Are we being purposely divided?

[Matt_In_NH]

Anyone else watch a doc called "The Big Hack" on Netflix?   It's about Cambridge Analytica/facebook and it makes some pretty disturbing assertions.  I will say that what they talk about and the conclusions line up with what I believe I have been watching over the last 6 years.   Among other things it goes into the 2016 presidential campaign and how it was flipped using AI and identifying/targeting people who were persuadable in key states.   They kind of get at how malleable people are in their views and they can be manipulated to hold a position.   I think it is widely known but I wonder if most people don't realize how much they can be influenced by propaganda.   I am sure people are reading this and saying to themselves "yeah I see it but I am immune to it, I am not one of them", I think its a good exercise to really keep an open mind about that, you may be more persuadable than you realize!  If you think you are not being manipulated then there is a good chance you actually are!   My opinion is that people on the left and right are all being used as pawns and we all need to open our eyes to it.   I often see righties talk about lefties as being sheep and believing anything which I sometimes agree with but if you step back and look at what the Republican Party has become...they are sheep and believe anything being pushed that is anti left.   I laugh when I perceive sheep call others sheep but it is getting to the point I dont think it is funny anymore.   My background is historically conservative (Republican) but I am a registered independent and have been for many years.  I am thoroughly disappointed in what the Republican parts has become.   I live in NH where we have a good chunk of independents, they make it easy to vote in primaries as a republican or democrat and I like that flexibility depending on who is running and what the topics are.

 

The AI technology could be state run to try to destabilize a Country and it could be just maximizing advertising revenue, the lines can be blurred a lot.   Social Media has been weaponized to change regimes in other areas of the world, is the US immune to that?   Could we be experiencing this right now and just don't realize it?  I have read about the targeted advertisements and whatnot for years as I am sure many of you have.   I do think a big chunk of the population is oblivious and does not realize the AI engines give you what you crave, they want to keep your eyeballs on their content.   But there is a secondary affect which is that people get more and more ingrained into a political position because they see something that resonates with them on some level and then they may comment, a friend or relative may back that position up that you did not realize you were aligned on.  This helps justify in your mind you are in the right and makes you less likely to consider a different viewpoint.  

 

The Trump campaign absolutely dominated the Social Media segment for that campaign.   They were able to identify and target the exact people they needed to win the election and it worked.  This is partly why the election was a surprise upset and went against the polls.  They ask the question "can we ever have a fair election"?  Which on one hand I get with the technology that is available today but at the same time, there has always been propaganda and targeted advertising.  It's kind of like we used to use rifles and now we can fly a drone from a trailer in Las Vegas and kill a terrorist in Afghanistan on the other side of the world...the technology has just been pushing the limits.

 

There was a time we were more able to discuss politics at work, at family gatherings, etc.  My experience is that has changed a lot recently, its a taboo subject where people know generally if uncle Joe is left or right and it is not discussed anymore.   My experience is the vast majority only listen to either right wing propaganda or left wing propaganda.  There are "facts" on the left and "facts" on the right that we believe shows unequivocally our position is correct.  We cannot even agree on what facts are.

 

Do you think the US is being targeted and by some foreign government(s) that is trying to destabilize the USA?  Curious what others think about this.

[Tiberius]

Yes. "Russia, if you are listening!" 

 

Hell, Trump in his last speech was begging Xi and Putin for help 

[Andy1]

100% agree that radio, television media and social media are pushing division for purposes of profit. I too have seen that documentary and it’s shocking how tech firms have used psychology to manipulate people on both sides. It is far worse than 15 yrs ago. The Citizens United court decision has also been part of the problem. I am hopeful that the younger generation that has grown up with tech may be less vulnerable to the tactics of division than us older folks. Unfortunately, the attitude of corporate America seems to be: if we are all making money on the politics of division, there is no problem. 

[BillStime]

13 minutes ago, Andy1 said:

100% agree that radio, television media and social media are pushing division for purposes of profit. I too have seen that documentary and it’s shocking how tech firms have used psychology to manipulate people on both sides. It is far worse than 15 yrs ago. The Citizens United court decision has also been part of the problem. I am hopeful that the younger generation that has grown up with tech may be less vulnerable to the tactics of division than us older folks. Unfortunately, the attitude of corporate America seems to be: if we are all making money on the politics of division, there is no problem. 

