The Briefing Room

General Category => Science, Technology and Knowledge => Computers => Topic started by: Idaho_Cowboy on October 10, 2016, 07:43:23 pm

Title: This bot expertly baits Internet imbeciles into losing arguments
Post by: Idaho_Cowboy on October 10, 2016, 07:43:23 pm
This bot expertly baits Internet imbeciles into losing arguments
By Caitlin Dewey The Washington Post
Published Oct. 10, 2016

Civic discourse has skidded into what we might politely term a "rough spot." So much as mention the election or trans bathrooms or Black Lives Matter and you're in for an argument.

But next time you're watching your cousin's Facebook wall devolve into a flame war, or bravely facing the constant cable news onslaught, please remember that matters could always get worse: On Twitter there are people arguing with bots.

Those bots -- slyly named @good_opinions and @opinions_good -- are the work of Nora Reed, an Albuquerque, New Mexico-based activist and artist. For the past three months, both have been tweeting bland, vaguely liberal opinions like "feminism is good" or "I think Donald Trump is awful," and then firing off one of 18 canned responses to anyone who questions them. (Reed, needless to say, is a progressive activist -- but one imagines the results would be much the same if someone on the other side deployed bots to troll progressives.)

Those responses include "wow," "your (sic) wrong" and "Google it" -- otherwise known as the holy trinity of Internet rhetoric. And while they're not particularly sophisticated or provocative arguments, a lot of people are ... arguing back at them.

"The project was inspired largely by the responses to my other bots and my experiences with Twitter in general," Reed said. "What I've noticed about these people -- both the ones who talk to my bots and the ones who talk to me -- is that none of them are really interested in conversation. They have preconceptions about people who mention the topics that they're searching for and canned arguments that they want to use, and they're just looking for an opportunity to spew those at strangers."...
Read more at http://www.jewishworldreview.com/1016/dewey101016.php3#P7WgfXXigCIQMvSH.99
Title: Re: This bot expertly baits Internet imbeciles into losing arguments
Post by: Oceander on October 10, 2016, 09:21:06 pm
:silly:

Wonder how many I've argued with?
Title: Re: This bot expertly baits Internet imbeciles into losing arguments
Post by: Idaho_Cowboy on October 10, 2016, 09:22:16 pm
:silly:

Wonder how many I've argued with?
Me too. It really makes you think.  :laugh:
Title: Re: This bot expertly baits Internet imbeciles into losing arguments
Post by: Fishrrman on October 11, 2016, 02:29:29 am
A digital version of this:

(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/78/e8/9e/78e89e503a13f40683a5e916bf8dd2df.jpg)

Nothing new under the sun!
Title: Re: This bot expertly baits Internet imbeciles into losing arguments
Post by: bolobaby on October 11, 2016, 02:48:16 am
It may explain why certain Trumpettes on this site make the same tired arguments over and over again...
Title: Re: This bot expertly baits Internet imbeciles into losing arguments
Post by: Blizzardnh on October 11, 2016, 09:57:40 am
A digital version of this:

(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/78/e8/9e/78e89e503a13f40683a5e916bf8dd2df.jpg)

Nothing new under the sun!
:silly:
Title: Re: This bot expertly baits Internet imbeciles into losing arguments
Post by: Weird Tolkienish Figure on October 14, 2016, 12:29:53 pm
Liberals are generally so unintelligent that they're basically bots. Same canned thought patterns.
Title: Re: This bot expertly baits Internet imbeciles into losing arguments
Post by: Gefn on October 14, 2016, 12:56:26 pm
A digital version of this:

(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/78/e8/9e/78e89e503a13f40683a5e916bf8dd2df.jpg)

Nothing new under the sun!

I have a 20 year old 8 ball. Still works and everything! They really make them to last- as long as you don't drop em!
Title: Re: This bot expertly baits Internet imbeciles into losing arguments
Post by: bigheadfred on October 14, 2016, 01:12:10 pm
I have a 20 year old 8 ball. Still works and everything! They really make them to last- as long as you don't drop em!

