... to think there are Russian Bots on MN?

[AtmosClock]

We're all used to trolls coming on to MN. However, there have been some stories recently where some of the posters seem a bit too skilled in obfuscating and using diversionary tactics. This is especially true on Brexit and other political threads. As a popular UK forum, it would make sense (as we know bots are out there working on twitter, facebook, etc).

AIBU and a paranoid so and so, or do you think there are russian bots on here?

Not paranoid at all.... I think people have no clue how they are being influenced.

They appear very quickly on any unsecure discussion/ facebook thread that mentions Brexit.

I'm on hobby specific pages on fb - and very occasionally brexit is mentioned , within minutes there is usually a pro brexit post appearing from some one unconnected.

It should be made much more common knowledge how much people are being manipulated and views justified by these bots.

Zdravstvujtye!

😂
People are just being dicks and are probably bit bored. Highly doubt russian bots could survive MN let alone AIBU😂

Really? How scary. But I can believe it.
It's in Russia's interests to break up the EU.

So someone posts a pro brexit post and you assume they are a Russian bot? 52% of people voted for it, so not beyond the realms of possibility that you'll get a pro leave post, even on pro remain MN.

they wont survive on MN.

So someone posts a pro brexit post and you assume they are a Russian bot?

No, it's not what I said at all

Ha ha
I really hope there are and they are forced to read classic threads
I can imagine they all start reeling off the old faves.
Naice Ham
Penis Beaker
My personal favourite Poo Crumbs

Get Anyfucker to test them!!

If you think its just Russian bots becuase they are pro bexit you are misled.

You will only be noticing the bots and austroturfing from the opposite side. During elections this place becomes a hive of austroturfing from Labour activists a few Tory etc.

It's part of the internet, but people jump to the conclusion that any opposing view must be bots because of the echo chamber they are in themselves (and agree with the bots/astroturfers on their side of the argument)

Yup. They absolutely are here and any other "influential" site.

YANBU. It's very noticeable that when Brexit seems to be going badly we suddenly get an influx of Name123 posters appearing. Some just obfuscate with whataboutery, not actually engaging, some deliberately try to wind other posters up, some just post long c&p's of seemingly reasonable arguments that are actually easily pulled apart except for the fact that nobody can be bothered because they are so long and so obviously c&ped and you know the poster won't come back to discuss anyway.

@justanotherlurker makes an excellent point.

But yes, there are definitely posters here who are not just mr/ms average tapping away on a keyboard for fun (or trolling) and to give and receive support.

Yes there are. Some are easy to spot. I enraged one by suggesting they should post on Style and Beauty (re a nice French bob) rather than a political thread and they became very abusive and suggested I was mentally ill.

I haven’t noticed anyone here making the characteristic subtle mistakes that even the best Russian speakers generally make in English. On other media, I spot them easily.

Of course there are. How would the most prominent UK website for parents not attract the bots?

It would be very naive to think that there aren’t some on here.