Post ASkrqwCaP6YD8T2xKy by TonyStark@democracy.town
(DIR) More posts by TonyStark@democracy.town
(DIR) Post #ASkdD8Uvs0G4KSkrku by TonyStark@democracy.town
2023-02-16T16:52:05Z
0 likes, 2 repeats
People who want you to believe nothing can happen, that positive change is not possible, that our work doesn’t matter, and that there’s no difference between the parties or even that one is only incrementally better than the other- it’s past time to realize they’re not telling you the truth.Pennsylvania governor blocks death penalty, calls for repeal-https://www.inquirer.com/wires/ap/pennsylvania-governor-blocks-death-penalty-calls-repeal-20230216.html
(DIR) Post #ASkdhRrwPg8F5wyGzQ by stopgopfox@libretooth.gr
2023-02-16T22:42:57Z
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@TonyStark The troll farms convinced so many progressives -- and I consider myself one -- that they could elevate their intellectual standing amongst their peers by (1) arging that voting is useless and (2) suggesting Democrats are just as bad -- if not worse -- than Republicans.So many of the people doing this are -- on paper -- very smart. But the trolls realized they could pander to intellectual posturing with progressives to get results versus culture war topics with the right.
(DIR) Post #ASkeS0r2fbokvBkou8 by GreenFire@climatejustice.social
2023-02-16T22:51:22Z
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@stopgopfox @TonyStark Somehow we've got to figure out how to teach more people about these traps the trolls catch so many people in that get them to spread mis/disinformation that is against their self interest.
(DIR) Post #ASkesbDi5PA9Ej2C2K by TonyStark@democracy.town
2023-02-16T22:56:11Z
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@stopgopfox So accurate it hurts. Now we have lots of accounts here doing the same- looking for an easy hit on social media and they’re in my mentions quite a bit now.I was fortunate to have a few good people correct me when I was susceptible in the past. And I was. Some of them are here still. Hopefully people in general catch on that there’s a difference between expecting and really demanding the best from our electeds and toxic, hopeless, unbeneficial junk. Thanks for the comment. Always good.
(DIR) Post #ASkfHMRy8bdefSVksC by Lesliesez@union.place
2023-02-16T23:00:42Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
@stopgopfox @TonyStark we just had a special election to fund our school. The final vote was 25 yes - 20 no. I can honestly say my vote counted! 😉
(DIR) Post #ASkgXgQRjllrCx96gK by brianonbarrington@mastodon.world
2023-02-16T23:14:50Z
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@stopgopfox @TonyStark And conversely, the Democratic Party leadership has used the existence of troll farms to position all diversity of opinion I. The party that deviates from a narrow narrative as “trolling” rather than feedback from the grassroots. This has been a major driver for underperformance in a large number of elections over the past several cycles.
(DIR) Post #ASkn82CKrfzosrGKhs by alexbrangwin@masto.ai
2023-02-17T00:28:34Z
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@stopgopfox @TonyStark Never respected anyone who didn't value voting.It's mandatory in Australia.Just imagine you're buying a new major appliance, and the details are in each candidates policy information.....you'll do your research & make the right choice!
(DIR) Post #ASkrqwCaP6YD8T2xKy by TonyStark@democracy.town
2023-02-16T23:05:37Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
@GreenFire @stopgopfox I’m open to any and all suggestions. Talking to them here just makes everyone waste time. Blocking and muting seems to create stalkers and harassment.Talking to people in real life is of course not at all like that which is where I spend the vast majority of my activism time, anyway now. My one suggestion is definitely that people vet their followers and who they’re amplifying a bit better. More isn’t always good.
(DIR) Post #ASkrqwi8VnmuiJo9Vw by GreenFire@climatejustice.social
2023-02-16T23:13:41Z
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@TonyStark @stopgopfox I wasn't thinking about how to do it online with the already trolled. I don't know the best way to reach them so blocking is better. Sorry, about my followers that I haven't vetted nor blocked yet.I was thinking more along the lines of how Finland’s government considers their strong public education system as a major tool to resist information warfare against the country.https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/05/how-finland-is-fighting-fake-news-in-the-classroom/
(DIR) Post #ASkrqxIeK2zkXYtJQW by TonyStark@democracy.town
2023-02-16T23:16:13Z
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@GreenFire @stopgopfox Got it. Not directed at you specifically re: followers. I’ve had to ask a couple of people over here about questionable stuff. Strong public education would of course be beneficial all around.
(DIR) Post #ASks0MrYeIKKQehvHM by Dagny@democracy.town
2023-02-16T23:38:46Z
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@TonyStark @GreenFire @stopgopfox They are like the plague.
(DIR) Post #ASks0NaZwuL6gHlsS8 by Drax@democracy.town
2023-02-16T23:59:39Z
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@DagnyBlocking and unblocking can get rid of bad follows a little bit if anyone isn't aware of it but it doesn't stop the stalkers.@TonyStark @GreenFire @stopgopfox
(DIR) Post #ASks0OUEbyrJStoKCe by stopgopfox@libretooth.gr
2023-02-17T01:23:16Z
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@Drax @Dagny @TonyStark @GreenFire There are always some stalkers, but they typically disengage if blocked enough and don't get any emotional reaction. Laughing at them for their sad efforts, in particular, seems to fatigue most of them.
(DIR) Post #ASksHQSeWX3AVnByLY by stopgopfox@libretooth.gr
2023-02-17T01:26:26Z
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@Lesliesez @TonyStark With not everyone even thinking to vote in such an election, every vote counts for thousands of people in many cases. It's good you were there!
