Not just elections or power plants. Russian trolls have proven they can hack our minds.

[ck4829]

Trump is a financially and morally bankrupt individual? Boom! But what about Hillary's emails!

Muslim Americans want to build a cemetery? Boom! It's now a matter of 'national security' that they don't!

In a nation that claims to be the greatest with the "greatest healthcare system in the world", we should have a robust public health protocol that not only eliminates diseases in the US but supports the eradication of diseases worldwide? Boom! Maybe "childhood diseases" are actually a good thing!

Kids are protesting to not be shot in school? Boom! Whoa, they clearly didn't reach this opinion on their own volition, maybe they were paid by George Soros to say this!

Black lives matter? Boom! Hold up...

The Putin regime has shown an ability to turn anything they want into an issue, as well as things of basic decency and human rights into issues that shouldn't even be on the table.

They could very well turn "Toilet paper... Over or under?" into an issue that could divide Americans.

[CentralMass]

1. Russian meddling isn't necessary to stir up $hit. There is no shortage of domestic propagandists.

[ck4829]

2. Yep, that's the other thing. Alt-righters, white nationalists, and 4chan types are also doing this

[tymorial]

3. Russia didn't hack our minds. The internet did.

Russia merely exploited the reality that people are likely to believe anything they read online. Combine this with confirmation bias and Russia really didn't have to do much to sway the election. This may ruffle feathers. I DO blame Russia for their actions but I can't blame Russia for the outcome because we as a people were already primed to be manipulated and duped.

Again, the problem comes down to confirmation bias and the internet has made it very easy to obtain information which validates one's notions and opinions without critical thought. Social media has only made it more convenient to find others with similar ideas and opinions. It perpetuates group think which only generates more the same information exponentially. This is done without the need for bots or troll farms... they are just faster. People fell for the trolls because the information they posted was ALREADY BELIEVED. It just needed validation. Hell, we remove troll farms from the equation and we have many examples where the group think collective perpetuate false narratives and inaccurate information. In the past we didn't even need the internet: stranger danger, poisoned Halloween candy, satanic ritual murder, 1980s daycare hysteria. In the daycare hysteria actual innocent people were sacrificed and ruined because the information was believed without a moment of doubt or consideration otherwise. No fact, information or evidence to the contrary was going to sway opinion. Mass hysteria is most certainly group think.

Thinking critically is unnecessary when group think can provide all the answers and make decisions. Unless one actively challenges opinions and holds them up to scrutiny, critical thought doesn't exist and that validation must come from external sources outside of normal channels of information. Sadly, in today's world it can be difficult determining which is reliable. That too I do blame on trolls because again, people believe what they read on the internet.

Do a search on "people believe what they read on the internet" Numerous results will hit with many published prior to the 2016 election.

[SammyWinstonJack]

4. This!