The younger generation gives ZERO phks about the dying MAGA fringe. They see right through the manipulation - bs - mind and body control.

 

They will continue to show up, vote and save this country while the fringe continues to die off.

[leh-nerd skin-erd]

1 hour ago, Matt_In_NH said:

Anyone else watch a doc called "The Big Hack" on Netflix?   It's about Cambridge Analytica/facebook and it makes some pretty disturbing assertions.  I will say that what they talk about and the conclusions line up with what I believe I have been watching over the last 6 years.   Among other things it goes into the 2016 presidential campaign and how it was flipped using AI and identifying/targeting people who were persuadable in key states.   They kind of get at how malleable people are in their views and they can be manipulated to hold a position.   I think it is widely known but I wonder if most people don't realize how much they can be influenced by propaganda.   I am sure people are reading this and saying to themselves "yeah I see it but I am immune to it, I am not one of them", I think its a good exercise to really keep an open mind about that, you may be more persuadable than you realize!  If you think you are not being manipulated then there is a good chance you actually are!   My opinion is that people on the left and right are all being used as pawns and we all need to open our eyes to it.   I often see righties talk about lefties as being sheep and believing anything which I sometimes agree with but if you step back and look at what the Republican Party has become...they are sheep and believe anything being pushed that is anti left.   I laugh when I perceive sheep call others sheep but it is getting to the point I dont think it is funny anymore.   My background is historically conservative (Republican) but I am a registered independent and have been for many years.  I am thoroughly disappointed in what the Republican parts has become.   I live in NH where we have a good chunk of independents, they make it easy to vote in primaries as a republican or democrat and I like that flexibility depending on who is running and what the topics are.

 

The AI technology could be state run to try to destabilize a Country and it could be just maximizing advertising revenue, the lines can be blurred a lot.   Social Media has been weaponized to change regimes in other areas of the world, is the US immune to that?   Could we be experiencing this right now and just don't realize it?  I have read about the targeted advertisements and whatnot for years as I am sure many of you have.   I do think a big chunk of the population is oblivious and does not realize the AI engines give you what you crave, they want to keep your eyeballs on their content.   But there is a secondary affect which is that people get more and more ingrained into a political position because they see something that resonates with them on some level and then they may comment, a friend or relative may back that position up that you did not realize you were aligned on.  This helps justify in your mind you are in the right and makes you less likely to consider a different viewpoint.  

 

The Trump campaign absolutely dominated the Social Media segment for that campaign.   They were able to identify and target the exact people they needed to win the election and it worked.  This is partly why the election was a surprise upset and went against the polls.  They ask the question "can we ever have a fair election"?  Which on one hand I get with the technology that is available today but at the same time, there has always been propaganda and targeted advertising.  It's kind of like we used to use rifles and now we can fly a drone from a trailer in Las Vegas and kill a terrorist in Afghanistan on the other side of the world...the technology has just been pushing the limits.

 

There was a time we were more able to discuss politics at work, at family gatherings, etc.  My experience is that has changed a lot recently, its a taboo subject where people know generally if uncle Joe is left or right and it is not discussed anymore.   My experience is the vast majority only listen to either right wing propaganda or left wing propaganda.  There are "facts" on the left and "facts" on the right that we believe shows unequivocally our position is correct.  We cannot even agree on what facts are.

 

Do you think the US is being targeted and by some foreign government(s) that is trying to destabilize the USA?  Curious what others think about this.

Thanks for bringing this to the table.  Very fair question. 
 

I can’t speak to something as deep as AI, but it seems to me the two most recent elections had remarkable similarities. 
 

Allegations of election thievery;

Allegations of inappropriate conduct with women;

Allegations of influence peddling;

Allegations of racial intolerance;

Lying liars lying often;

Allegations of inappropriate relationships with foreign adversaries;

Allegations against the offspring of candidates;

 

If it’s an issue, it’s because it works. 

