Always use critical thinking regarding the source of your knowledge.
I frequent numerous economic and political blogs online to gauge the heartbeat of stock markets and the economy.
(Usually as contrarian indicators, bloggers often have an interest in influencing for pay, talking up or down a certain sector, bitcoin, penny stock pumping...etc)
There are a handful of sites that have consistently provoked political divides within America for a decade, or use ridiculous conspiracy theories to invoke public outcry.
On one site, back in 2012 or so, I was lambasted for speaking against Russia's invasion of Georgia by posters claiming to be American, the opinions were overwhelmingly pro-Russian.
At the time, I concluded this site had to have ties to Russia - the "Americans" there were far too pro-Russian.
Finally, this year, this site was labelled a potential Russian propaganda site by the U.S. government.
I'm posting this today because that site and others are currently ablaze with "Americans" saying that the schools, churches and hospitals in Ukraine were bombed for "hiding weapons", or Zelenskyy was placed by the CIA, or that "the west has done far worse, therefore it's ok for Putin to bomb Ukraine".
Foreign governments have the ability to capitalize on our 1rst amendment, they can hire 3rd parties to swamp us in disinformation that eventually leads to turmoil and counterproductive actions.
These sites are using our legitimate gripes against our government, then using that anger to invoke outrage and public opinion to their benefit.
All I can tell you is "consider the source", if you don't personally know the source is a real American, be open to the possibility they have an agenda against the U.S.
That does not mean your opinions are wrong, only that these sites will try to align you by appealing to your opinion, and feed rage with disinformation.
Russia's intelligence is working overtime right now to disinform, what they lack in military strength, they're trying to make up for elsewhere.
Edited by
Mark
on Mon 10/10/22 11:16 AM