I know most people that were on reddit at the time are fully aware of this and won’t be surprised but don’t dismiss the findings out of hand. It’s important that studies are being conducted and the fact that the finding match our lived experience is still noteworthy.

  • waddle_dee@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    insert shocked pikachu here I mean, is this really surprising? That place was a cesspool disguising as irony. But news flash, it stops being ironic after a certain amount of time.

    • gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works
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      4 months ago

      It’s not about how expected this was. It’s about the fact that we have data to prove it, and it is definitely a probable phenomenon.

      Incidentally, I’d be fascinated to see the data the alphabet agencies have doubtlessly gathered on what major players on /r/TheDonald are affiliated with foreign agents (primarily Russia, though China and Israel absolutely had a hand in it too), or just straight up foreign agents themselves. I hear they’re going to release a big report about that on February 31st.

      • Pretzilla@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        Agreed, it’s such a dereliction of duty to not report on this.

        As well as letting all the kompromized 4th of July legislators, et. al., and one former commander in chief in particular continue their treasonous subversion.

        We are heading right off the rails.

        • gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works
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          4 months ago

          I mean… it’s basically one entire party.

          Remember when they popped the DNC’s email server and released stuff tactically at just the right moments to have the most damaging effect on Hillary?

          It’s kind of an open secret that they popped the RNC’s email server too… and then didn’t release anything. Ockham’s razor might suggest there wasn’t anything there, but if you believe that, I’ve got a bridge in Brooklyn I’ve been looking to sell. FancyBear/FSB/Russian Mafia/whoever is kinda obviously blackmailing like at least half of the Congressional Republican caucus, as evidenced by the entirely astroturfed opposition to Ukrainian military aid and extremely peculiar Russophilia.

  • NuXCOM_90Percent@lemmy.zip
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    4 months ago

    To add on to the people pointing out that science is data:

    Yes, it is incredibly obvious that the turmp fanclub subreddit would radicalize people to become white nationalists.

    What is not obvious is that this is happening everywhere. And, if you get a hold of one of the “leaked” white supremacist recruiting guides from the 80s and 90s, that is by design.

    South Park Libertarians and all but it really is telling how many people, to this day, insist that the f-slur for gay people is really “Oh, we took that back. it means obnoxious motorcycle drivers”. Let alone statements like “har har, you are so butthurt” that (regardless of what urban dictionary says) are on the same level as “ha ha, you are gay”

    We see it every day. And it makes communities hostile. And if you call it out, you get driven out. Which means there are fewer people around to say “… what the fuck? How can we think this is acceptable?”. And then someone whose entire vocabulary is “lolzors go woke go broke pepe pepe” gets rightfully made fun of elsewhere and now they are a victim and all those “for the lolz” become their identity.

    • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      Yes, it is incredibly obvious that the turmp fanclub subreddit would radicalize people to become white nationalists.

      They’re polarizing and definitely hateful.

      But as the volume got cranked higher and higher, I think it encouraged more silent disgust than popular approval.

      You just couldn’t see it under all the pro-Trump spam.

      And then someone whose entire vocabulary is “lolzors go woke go broke pepe pepe” gets rightfully made fun of elsewhere and now they are a victim and all those “for the lolz” become their identity.

      The online Shoot And Cry strategy. Always be the victim.

    • Cowbee [he/him]@lemmy.ml
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      4 months ago

      Do you do anything other than punch left? Lol. Of course Lemmy is going to have Leftists, it was made by Marxist-Leninists along Communist principles. You are the one picking Lemmy over Reddit, here.

    • Linkerbaan@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      Literally any thread on Lemmy

      .ee user shows up to whine about .ml

      .ee users proceed to tankie for israel all over the place

  • lennybird@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    If you ever want to observe or engage (be ready for the pile-up) with these same folks, r/ShitPoliticsSays contains the exact same user-base of extremists. These are dyed-in-the-wool folks because they use this as a launching-point for brigading other subs comment threads. Lots of Canadian righties there, too. The only credit I’ll give is unlike r/conservative that they never censored so you could pretty much discuss and test argumentative points to your heart’s content.

    Just read the thread covering this very article about T_D lol

    Of course I still think a sizable chunk of these folks operate in discord channels and astroturfed Sanders subs (especially the 2020 election), ChapoTrapHouse, etc.

  • Linkerbaan@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    One cannot be an active thedonald user without already being a white nationalist.

    Any dissent gets an instant permaban.