trolls, but I had some weird thoughts:

1. It’s good for progressives to have dialogue with moderates and wingnuts, to help increase progressive votes. We can all benefit from experience, so why not practice on trolls? Sure they will think they won because they got responses, but you really won because they don’t know that you just used them to sharpen your teeth.

2. Conspiracy theory mode here: the advice might be a right wing meme, just like that fake one promoting that both sides are bad so don’t bother voting. Because that means that a lot of right wing posts sit out there unchallenged. Sure, WE know they’re trolls or bots but others may be fooled into thinking those are mainstream thoughts. Even if they are just trolls or bots it seems like there should be a flood of responses calling them out on it.

Am I stupid? If so somebody please talk me off the ledge here…

[irisblue]

1. I check Twitter accounts using botsentinel dot com, I report fake accounts

I block trolls, if they post blatantly false tweets,I report that individual tweets.
I'm not willing to give my emotional or mental energy to bad faith actors any longer.

I run across a fake account here, I report to MIRT.

I do not engage with fools on Reddit.


And welcome to DU

[mcar]

2. "Moderates and wingnuts?"

Are you seriously conflating the 2?

[Hahn_Bikey]

4. um... no. What's wrong with saying both groups should be convinced to vote progressive?

Oh, wait... were you just trolling me to make a point?

[JI7]

16. So called progressives can often be anti liberal

[Phoenix61]

3. Never ever feed a troll. It boosts their post.

The best way to get rid of them is to starve them.

[Initech]

5. Never feed the trolls, it only makes them stronger.

If I see terrible memes or FJB or anything like that, I instantly block, report, and move on. Because you automatically know where they stand and there's no changing their minds. Just my experience.

[Hahn_Bikey]

6. The point isn't to convince the trolls. It's to put warning signs for other people who might read it

You and I might block them, but other people might read them and see that they are unchallenged, therefore making them think it's a legitimate point.

[Sugarcoated]

7. I completely agree with you

The points you're making I've made dozens of times - here, and to people I know.

[Hahn_Bikey]

8. Good to know someone understands.

Good to know someone understands.
If you don't mind me asking, what was your success rate in getting your point across?

[Sugarcoated]

10. My goal isn't to change a wingnut's mind

I think that's almost impossible. Every situation is different. Sometimes I simply say something isn't true and post a link. If I see someone getting bullied I stand up for them and back up whatever factual point they're making. I often use humor and sarcasm to make the them feel stupid, because they are so it's not hard to do. Sometimes I give them a taste of their own medicine. I've found most Trumpers to be pretty immature and it's all about derogatory name calling, stupid memes to them. It's easy to sting them and flip the script. I try not to get into the mud best I can. I also think it's incredibly important to go to Biden's social media profiles, Pelosi, my local Rep and Senators and be a positive supportive voice for them. Pelosi's FB page is shockingly taken over by the most vile insulting garbage you can imagine.

[Hahn_Bikey]

13. Clarifying my question

Sorry I should have worded my question more clearly: What I meant to ask is: You mentioned that you have made the same point about not responding to trolls several times, and I was curious out of those several times, how successful were you at getting that particular point across.

[Sugarcoated]

15. Pretty much the same as you're seeing in your thread.

[Habitation]

12. Or the troll might think their bait didn't work.

Just a thought

[Sugarcoated]

9. Great points

We can block the trolls but what about all those people who haven't? Most people on social media platforms who haven't been knockin around message boards and comment sections like I have, and maybe you. I've seen FB profiles and groups, message boards, etc. get overrun with trolls and it can be demoralizing. Also, and this is a big one with me: If a lie isn't challenged it becomes truth. I saw it happen in the Bush years and, in hindsight, I wish I'd pushed back on social media (such as it was) back in those days. It's the same thing as Lush Rimbaugh spouting hate and lies day after day without a counter and look how that's turned out. Like it our not, social media matters. Having said that, I pick and chose who and what I respond to, make it count.

[mvd]

11. Well DU is supposed to be a place free from that

There are plenty of places to confront right wingers. I would rather stick to talking to fellow Democrats here. We don’t always agree (I am more progressive and some are more moderate), but at least we live in the same universe here.

[Hahn_Bikey]

14. I didn't mean trolls on DU

Sorry I should have been more clear.. I wasn't referring to the trolls on DU. I agree with what you said re: the DU community. I was referring to all the places outside of DU where the trolls are running loose, and therefore successfully fooling unsuspecting readers since their toxic posts get the last word.