General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMost likely, we're being watched closely, and it's OK.
This is a response to a thread that was self-deleted by marmar who wanted to understand why views seem so high this evening on DU (immediately following the conclusion of Trumps second impeachment trial) compared to responses and recommendations. What follows is my theory.National security and other bots are probably doing repeated word-searches looking for words like:
fight, kill, terrorism, attack, bomb, destroy, plan, meeting, murder, eradicate, secede, secession, war, castrate all Republicans, treason, traitor, vengeance, decimate, decapitate, genocide, annihilate, blast, drown, AK-47, boot, sacrifice, blood, eggs and omelettes, illegal, weapon, killing, homicide, gun, ammo, insurrection, barricade, hang, secret, shoot, poison, anthrax, slaughter, plot, and dont forget tiny demonic wizards designed to penetrate Trumps testicles and blow them up from the inside.
If this post doesnt raise a red flag, then I wrote it very poorly. Seriously, people SHOULD be concerned that true Americans are rightly angry about the blatant miscarriage of justice that we witnessed today. It would make sense for law enforcement to pay special attention to us today.
-Laelth
applegrove
(118,677 posts)are.
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,627 posts)Midnightwalk
(3,131 posts)Nevilledog
(51,112 posts)Laelth
(32,017 posts)In order to make an omelette, you have to break a few eggs.
-Laelth
panader0
(25,816 posts)Laelth
(32,017 posts)-Laelth
Mr.Bill
(24,300 posts)You have to break a few eggs to make an omelet.
Maybe some people use that as code for violent action?
Laelth
(32,017 posts)-Laelth
llmart
(15,540 posts)Response to llmart (Reply #5)
Laelth This message was self-deleted by its author.
I'll volunteer.
Response to llmart (Reply #14)
Laelth This message was self-deleted by its author.
dhill926
(16,339 posts)"I KNEW it," haha....
Laelth
(32,017 posts)Nice chatting with you. Talk to you soon.
-Laelth
Tommymac
(7,263 posts)I thinks that A word is in someone's list.
Laelth
(32,017 posts)-Laelth
TwilightZone
(25,471 posts)But yes, it's quite likely that it's getting attention outside the usual, but I think there might be a lot of right-wing lurkers in the total. That also happens at times like this. They want to see our reactions for the same reason DUers go check out FR, Fox, etc.
Laelth
(32,017 posts)I like reading a few of their reactions as well.
-Laelth
dweller
(23,640 posts)✌🏻
Response to dweller (Reply #7)
Laelth This message was self-deleted by its author.
bdamomma
(63,868 posts)Us??? what are those Seditionists/Trump loyalists saying now.
WarGamer
(12,445 posts)Irish_Dem
(47,114 posts)Response to WarGamer (Reply #10)
Laelth This message was self-deleted by its author.
Generic Brad
(14,275 posts)Chainfire
(17,542 posts)If they ever start to come after mouthy liberals, I will be doomed for my post on gun forums. There are a lot of folks on one forum that would be happy to see me hung, drawn and quartered for my expressed views.
Laelth
(32,017 posts)If Gilead ever happens, I am screwn.
-Laelth
Chainfire
(17,542 posts)Perhaps we can accompany each other to the pearly gates.
Laelth
(32,017 posts)... when I meet you on our ordinary, daily walk to the market and youre somebody else using the same name as my dear, forever-lost friend.
-Laelth
Chainfire
(17,542 posts)dameatball
(7,398 posts)Laelth
(32,017 posts)-Laelth
Hermit-The-Prog
(33,349 posts)Sorry, I don't remember the (alleged) name of the software they were using.
Celerity
(43,400 posts)LaelthsDaughter
(150 posts)Bust their kneecaps, maim, shoot, gun down, stab, torture, eviscerate, bomb, gas, explode, slash, overwhelm, boil, freeze to death, poison with: wolfsbane, carbon monoxide, hemlock, belladonna, and arsenic, some good old fashioned bludgeoning, and incineration.
All of this to just have fun with poking at the people watching.
Laelth
(32,017 posts)-Laelth
LaelthsDaughter
(150 posts)Possibly~.
But I'll add one more: defenistration.
Laelth
(32,017 posts)Just ask Putin.
-Laelth
dweller
(23,640 posts)in over 10 minutes, so I suppose you scared them off ..
good job 👍
✌🏻
Laelth
(32,017 posts)No need to bot-search for it now.
-Laelth
Qutzupalotl
(14,313 posts)leads to discussion boards and leads to DU. Our reputation is deserved; despite our rowdiness, we can be substantive and sticklers for accuracy, which is useful to those seeking answers. Hi, future members!
Laelth
(32,017 posts)I think that is part of it, anyway.
-Laelth
ecstatic
(32,705 posts)We're not violent terrorists. I resisted the urge to say some extremely nasty things to MoscowTurtle & lyin Ted though.
I'm over it now. I'll probably disappear from all topics related to trump until the *real* trial begins.
Laelth
(32,017 posts)Agreed. They know that DU isnt a violent threat to anyone or anything.
-Laelth
Sympthsical
(9,074 posts)It's a busy political news day. Not only are we posters and lurkers refreshing threads much more than usual, but outsiders who are curious about partisan reactions to things are surfing around as well.
I'm just guesstimating, but there's maybe, what, 200 regularly active posters here? Maybe? That seems high even. I lurk a lot more than post, and it always seems like I'm reading the same couple dozen people everyday.