(DIR) Post #ASkt1cxsMrlSbzpLdY by Agora@mindly.social
2023-02-17T01:34:45Z
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@stopgopfox @TonyStark a follow-up on your toot:I get hate messages when I mention this — this is also happening in the black community. Trolls amplify the message that Biden is a racist. They dig up the old crime bill and his relationship with some Byrd guy(before my time)The topics of incarceration and racism consume my community, especially among some black men. In close elections, these numbers could make/break elections.I wish I didn't have to mention this.
(DIR) Post #ASkuHVD34Mc99A3da4 by letatcestmoi@mstdn.party
2023-02-17T01:48:47Z
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@stopgopfox @TonyStark It's crucial to expose the misinformation troll farms have divided us with, before 2024. We are in the apocalypse now because we didn't give it credibility eight or so years ago. We are being played, to our detriment.
(DIR) Post #ASkuuWx6WVmXqVD4i0 by TonyStark@democracy.town
2023-02-17T01:55:50Z
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@Dagny @Drax @stopgopfox @GreenFire I don’t want to make it about me but I’ve suspended the same few accounts here multiple times! I think one 9 times in a row. A couple just keep moving instances every 30 days or so which is definitely a downside of the situation on Mastodon. Good to be extremely interesting, I guess.🤣
(DIR) Post #ASl4qkILyMWPbvz0Vs by Agora@mindly.social
2023-02-17T03:15:25Z
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@stopgopfox @TonyStark Here is an example what I am referring to:https://apple.news/A9nxsXmHlT36ZWIZTciaDKwWe can pretend it's not a thing, but in the circles I frequent, this type of news is amplified by Russians and black conservatives.
(DIR) Post #ASl4qkhWSmeerzl6kC by stopgopfox@libretooth.gr
2023-02-17T03:47:14Z
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@Agora The quote about Obama sitting by and doing nothing seems particularly baffling. And it tips into absurdity when suggesting Democrats cause "destruction in black communities” without a single example.Such toxic stuff.
(DIR) Post #ASl6wv3B671uc5xLtY by Agora@mindly.social
2023-02-17T04:10:46Z
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@stopgopfox the problem is this stuff is impossible to shake because the crime bill really harmed black communities and Biden and Clinton supported these policies. What I want people who don't live in the black community to understand is that disinformation and fear-mongering typically use something people are already talking about and it expands from there.
(DIR) Post #ASl7jopX0pfvVmtGZU by Lesliesez@union.place
2023-02-17T04:19:36Z
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@stopgopfox @TonyStark 🙏
(DIR) Post #ASl8Qx6g7GEddJTiXg by the_Effekt@universeodon.com
2023-02-17T04:27:21Z
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@stopgopfox @TonyStark I am a progressive as well, and I've seen a lot of what you've described. I hope that they will come to their senses. The last thing we need is even more division.
(DIR) Post #ASlL3jq6ZnRBEFzHHM by the_Effekt@universeodon.com
2023-02-17T04:43:49Z
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@TonyStark @stopgopfox I have seen this, but thankfully not as often in my timeline.That line can be pretty fine at points, especially when it comes to indy/Progressives like me.Crossing it into something overtly critical is definitely not helpful. It took some soul searching, but I came to realize that being honest with my observations without descending into mud-slinging is how I want to communicate.An Indy stance is sometimes precarious, but when a critique is valid it can be discussed reasonably, even through disagreement.
(DIR) Post #ASlLGSAvYwJED1n28W by stopgopfox@libretooth.gr
2023-02-17T06:51:09Z
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@the_Effekt I hope to see a little less attacking of people's motives even when we don't understand their ideas. I've noticed an uptick -- specifically on Mastodon -- of people taking a simple disagreement on an issue to make it personal. Let's hope, as you said, that people can come to their senses.
(DIR) Post #ASlM5CHmOn5XhJBvai by the_Effekt@universeodon.com
2023-02-17T07:00:18Z
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@stopgopfox I have recognized that too, a couple of them directed at me.My first impulse was to shoot back an angry response. But I've learned to give it some time and let it simmer. When I come back to it, I realized it was a difference in perspective/opinion and not derogatory in any way.Once I learned a little personal observation, I saw how easily it is to give in to the tricks of the mind.
(DIR) Post #ASlidVBepRqL9k5gpc by UkraineWillWin@infosec.exchange
2023-02-17T08:25:54Z
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@the_Effekt @stopgopfox @TonyStark "Division" is not necessarily bad. The right-wing approach is to push the narrative so far to the right that people in the middle think the truth is somewhere in the "middle" of the crazies and normal people. (BTW: This is straight from the Russian propaganda playbook)In other words, right-wingers are changing public perspective by pushing right-wing crazies. Murdoch doesn't believe any of the craziness, he just wants the narrative further to the right. CNN totally fell for the whole thing, MSNBC as well.Trying to end "division" basically disarms the left from the right-wings tactics. If anything we need MORE division and that division should be WAY, WAY to the left so that "normal" people again see the middle as the actual middle.Just MHO - not speaking for anyone else, but please understand these are Russian tactics taken up by the right-wing. They need to be fought, and we need to win.
(DIR) Post #ASm2w0SBJkL4QIv8wy by mickeleh@mas.to
2023-02-17T14:59:49Z
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@TonyStark @stopgopfox If there’s any upside to having the GOP in control of the House, it’s this: the contrast between the parties couldn’t be clearer. The power of voting couldn’t be more obvious.