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A recent topic came up on yahoo news about the Russians beginning a new Naval project. I posted a comment about how it would be unwise to start another Naval arms race, especially since the US and NATO have the biggest Navies in the World by a very large margin. Within minutes the post had been hidden due to number of thumbs down. If you read through the article any post that is vaguely anti russian or against Russian Militarization the post is hidden due to negative feedback. So this brings me to the question in the title. Is Yahoo infested with Russian trolls whose job/occupation or use of spare time is to troll the internet and strike down anything remotely anti Russian? Does anyone else have similar experiences?

Yahoo! Is generally infested by conspiracy theorists, conservative political fanatics, and yes Russians (well, Ultra-Nationalists are very common on Yahoo! period, but there are a lot more Russians than other places where Ultra Nationalism is fad right now). They've been rather prolific on Yahoo! for many years now.

Its one of my favorite places to troll

Short Answer: Yes.

But then, most of the internet is dominated by people who have rather strong ideological biases which they push to extremes.

Something about that type being attracted to the medium used.


MB

Russia maintains an entire divsion focused on releasing pro-Russian commentaries on global news sites.

There are a lot of Russians on Yahoo, but they are not trolls (at least most of them aren't). They just dislike your comment because Russia stronk and is of superor to weak western liberasts. Russians are very nationalistic on average.
As Lord of Hats said, there are a lot of ultra-nationalists of other countries too, but it is just that Russians are more noticeable because Russia gets in the news often and because there just are a lot of Russians.
Also, the Russian navy is a defensive force. It doesn't need to be stronger than the US navy with its worldwide operations, it just needs to be strong enough to keep the enemy away from Russian shores.

I remember, on a different forum that I used to post on, shortly before the Beijing Olympics, we had someone join who appeared to be some kind of Chinese propaganda officer. At first I thought it was a bot, but it turned out it was a person, it was actually kind of funny.

 Iron_Captain wrote:
Russian shores.

Heh.

There was a guy here on dakka a few weeks who started a topic on "why does NATO still exist" and later said a few fun things.

I was honestly a bit disturbed by the things he said and it led me to think that Russians are brought up to believe "Russian things" and will defend their countries' name in every and any way possible on the internet.

There are some Russians who are normal people, capable of critical thought, I know a few and I think we need more of them.

 Daemonhammer wrote:
There was a guy here on dakka a few weeks who started a topic on "why does NATO still exist" and later said a few fun things.

I was honestly a bit disturbed by the things he said and it led me to think that Russians are brought up to believe "Russian things" and will defend their countries' name in every and any way possible on the internet.

There are some Russians who are normal people, capable of critical thought, I know a few and I think we need more of them.

I was friends with some Russians a few years back, and I was talking with him how as a kid, I was always worried the Russians were going to nuke the U.S. He started laughing and told me he grew up worrying the same thing about the U.S. nuking Russia.

Sorry, but you have read the Ukraine thread here right...?

 Iron_Captain wrote:
it just needs to be strong enough to keep the enemy away from Russian shores.

They're doing a great job;



The Russian Navy, proudly defending Russian shores utilizing their patented Rusted Body Blocking tactic

I can't help it... I like poking fun at the Russian Navy...

Relapse wrote:

 Daemonhammer wrote:
There was a guy here on dakka a few weeks who started a topic on "why does NATO still exist" and later said a few fun things.

I was honestly a bit disturbed by the things he said and it led me to think that Russians are brought up to believe "Russian things" and will defend their countries' name in every and any way possible on the internet.

There are some Russians who are normal people, capable of critical thought, I know a few and I think we need more of them.

I was friends with some Russians a few years back, and I was talking with him how as a kid, I was always worried the Russians were going to nuke the U.S. He started laughing and told me he grew up worrying the same thing about the U.S. nuking Russia.

Yeah one time I talked to someone who grew up not too far away from Prypiat when the Chernobyl station blew up, he said his first reaction was that the US was attacking.

 Wyrmalla wrote:
Sorry, but you have read the Ukraine thread here right...?

Is that directed at me?

Relapse wrote:

 Wyrmalla wrote:
Sorry, but you have read the Ukraine thread here right...?

Is that directed at me?

That Dakka has the same type of people inhabiting it. =P

Though I would say that's just Dakka for you. Another modelling forum I hop on which takes a bit more analytical look at things threads seem to lack this sort of troll at all, though I suppose that's either down to the moderation or something. Hmn, thread jacking a tad though making this about Dakka's own brand of trolls rather than Yahoo's.