[Brueggs]

There is no doubt that this is happening.  What we are experiencing now is a culmination of 30 + years of slow, intentional division, and it is working even better than expected.  Social media has just helped to expedite the process a little bit faster.  Divide and conquer would seemingly be an antiquated technique, but it works just as well today as it ever has.  Its just been tweaked a little bit.  

[All_Pro_Bills]

20 minutes ago, BillStime said:

The younger generation gives ZERO phks about the dying MAGA fringe. They see right through the manipulation - bs - mind and body control.

 

They will continue to show up, vote and save this country while the fringe continues to die off.

Keep dreaming.  How exactly does a 100-year-old senile and demented President understand and represent the interests of the younger generation?  With an agenda guided by the slogan MASS.  Make America Suck Supremely.  He's doing an amazing job of it as evidenced by his abysmal approval rating which I'm guessing dropped a couple more points after his imitation of 1933 Hitler on 9/1.  

[leh-nerd skin-erd]

3 minutes ago, All_Pro_Bills said:

Keep dreaming.  How exactly does a 100-year-old senile and demented President understand and represent the interests of the younger generation?  With an agenda guided by the slogan MASS.  Make America Suck Supremely.  He's doing an amazing job of it as evidenced by his abysmal approval rating which I'm guessing dropped a couple more points after his imitation of 1933 Hitler on 9/1.  

He buys down student loan debt in phase 1.  Phase 2 has already started…”It’s not enough…people are still hurting…let’s get to $50k”, and they settle on the next $20k.  
 

Money is a powerful drug. 

[Big Blitz]

The "left" hates God, guns, the Constitution, and life.  This is ALL FACT.  

 

We have nothing in common anymore.  The Democrat party has embraced what's always been the fringe of their party as mainstream.

 

The GOP may support policy that you (and me) think are just garbage policies......but they absolutely do not end in unraveling man's last best hope.  They absolutely do not at their core hate America and the Constitution.  

 

 

To save America you cannot vote Democrat at any level of government. 

 

They answer to groups that at their core hate everything about this country.  

 

Vote em all out.  

[Brueggs]

1 hour ago, Andy1 said:

100% agree that radio, television media and social media are pushing division for purposes of profit. I too have seen that documentary and it’s shocking how tech firms have used psychology to manipulate people on both sides. It is far worse than 15 yrs ago. The Citizens United court decision has also been part of the problem. I am hopeful that the younger generation that has grown up with tech may be less vulnerable to the tactics of division than us older folks. Unfortunately, the attitude of corporate America seems to be: if we are all making money on the politics of division, there is no problem. 

Unfortunately, the younger generation is the target.  They are always the easiest to influence.  You see it all throughout academia and the media.  It is a slow process that takes several generations of "brainwashing" to get to the desired result.  Search for a video of a KGB defector named Yuri Bezmenov.  Its an older video where he explains how ideological subversion is being used in our country.  When you hear what he is saying, decades ago, and you look around today, it is frighteningly clear that this is exactly what is happening.

Tell me this isn't exactly what is happening today.

 

https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video;_ylt=AwrFdeWeexZj6cYNPsVXNyoA;_ylu=Y29sbwNiZjEEcG9zAzIEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3Nj?p=yuri+bezmenov&type=E211US105G0&ei=UTF-8&fr=mcafee&turl=https%3A%2F%2Ftse2.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOVP.WTaVff_BEkzxLJU4yasC2QHgFo%26pid%3DApi%26w%3D296%26h%3D156%26c%3D7%26p%3D0&rurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DTEefbbApuaE&tit=Yuri+Bezmenov+-+Ideological+Subversion.+KGB+Defector+Interview.+Call+of+Duty+Cold+War+Trailer+1984&pos=3&vid=020534e1544507c427e07123b2af5a48&sigr=l4HGMwENaLzW&sigt=l_RGA7ljKgsl&sigi=qOb0u4eEwI2N

 

[Matt_In_NH]

8 minutes ago, Big Blitz said:

The "left" hates God, guns, the Constitution, and life.  This is ALL FACT.  

