Rumor: Are Mega-Billionaires Skinner and EarlG Manipulating DU Users With Russian Propaganda?

[byronius]

Last edited Thu Mar 29, 2018, 02:51 PM - Edit history (1)

Ah, no. Nope. Not.

A few Russian or Koch-sponsored Democratic Underground users may be occasionally trying to do just that, but this community is pretty goddamned generally immune to bullshit. Usually you get to the Absolute Truth somewhere halfway down the thread, and if it's coming from babylonsister, kpete, H2OMan, hatrack, JudiLynn or any of the other dozens to hundreds of Seriously Cool DUers you can probably take the OP to the bank.

And that is why I live here, and happily pay for the privilege of my star.

I don't really think Skinner or EarlG or Elad are billionaires. But I do think they'd make good billionaires. The very best of billionaires.

[FSogol]

1. Bigly!

[GaryCnf]

2. I am confident

That you are 100% correct.

However, on the off chance that you are incorrect, might I just float the idea that manipulation is best achieved through bribery etc. (in the best Russian bank tradition) . . . Just kidding admins, you three are the tops.

[niyad]

3. shhhhhh. we TOLD you that you were not supposed to TELL!!

[Stuart G]

4. Agreed, the three would make outstanding billionaires.

What else can one say????

k and r..

[edbermac]

5. Нет!

Моё судно на воздушной подушке полно угрей.

[CabalPowered]

6. Don't be so sure

Dig deep enough and you'll find the Skinner has been to Russia. IIRC, it was during the Soviet Union.

[lagomorph777]

9. He doesn't look old enough to have visited the Soviet Union.

and I mean that as a compliment.

[MrScorpio]

7. Whatever you say, but you better not bring Project Scorpio into this...

Because Project Scorpio does not exist.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10181062744

[IronLionZion]

8. Soros checks are so numerous they are killing trees, sign up for electronic deposit

Soros sends me Amazon gift cards since Trump hates Amazon. Also available are Costco, Starbucks, Whole Foods, or any place conservatives don't like. It can even go directly to your favorite charity, because that's really a sign of pure socialist evil.

More billionaires should share their wealth with ordinary people!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

10. Hmm, they dress like ordinary billionaires.

I'd add a shout-out on your list to include MelissaB who has been tirelessly bringing important coverage from the Trump-Russia-Obstruction catastrophe, coverage that has at times been obscure and little noticed.

[byronius]

15. You are absolutely correct.

[PatrickforO]

11. That's them? Really?

Somehow I thought they were older.

Hi, guys! I like DU as well. Thanks for keeping it going!

[byronius]

16. That picture's a little bit dated.

It's early DU. Pre-Skinner-kids early.

[Floyd R. Turbo]

12. There is no doubt that they are in bed with the Ruskies as well as big pharma! Why else would I

be inundated with emails about “Hot Russian Women” wanting to meet me and ED meds?

[lpbk2713]

13. I'm kinda worried.

A small drone flew over my head the other day. It had a GrovelBot insignia on it.

[raven mad]

21. .....DUZY!!!!!

[Hekate]

24. GrovelBot, where have you been?

[erronis]

14. I shouldn't inject newbie's opinion into this - but can't DU itself be influenced by trolls?

While all those handsome gents (and I used to be one back in the 70's) are probably completely above reproach, I worry more about very subtle messaging that can "nudge" conversations into dark alleys.

I also worry about my anonymity since like any other online presence, DU can be hacked and information/sentiments retrieved.

After a rough patch supporting Bernie and getting hand-slapped a few times, I find this a good new source and a good outlet for my dribblings.

Thanks!

[byronius]

17. Everyone's gotten a lot smarter about that stuff since the DU Takedown.

I'd trust these three guys more than I'd trust any of the larger social media crackdealers.

Yes, I'm still enraged by the Russian attack on Democratic Underground.

[Hekate]

25. This

[CTyankee]

18. I know Skinner is a Yalie and I occasionally email him with info about Yale football (I live in New

Haven and we're big fans). I trust that he and his other founders of DU are smart enough to figure out how to handle this threat...

[monmouth4]

19. Well, Elad and Vlad...I dunno...n/t

[raven mad]

20. WAIT! WHAT???

You really didn't know, despite the borscht and all?

Best secret agents ever!😎 They had me believing I could see Russia from my house.

[Honeycombe8]

22. I've seen a few attempts.

Haven't we all? They are getting better at concealing themselves. Not so antagonistic. Generally, they don't respond to a real response that intimates his post is "odd" for the subject matter, esp for a newbie.

They are not genuine Democrats that I or others disagree with. I've been doing this long enough that I can tell the difference, I think. But then if I can't tell the difference, I wouldn't know it, would I? Hmmm. Except for one thing: If a poster has been around here for years, that pretty much settles things, don't you think?

But there have been a few that seemed to be (or clearly were) newbies trying to sew discord or whatever. Some of those posts were removed quickly, so I wasn't the only one noticing them.

[Rhiannon12866]

23. I still think we should have a DU fundraiser to get Elad some new shirts!