How many years of bad luck do you get if you drop one?
Title: Re: This bot expertly baits Internet imbeciles into losing arguments
Post by: Suppressed on October 29, 2016, 07:50:10 pm
How many years of bad luck do you get if you drop one?

What if it gets stuck on TRY AGAIN LATER?
Title: Re: This bot expertly baits Internet imbeciles into losing arguments
Post by: bigheadfred on October 29, 2016, 10:31:50 pm
What if it gets stuck on TRY AGAIN LATER?

You convert to Hinduism.
Title: Re: This bot expertly baits Internet imbeciles into losing arguments
Post by: Cripplecreek on October 29, 2016, 10:38:44 pm
:silly:

Wonder how many I've argued with?

I doubt I've wasted much time on them. I've become increasingly anti argumentative. I say what I have to say and move on ignoring most further responses.
Title: Re: This bot expertly baits Internet imbeciles into losing arguments
Post by: bigheadfred on October 29, 2016, 10:54:20 pm
I doubt I've wasted much time on them. I've become increasingly anti argumentative. I say what I have to say and move on ignoring most further responses.

Ah so...
Title: Re: This bot expertly baits Internet imbeciles into losing arguments
Post by: Cripplecreek on October 30, 2016, 01:43:52 pm
Ah so...

Kills trolls dead.
Title: Re: This bot expertly baits Internet imbeciles into losing arguments
Post by: aligncare on October 30, 2016, 01:46:42 pm

It may explain why certain NeverTrumpers on this site make the same tired arguments over and over again...
Title: Re: This bot expertly baits Internet imbeciles into losing arguments
Post by: XenaLee on October 30, 2016, 01:48:10 pm
You convert to Hinduism.

 :silly: :silly: :silly:
Title: Re: This bot expertly baits Internet imbeciles into losing arguments
Post by: sinkspur on October 30, 2016, 01:49:28 pm
It may explain why certain NeverTrumpers on this site make the same tired arguments over and over again...

And why Trumpkins' only argument for Donald is "But he's not Hillary." 
Title: Re: This bot expertly baits Internet imbeciles into losing arguments
Post by: guitar4jesus on October 30, 2016, 01:49:44 pm
I doubt I've wasted much time on them. I've become increasingly anti argumentative. I say what I have to say and move on ignoring most further responses.

Aye.
Title: Re: This bot expertly baits Internet imbeciles into losing arguments
Post by: aligncare on October 30, 2016, 01:56:56 pm
It certainly explains fools like @DCPatriot , @aligncare , @Right_in_Virginia , @katzenjammer , and the rest of their kind.

Personal insults? Tsk tsk tsk. I'm going to tell mommy on you.
Title: Re: This bot expertly baits Internet imbeciles into losing arguments
Post by: Smokin Joe on October 30, 2016, 02:18:47 pm
It may explain why certain Trumpettes on this site make the same tired arguments over and over again...
Oh, you're just supporting Crooked Hillary!  :silly: :silly: :silly:
(/sarcasm)

Not just here...
Title: Re: This bot expertly baits Internet imbeciles into losing arguments
Post by: bigheadfred on October 30, 2016, 02:37:10 pm
Personal insults? Tsk tsk tsk. I'm going to tell mommy on you.
@Oceander  @Smokin Joe

Parent Teacher Night

Teacher: Yes, Mr. and Mrs. Care, Align IS evolving. But it is going to take him 20,000 years to catch up with the rest of the class.  :laugh:
Title: Re: This bot expertly baits Internet imbeciles into losing arguments
Post by: Smokin Joe on October 31, 2016, 03:10:53 am
@Oceander  @Smokin Joe

Parent Teacher Night

Teacher: Yes, Mr. and Mrs. Care, Align IS evolving. But it is going to take him 20,000 years to catch up with the rest of the class.  :laugh:
No child left behind?
Title: Re: This bot expertly baits Internet imbeciles into losing arguments
Post by: bigheadfred on October 31, 2016, 03:15:48 am
No child left behind?

Skinned knuckles and all.