 

We have nothing in common anymore.  The Democrat party has embraced what's always been the fringe of their party as mainstream.

 

The GOP may support policy that you (and me) think are just garbage policies......but they absolutely do not end in unraveling man's last best hope.  They absolutely do not at their core hate America and the Constitution.  

 

 

To save America you cannot vote Democrat at any level of government. 

 

They answer to groups that at their core hate everything about this country.  

 

Vote em all out.  

This is exactly what I am talking about, you can only see it one way.   If I asked you which side, the left or right actually tried to unconstitutionally steal he presidential election, what would you answer?  This is absolutely backed up by facts in terms of 60 some odd court cases in which every nook, cranny, theory was brought to court and there was no substantial fraud found which could have influenced the election. Those are facts.

[BillStime]

19 minutes ago, All_Pro_Bills said:

Keep dreaming.  How exactly does a 100-year-old senile and demented President understand and represent the interests of the younger generation?  With an agenda guided by the slogan MASS.  Make America Suck Supremely.  He's doing an amazing job of it as evidenced by his abysmal approval rating which I'm guessing dropped a couple more points after his imitation of 1933 Hitler on 9/1.  

lmao - who said anything about Biden?

 

Triggered much?

 

lolz

 

[Big Blitz]

2 minutes ago, Matt_In_NH said:

This is exactly what I am talking about, you can only see it one way.   If I asked you which side, the left or right actually tried to unconstitutionally steal he presidential election, what would you answer?  This is absolutely backed up by facts in terms of 60 some odd court cases in which every nook, cranny, theory was brought to court and there was no substantial fraud found which could have influenced the election. Those are facts.

 

 

I don't give a rats **s about the 2020 election held in the middle of a sham pandemic used by the Democrats to get rid of Trump.  Those are facts.  

 

 

Opposing or questioning the results of an election?  Maybe you should figure out why no matter who wins half the country is crying sham. 

 

 

 

Oh I know one way.  Let's turn election day into actual election day.  Not election season.  

[Matt_In_NH]

4 minutes ago, Big Blitz said:

 

 

I don't give a rats **s about the 2020 election held in the middle of a sham pandemic used by the Democrats to get rid of Trump.  Those are facts.  

 

 

Opposing or questioning the results of an election?  Maybe you should figure out why no matter who wins half the country is crying sham. 

 

 

 

Oh I know one way.  Let's turn election day into actual election day.  Not election season.  

 

I don't expect you to understand or care, but your facts are just opinions.  It seems you can only see things one way and I doubt that will ever change.  When was the last presidential candidate who lost who did not concede and made up lies about widespread fraud.   Do you believe there was widespread fraud?  

[Big Blitz]

12 minutes ago, Matt_In_NH said:

 

I don't expect you to understand or care, but your facts are just opinions.  It seems you can only see things one way and I doubt that will ever change.

 

 

I see things as you either pro American or Anti American.

 

The Democrats stack of Anti American policies and positions reaches the moon.  

 

 

 

12 minutes ago, Matt_In_NH said:

 

 

  When was the last presidential candidate who lost who did not concede and made up lies about widespread fraud.   Do you believe there was widespread fraud?  

 

Has nothing to do with my facts about the 2 political parties.  

 

The rigged 2020 election in the middle of a sham pandemic has nothing to do with the current state of the Democrat Party 

 

Trump complaining about said election has nothing to do with anything 

 

The fact you keep bringing it up - clinging to it - is because you know it's true about the Democrats and their voters.  You, and your media sycophants have created this ridiculously embarrassing (for you) false narrative that Trump's complaining about is somehow a threat to the country.  That all "MAGA" voters are a threat to the country....

 

How so exactly?  How did Trump and his minions with full control of DC from 2016 to 2018 threaten the Republic - another ridiculously false narrative created before the man was even sworn in (Democracy Dies in Darkness they shouted!  For 4 years!)

 

How?  Please.  Without using CNN, in your own words explain this.  