 Smacks wrote:

 Iron_Captain wrote:
Russian shores.

Heh.

I hear Archangelsk is almost warm this time of year.

 Wyrmalla wrote:
Sorry, but you have read the Ukraine thread here right...?

That thread is one of my proudest accompishments.

 Daemonhammer wrote:
There was a guy here on dakka a few weeks who started a topic on "why does NATO still exist" and later said a few fun things.

I was honestly a bit disturbed by the things he said and it led me to think that Russians are brought up to believe "Russian things" and will defend their countries' name in every and any way possible on the internet.

There are some Russians who are normal people, capable of critical thought, I know a few and I think we need more of them.

To whom came to mind to create such topic? Can be, special employed agent who writes on dictation of KGB?

 Daemonhammer wrote:
There was a guy here on dakka a few weeks who started a topic on "why does NATO still exist" and later said a few fun things.

I was honestly a bit disturbed by the things he said and it led me to think that Russians are brought up to believe "Russian things" and will defend their countries' name in every and any way possible on the internet.

There are some Russians who are normal people, capable of critical thought, I know a few and I think we need more of them.

It is fully possible to be capable of critical thought and defend Russia at the same time, you know. Russians are brought up believing in "Russian things" the same way Americans are brought up to believe in "American things" or Poles in "Polish things". It is not like Russians are zombies brainwashed to unquestionably believe in the righteousness of glorious Mother Russia or some similar nonsense if that is what you believe. Russians are fully capable of critical thought, but just because they have a different viewpoint and therefore reach different conclusions they are not normal people to you?
Nice one.

To whom came to mind to create such topic? Can be, special employed agent who writes on dictation of KGB?

I have my suspicions.

It is fully possible to be capable of critical thought and defend Russia at the same time, you know. Russians are brought up believing in "Russian things" the same way Americans are brought up to believe in "American things" or Poles in "Polish things". It is not like Russians are zombies brainwashed to unquestionably believe in the righteousness of glorious Mother Russia or some similar nonsense if that is what you believe. Russians are fully capable of critical thought, but just because they have a different viewpoint and therefore reach different conclusions they are not normal people to you?
Nice one.

Yes but there is a difference between that and saying things like "Russia never did anything wrong" or "Everything Russia did was justified". Americans arent much better but atleast they seem to acknowledge what goes on around them.

And I did say not all Russians are like that if you read my post carefully.

 Daemonhammer wrote:

It is fully possible to be capable of critical thought and defend Russia at the same time, you know. Russians are brought up believing in "Russian things" the same way Americans are brought up to believe in "American things" or Poles in "Polish things". It is not like Russians are zombies brainwashed to unquestionably believe in the righteousness of glorious Mother Russia or some similar nonsense if that is what you believe. Russians are fully capable of critical thought, but just because they have a different viewpoint and therefore reach different conclusions they are not normal people to you?
Nice one.

Yes but there is a difference between that and saying things like "Russia never did anything wrong" or "Everything Russia did was justified". Americans arent much better but atleast they seem to acknowledge what goes on around them.

And I did say not all Russians are like that if you read my post carefully.

Than what be difference? Everything the Russian state ever did, there was a reason behind it. It is perfectly possible for someone with critical thinking to see these reasons and conclude that they make sense. It is perfectly possible for someone with critical thinking to believe everything Russia did was justified.

And you said:

Daemonhammer wrote:
There are some Russians who are normal people, capable of critical thought, I know a few and I think we need more of them.

Some Russians are normal people? So most Russians are not normal people to you? What you think is normal people?
Last time I checked, all Russians were pretty normal, ordinary people. Why do people in the West always seem to think Russians are some kind of non-human?

 Daemonhammer wrote:

"Russia never did anything wrong" or "Everything Russia did was justified".

I see that we know the same Russians. All of the ones I have encountered not on the internet seem to have this mentality. Even the ones who have lived in the states for decades. My brother in law starts spouting this when he comes over and a recent news article about the Ukraine incident or Russia's military comes along.



Edit: Submitted while I was typing!

There are some Russians who are normal people

Russians and Slavs in general, are of course superior. No one can grow a beard almost instantly and thickly like a Slav. My beard can stop X Rays its so thick.


"Look wife, there's my relatives curb stomping your relatives again. I need some vodka."
-Frazzled, on half of the War Channel's shows.

"Shut up old man or I'll fix your brakes again."
-Wife, on Frazzled.

