4 ms·

There is something that pops out to me as interesting in this dataset; that the tweets don't consistently push one singular message. Is this to spread divisive

There is something that pops out to me as interesting in this dataset; that the tweets don't consistently push one singular message. Is this to spread divisiveness? For example, all the 10_GOP tweets are, of course, very pro-trump: > cute 10 yo girl had a Trump dress on. Hannity asked her why she liked him. She said because he's doing great things for the country! Whereas 4MYSQUAD, seems mostly Black Lives Matter related tweets, some are strongly against Trump/the right: > Do conservatives give a fuck about #policebrutality? USFreedomArmy is far-right: > No wonder liberals cannot think logically. The U.S. FREEDOM ARMY awaits your enlistment And user AAnitRacist is left again: > Megyn Kelly tears into Trump over attacks on Trump U judge's ethnicity ---- EDIT: I see now the csv has RightTroll & LeftTroll as column values, which is nifty. The accompanying article states: > Left Trolls often adopt the personae of Black Lives Matter activists, typically expressing support for Bernie Sanders and derision for Hillary Clinton, along with “clearly trying to divide the Democratic Party and lower voter turnout.”

eli 8y ago
Yes. This is discussed in the accompanying article https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/why-were-sharing-3-million-russian-troll-tweets/ https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/why-were-sharing-3-mill...
zucked 8y ago
I think it is pretty widely accepted that if the US or other capable foreign power were to put their mind to it and act on a united front, severe damage could be done to Russia's ability to constantly be a force for irritation in world politics. Naturally, then, the best way to prevent that from happening is simply to sow discord. Get the people angry at each other. Hence, you see Russia playing all sides.
- mooseburger 8y ago
  > severe damage could be done to Russia's ability to constantly be a force for irritation in world politics. How? We can't actually invade Russia. There also doesn't seem to be much interest from anyone in heavily sanctioning Russia.
  - mrguyorama 8y ago
    Russian sanctions were passed by a split congress in a time that is widely regarded to be pretty much a deadlocked congress. The only roadblock to these sanctions was when Trump refused to implement them (though I guess the majority republican congress could do something else maybe? I don't know who's wheel house "enforcing" a sanction is). Which is super convenient for the Russians, because previous sanctions have in fact seemed to hurt them, and the Magnitsky Act also seemed to have an effect
eksemplar 8y ago
Russia isn’t partisan, they support whatever agenda makes America the weakest at any given time.

eli 8y ago

Yes. This is discussed in the accompanying article https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/why-were-sharing-3-million-russian-troll-tweets/ https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/why-were-sharing-3-mill...

zucked 8y ago

I think it is pretty widely accepted that if the US or other capable foreign power were to put their mind to it and act on a united front, severe damage could be done to Russia's ability to constantly be a force for irritation in world politics. Naturally, then, the best way to prevent that from happening is simply to sow discord. Get the people angry at each other. Hence, you see Russia playing all sides.

mooseburger 8y ago
> severe damage could be done to Russia's ability to constantly be a force for irritation in world politics. How? We can't actually invade Russia. There also doesn't seem to be much interest from anyone in heavily sanctioning Russia.
- mrguyorama 8y ago
  Russian sanctions were passed by a split congress in a time that is widely regarded to be pretty much a deadlocked congress. The only roadblock to these sanctions was when Trump refused to implement them (though I guess the majority republican congress could do something else maybe? I don't know who's wheel house "enforcing" a sanction is). Which is super convenient for the Russians, because previous sanctions have in fact seemed to hurt them, and the Magnitsky Act also seemed to have an effect

eksemplar 8y ago

Russia isn’t partisan, they support whatever agenda makes America the weakest at any given time.