If the government and/or bots are going to go snooping around, they're going to go to your Reddits, Facebooks, Twitter, etc. where tens of thousands of people are interacting in real time.
This is a very small corner of the internet. If someone is lurking around here trying to assess anything, they're wasting an awful lot of time.
Laelth
(32,017 posts)Its worth monitoring, I would think ... I would hope.
-Laelth
Sympthsical
(9,074 posts)I read a lot of political sites. The only reason I knew of this place is because a friend is a long-time poster and said I should read and post here.
I don't know the membership numbers or anything, but as I said, it feels like I'm reading the same posters most days. It feels like a pretty small community to me. And I'm just comparing that to, say, political subReddits, where there are so many people, I never who anyone is.
I mean, it doesn't matter. As long as the community likes each other and generally gets along, the number doesn't matter. Just the quality you're getting out of it.
I just can't imagine the government particularly cares. Facebook monitoring alone feels like it should be its own Cabinet department.
Laelth
(32,017 posts)Thank you for your insight.
-Laelth
Sympthsical
(9,074 posts)I just glanced around. There's one post with 11 replies and 5.7k views. That seems . . . odd. However, it's titled "The MFer got away with it again," and that's the kind of post that a lot of outsiders will glom onto to see the reactions.
But, one thing to note is that the site owners can see where traffic is coming from. So, if it was a problem, maybe an admin could chime in? I've run a few sites in the past, and I could always instantly tell if something got linked somewhere. It's there in the stats read out.
Laelth
(32,017 posts)This site dates to 2000, and, at one point, was in the top 200 busiest sites on the internet. We do American politics, and we are the largest left-wing, American political forum on the internet. Were accustomed to being watched. The admins are fully aware of our traffic patterns. Its no biggie to us.
Compared to our right-wing mirrors, were harmless.
-Laelth
Clearly fogged in
(1,896 posts)People who like to look for the bigger picture of things. People who come here because the relatively small number of posters are those who deliver a consistent and well thought approach to things. In this Orwellian world it seems that anyone speaking above their paygrade bears monitoring. Those damned dangerous words again. I think it's s total bullshit.
cwydro
(51,308 posts)Most of us over 60, the same posters, some of whom post OP after OP umpteen times a day...Agent Mike isn't going to lose sleep over a group that overwhelmingly has posted about how they don't DARE even put a bumpersticker on a car for fear of keying, much less a sign in their yard.
Laelth
(32,017 posts)Still, they have to monitor us to create the appearance of balance. They know that the really dangerous loons come from our right wing.
-Laelth
-
KY_EnviroGuy
(14,492 posts)the name of any of their politicians seem to gather huge numbers of views.
That strongly suggest there are bots or trolls searching for Dems saying bad stuff about Rethugs, I guess to prove why they have constant butt hurt and whine on social media 24/7.
I mean, it's not like a bunch of 100% assholes don't deserve a little criticism from the public......
Laelth
(32,017 posts)Its a bit depressing that theyre not really afraid of us. The Republicans who voted to acquit are far more afraid of their rabid right-wing constituents than they are of the majority of their constituents (loyal American patriots who know incitement to insurrection when they see it). Its somewhat sad that theyre NOT afraid of us.
-Laelth
dmr
(28,347 posts)I learned a long time ago (decades) to watch what I say, or how to say it.
Even at home you never know who or what is listening in. Between our smart phones/appliances, Alexa, GPS, TV remotes, etc ....
I try not to think about it, yet, I'm very conscious of what I say and type.
:hi;
soldierant
(6,880 posts)there is nothing there to castrate?
PurgedVoter
(2,218 posts)So if you need a yellow umbrella to fly, don't dust the chicken.
Laelth
(32,017 posts)-Laelth
harumph
(1,900 posts)This is fun.
Laelth
(32,017 posts)Please delete your post.
-Laelth
Progressive Jones
(6,011 posts)Laelth
(32,017 posts)-Laelth
Klaralven
(7,510 posts)Roisin Ni Fiachra
(2,574 posts)Laelth
(32,017 posts)Portland, 02-15-21
ANTINT ALERT from Antifa Intelligence, Portland
Be advised that the preceding message was posted in error and did not originate from an authorized Antifa agent. This matter is under investigation, but be advised:
Calzones are NOT ready for harvest.
REPEAT
Calzones are NOT ready for harvest.
Direct all inquiries to ANTINT, Portland.
Thank you.
-Laelth
JimGinPA
(14,811 posts)I normally take a quick glance at my speedometer just to be sure I'm not going too fast. 90% of the time I don't need to ease of the gas because I'm within 5 mph of the speed limit. So while it may make me a little uneasy in the short term, after thinking about it a bit I suppose I'm glad they're out there keeping the roads a little safer.
This site goes out of it's way to not promote violence, or hate speech or any other anti-social or illegal activity, not only by the admins of the the site, but by the vast majority of the members as well. So while it may cause some uneasiness to think we might be being watched, it's also a good thing they are out there looking for those other vehicles driving recklessly.
SmartVoter22
(639 posts)or are the actual ones the FBI uses?
Seems to be a pretty remarkable thing, for you to hae access to those keywords, and be able to post them; if in fact they are actual words the FBI uses to search Google.
I am not sure if the FBI even needs Google or Bing or DuckDuckGo to find what they're looking for.
Laelth
(32,017 posts)-Laelth