Than what be difference? Everything the Russian state ever did, there was a reason behind it. It is perfectly possible for someone with critical thinking to see these reasons and conclude that they make sense.
It is perfectly possible for someone with critical thinking to believe everything Russia did was justified.

I think you know well what I am talking about.
There is a difference between there being a reason for something and something being justified.
"Feth Eastern Europe" for example is not a valid justification for vandalising parts of it when you people feel like it.
Same goes for bullying your neighbours into submission.

Some Russians are normal people? So most Russians are not normal people to you? What you think is normal people?
Last time I checked, all Russians were pretty normal, ordinary people. Why do people in the West always seem to think Russians are some kind of non-human?

Considering the fact that most Russians take pride in their Soviet past, and that most have said that they would "Vote for Stalin if he came back" is the reason we might think that there is something wrong with most of Russia.
There are also small things like massive alcoholism and suicide rates, rampart xenophobia and homophobia and complete disregard for everyone but yourselves, not to mention that anyone who criticises your leader seems to go missing or commits suicide.

 Daemonhammer wrote:

Than what be difference? Everything the Russian state ever did, there was a reason behind it. It is perfectly possible for someone with critical thinking to see these reasons and conclude that they make sense.
It is perfectly possible for someone with critical thinking to believe everything Russia did was justified.

I think you know well what I am talking about.
There is a difference between there being a reason for something and something being justified.
"Feth Eastern Europe" for example is not a valid justification for vandalising parts of it when you people feel like it.
Same goes for bullying your neighbours into submission.

Isn't a valid reason the same as a justification? What is just in the eyes of one, may not be just in the eyes of the other.
Russia certainly has never had "Feth Eastern Europe" or anything like that as reason for its actions. Most Russians don't hate Eastern Europe at all, and Russia does not more bully neighbours into submission than other great powers do. That is just the way things work in the world.
When the Russian Empire or Soviet Union conquered other parts of Eastern Europe, they did not do so because they hated Eastern Europe, they did so because they were already at war with that area anyway or just happened to need the resources or territory. It is called imperialism, and it is nothing personal, just politics. How does engaging in the same behaviour every other empire in history has also engaged in make Russians into not normal people?

 Daemonhammer wrote:

Some Russians are normal people? So most Russians are not normal people to you? What you think is normal people?
Last time I checked, all Russians were pretty normal, ordinary people. Why do people in the West always seem to think Russians are some kind of non-human?

Considering the fact that most Russians take pride in their Soviet past, and that most have said that they would "Vote for Stalin if he came back" is the reason we might think that there is something wrong with most of Russia.

Why wouldn't Russians take pride in the Soviet past? Things were much better in the Soviet Union than they were in Russia until quite recently. Do you even realise what a huge disaster the collapse of the Soviet Union was for the Russian people? Society broke down completely, many Russians suddenly found themselves living in different countries, there was anarchy, war, and Russia suddenly collapsed from a modern country into a poverty not seen since the Great Patriotic War. Criminals pretty much ruled the country, murdering and stealing without punishment. Only recently has Russia again reached the level of development that it had in 1991 before the collapse. When Putin said that the collapse of the Soviet Union was a great catastrophe, that is what he is referring to (What Western media of course always fails to mention is that Putin also said that anyone who wishes for the Soviet Union to return has no brain).
Because of this, it is only natural that Russians look back at the Soviet Union with rose-coloured glasses. They don't see the political opression anymore, they just see the good things about the Union. The same goes for Stalin. Nobody actually wants stalinist times to return, it is just nostalgia. People only remember the good things Stalin did and see how he made Russia great, and then realise that under Stalin, Russia would have never sunk so far down, and that Stalin would be able to make Russia great again. They just ignore the fear and massacres. It is bad, but it is understandable, and it certainly does not make the Russian a "not-normal people". Many other peoples take pride in their country's past as great empires too. Brits are proud of the British Empire, Austrians of the Austrian Empire, Turks of the Ottoman Empire, Poles of the Rzeczpospolita, etc.
Why is it so strange for Russians to take pride in the Soviet Union?

 Daemonhammer wrote:
There are also small things like massive alcoholism and suicide rates, rampart xenophobia and homophobia

That is hardly unique to Russia. You could be describing any country in Eastern Europe here.

 Daemonhammer wrote:
and complete disregard for everyone but yourselves,

I don't think that is true. Unlike people from certain countries, most Russians I know are very much interested and knowledgeable about different peoples and cultures. Of course, Russians care more for Russians than for other peoples, but this is true of the Dutch, the British and I think every other peoples as well.