[BillsFanNC]

43 minutes ago, Brueggs said:

Unfortunately, the younger generation is the target.  They are always the easiest to influence.  You see it all throughout academia and the media.  It is a slow process that takes several generations of "brainwashing" to get to the desired result.  Search for a video of a KGB defector named Yuri Bezmenov.  Its an older video where he explains how ideological subversion is being used in our country.  When you hear what he is saying, decades ago, and you look around today, it is frighteningly clear that this is exactly what is happening.

Tell me this isn't exactly what is happening today.

 

https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video;_ylt=AwrFdeWeexZj6cYNPsVXNyoA;_ylu=Y29sbwNiZjEEcG9zAzIEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3Nj?p=yuri+bezmenov&type=E211US105G0&ei=UTF-8&fr=mcafee&turl=https%3A%2F%2Ftse2.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOVP.WTaVff_BEkzxLJU4yasC2QHgFo%26pid%3DApi%26w%3D296%26h%3D156%26c%3D7%26p%3D0&rurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DTEefbbApuaE&tit=Yuri+Bezmenov+-+Ideological+Subversion.+KGB+Defector+Interview.+Call+of+Duty+Cold+War+Trailer+1984&pos=3&vid=020534e1544507c427e07123b2af5a48&sigr=l4HGMwENaLzW&sigt=l_RGA7ljKgsl&sigi=qOb0u4eEwI2N

 

 

He was absolutely right. 

 

Ideological subversion.

 

"You can show and prove to them that white is white and black is black and it will not matter."

 

Sounds familiar.

 

 

[BillStime]

1 hour ago, Big Blitz said:

The "left" hates God, guns, the Constitution, and life.  This is ALL FACT.  

 

We have nothing in common anymore.  The Democrat party has embraced what's always been the fringe of their party as mainstream.

 

The GOP may support policy that you (and me) think are just garbage policies......but they absolutely do not end in unraveling man's last best hope.  They absolutely do not at their core hate America and the Constitution.  

 

 

To save America you cannot vote Democrat at any level of government. 

 

They answer to groups that at their core hate everything about this country.  

 

Vote em all out.  

Nah - GOP comprises 30% of America - you should just move to Russia where you belong.

 

[aristocrat]

50 minutes ago, Matt_In_NH said:

 

I don't expect you to understand or care, but your facts are just opinions.  It seems you can only see things one way and I doubt that will ever change.  When was the last presidential candidate who lost who did not concede and made up lies about widespread fraud.   Do you believe there was widespread fraud?  

there you go. Hillary is in there. Plus a couple other elections. Thoughts?

[Andy1]

1 hour ago, BillStime said:

The younger generation gives ZERO phks about the dying MAGA fringe. They see right through the manipulation - bs - mind and body control.

 

They will continue to show up, vote and save this country while the fringe continues to die off.

For the most part I think you are right on with this. Most college age kids don’t watch TV news and could care less about the MAGA cause. From what I’ve seen, most of them think it’s all stupid crap. What they really want is someone in office who is younger who they can relate to, which isn’t Biden.

[Matt_In_NH]

42 minutes ago, Big Blitz said:

 

 

I see things as you either pro American or Anti American.

 

The Democrats stack of Anti American policies and positions reaches the moon.  

 

 

 

 

Has nothing to do with my facts about the 2 political parties.  

 

The rigged 2020 election in the middle of a sham pandemic has nothing to do with the current state of the Democrat Party 

 

Trump complaining about said election has nothing to do with anything 

 

The fact you keep bringing it up - clinging to it - is because you know it's true about the Democrats and their voters.  You, and your media sycophants have created this ridiculously embarrassing (for you) false narrative that Trump's complaining about is somehow a threat to the country.  That all "MAGA" voters are a threat to the country....

 

How so exactly?  How did Trump and his minions with full control of DC from 2016 to 2018 threaten the Republic - another ridiculously false narrative created before the man was even sworn in (Democracy Dies in Darkness they shouted!  For 4 years!)

 

How?  Please.  Without using CNN, in your own words explain this.  

Complete nonsense. 

5 minutes ago, aristocrat said:

there you go. Hillary is in there. Plus a couple other elections. Thoughts?

Identical to what trump did?