Are There Bots on Deny Ignorance

[Lazy_Hand]

I thought I would give DI another try.

However, the last few days on DI have been just stupid.  It seems from the time of the Kirck murder certain threads just get derailed to orange man bad.

Any attempt to have an actual discussion and exploration of facts for specific thread topics just leads to two or three accounts just derailing the thread and trying to control the narrative with whataboutisms.  

I wouldn’t normally be like this.  There are days I post way too often. But the minute by minute responses hour after hour to derail is just crazy. I don’t think they are right out bot accounts.  But they seem to be accounts augmented by bots.  It’s just crazy stupid that threads can’t even stay halfway on topic.  The James Comey indictment thread on last checking turned to Stormy Daniels.  A subject already done to death.

I like being challenged in my beliefs, but constant derailment to off topics is the kind of crap you would expect from a hack flat earth site.  Not DI?  

I’m not sure what you think about Metabunk.  But I like that they limit how often you respond.  Makes you really think about what you’re going to post.

[Michigan Swamp Buck]

If the site owner(s) and/or administrators are on the ball, then no, the only bot is their own AI. Bobby? Is that its name?

Anyway, I have had to deal with more humans than bots when certain profiles are sliding my thread down into the black hole, at least to page ten in most cases. Some of these people are on these forums 24/7 and are probably the bots. If you can be fairly certain they are signing off at regular intervals, then they are probably not bots, and you might be able to figure out what time zone they're in.

Every forum I go to has at least three or maybe four contrarians or Devil's advocates who will try to slide certain topics with subjects that are hardly related, if at all. They will ignore your replies and requests for more information or links and never respond to a fact-based argument. They either push the same topic or go willy-nilly on to other topics while never going back to the last ones.

[GeauxHomeLittleD]

Per two website "Captcha" tests today apparently I personally am not a robot- but I can't speak for anyone else.

[Lazy_Hand]

 They will ignore your replies and requests for more information or links and never respond to a fact-based argument. They either push the same topic or go willy-nilly on to other topics while never going back to the last ones.

When I was active on a flat earth site, I would even go as far as to make gifs out of the portions of video clips I referenced.  That would even get ignored by flat earther’s, or just right out lied about.  


It just amazes me the lengths people go to to just right out use blatant lies or misdirection. 

I’m working for a project trying to get funding.  From it, and the citizens groups against it.  To flat earthers. To DI turning who can yell the loudest with one liners and supposed gotcha’s.   It’s hard to believe the right out lies people use.  I think most really start out honest and with a real concern.  Then they get attention like the citizens group I’m referring to.  A few repeatedly get interviewed, or get to be live streamed during city council meetings.  Then it becomes about the drama and doing anything to keep the attention the drama brings.  Others, it’s just carrying water like a good little useful idiot.

And some of it is just right out trolling.  

I guess in general, I’m tired of not being able to have a debate on actual facts.  Where everyone turns into a troll.  And it becomes more about the drama than the lives being affected.

[Lazy_Hand]

Was somewhat interested in looking at DI this morning 6am my time.  Just curious what was going on.  Seen the person that has been trolling the site was the last replies for the five most recent topics.  Then was like why bother.  Then a moderator from the UK with similar views as the individual in question usually starts to relentlessly post around 2 pm my time.  Di is pretty ridiculous at this point.

[F2d5thCav]

Probably agents, official or otherwise.  I know Canada employs people to "steer discussion" in various internet forums.  Pretty sure other governments do the same.

ATS had more than a few agents on it, always pushing selected topics in certain directions.  It gets old seeing that go on.

Internet discussion as a result is nowadays barely worth the effort.  The well of public discussion was deliberately poisoned, and a potable version isn't coming back.

[Michigan Swamp Buck]

Was somewhat interested in looking at DI this morning 6am my time.  Just curious what was going on.  Seen the person that has been trolling the site was the last replies for the five most recent topics.  Then was like why bother.  Then a moderator from the UK with similar views as the individual in question usually starts to relentlessly post around 2 pm my time.  Di is pretty ridiculous at this point.

Yes, these two are severely annoying, esp the Incessant One. Ignoring that one helps a lot. Definitely humans, but very much like bots.

[Michigan Swamp Buck]

I was just over there reading the Tylenol thread, and the two mentioned were joined by two more contrarians who are well known there, Annee and chr0naut. Those four are like a double tag team working together to derail the thread and take down conservatives, especially Trump supporters.

They will insist that their sources have the only legitimate scientific facts and that any opposing ones are idiotic nonsense. Many times, they don't have a link to their source material, as if it is the absolute truth and common knowledge. So, no matter what studies you refer to, regardless of the prestigious academic research centers or the credentials of those who conducted the studies, to them, your source is bunk if it disagrees with their media and government-supported opinions. They are so condescending, as well as trying to make you feel like your an idiot following dummy Trump. There is no way to make them consider anything other than what you might say to support their liberal stance.

[Lazy_Hand]

I was just over there reading the Tylenol thread, and the two mentioned were joined by two more contrarians who are well known there, Annee and chr0naut. Those four are like a double tag team working together to derail the thread and take down conservatives, especially Trump supporters.

Maybe they aren’t in that camp.  But it amazes me how people can be so anti capitalism, but seem all in for big pharma?

Anyway, one of them was going on about fever and miscarriages during pregnancy and how the needed Tylenol.  After all this time, Tylenol is the only way to reduce fever?

Added. After thinking about it. There is also probably a difference between taking the drug a few days for a fever. Vs taking it everyday day out of convenience for headaches.

Anyway. For total disclosure.  I’m biased against Tylenol.  Had an uncle that didn’t understand the risks of Tylenol and killed his liver taking Tylenol to treat back pain.  He was a retired naval warrant officer.  You would think he would have known better / had better access to healthcare?

My mom was a nurse, and she was very strict on giving me medications growing up.  You didn’t take medications out of convenience.  There are consequences for any drug and medications shouldn’t be over prescribed to make someone rich.

[Michigan Swamp Buck]

Something else I noticed when dealing with these bot-like people. You can't sit on the fence about any issue; no middle ground is to be had, as they push you onto the "other side" they are opposite of. Even if you basically agree, but aren't quite there on a few details, forget it, you're still a Trump-supporting Dirty NoGoodNic. 

Don't bring up any trigger words and dance on eggshells all day around them, but unless you basically repeat what they say, you're just an asshole to them. Even if you are a suck up to them and their causes, you aren't going to get an "Atta Boy Smucko," and a pat on the back; you are nothing to them.