 Daemonhammer wrote:
not to mention that anyone who criticises your leader seems to go missing or commits suicide.

Funny. There are many people in Russia that have criticised Putin ever since 2000, yet they still live. Putin's greatest political rivals are all still alive too. I think you are misinformed. There is very much freedom of expression in Russia, even without considering the internet. You just need to look beyond the state media. Plenty of anti-Putin media around. It is true that journalists and politicians are sometimes murdered, but this is usually to do with corruption investigations or upsetting the wrong criminals. Pro-Putin journalists and politicians are killed as well as anti-Putin journalists and politicians. Yet you only ever hear in the West when an anti-Putin journalists is killed and Putin is immediately blamed for it without any kind of research. Now who is brainwashing its people?
It is ridiculous. Why would Putin want to murder his critics? None of them is even a remote danger to his position and popularity, murdering them could only harm it.

Isn't a valid reason the same as a justification? What is just in the eyes of one, may not be just in the eyes of the other.

Sure, you could say that. But we are not talking about philosophy right now.

Russia certainly has never had "Feth Eastern Europe" or anything like that as reason for its actions. Most Russians don't hate Eastern Europe at all, and Russia does not more bully neighbours into submission than other great powers do. That is just the way things work in the world.
When the Russian Empire or Soviet Union conquered other parts of Eastern Europe, they did not do so because they hated Eastern Europe, they did so because they were already at war with that area anyway or just happened to need the resources or territory. It is called imperialism, and it is nothing personal, just politics. How does engaging in the same behaviour every other empire in history has also engaged in make Russians into not normal people?

Considering how many times Russia has tried to wipe out our culture and history, and the fact that Poland has been one of the greatest enemies of Russia for many years I would say its pretty personal. Maybe you dont all hate us, but most Russians definitely hold Eastern European countries in contemption.
Russian people seem pretty supportive of those actions, while nations like USA or Britain (since you keep bringing them up) have pretty strong opposition to the whole imperialism thing.
And "the other guys do it too" is not really an excuse.

Why wouldn't Russians take pride in the Soviet past? Things were much better in the Soviet Union than they were in Russia until quite recently. Do you even realise what a huge disaster the collapse of the Soviet Union was for the Russian people? Society broke down completely, many Russians suddenly found themselves living in different countries, there was anarchy, war, and Russia suddenly collapsed from a modern country into a poverty not seen since the Great Patriotic War. Criminals pretty much ruled the country, murdering and stealing without punishment. Only recently has Russia again reached the level of development that it had in 1991 before the collapse. When Putin said that the collapse of the Soviet Union was a great catastrophe, that is what he is referring to (What Western media of course always fails to mention is that Putin also said that anyone who wishes for the Soviet Union to return has no brain).
Because of this, it is only natural that Russians look back at the Soviet Union with rose-coloured glasses. They don't see the political opression anymore, they just see the good things about the Union. The same goes for Stalin. Nobody actually wants stalinist times to return, it is just nostalgia. People only remember the good things Stalin did and see how he made Russia great, and then realise that under Stalin, Russia would have never sunk so far down, and that Stalin would be able to make Russia great again. They just ignore the fear and massacres. It is bad, but it is understandable, and it certainly does not make the Russian a "not-normal people". Many other peoples take pride in their country's past as great empires too. Brits are proud of the British Empire, Austrians of the Austrian Empire, Turks of the Ottoman Empire, Poles of the Rzeczpospolita, etc.
Why is it so strange for Russians to take pride in the Soviet Union?

And why did the Soviet Union fall? The "Union" part is a joke anyway, nobody wanted to be in it yet everyone was forced to stay.
Stalin murdered 20+ million people. Probably another 20 died during the times of the other leaders. You vandalised Eastern Europe (and a few other places) for 50 years, preforming untold atrocities during that time.
And yet you go on glorifying those times, nostalgia or not, ignoring everything wrong that happened. Its things like naming a division after an NKVD officer or re-writing history that make everyone think you are trying to restart the Soviet Union.

There are also small things like massive alcoholism and suicide rates, rampart xenophobia and homophobia

That is hardly unique to Russia. You could be describing any country in Eastern Europe here.

and complete disregard for everyone but yourselves

I don't think that is true. Unlike people from certain countries, most Russians I know are very much interested and knowledgeable about different peoples and cultures. Of course, Russians care more for Russians than for other peoples, but this is true of the Dutch, the British and I think every other peoples as well.

Russia has one of the largest suicide and alcoholism rates in the world.
In most Eastern European countries gay people dont have to fear for their lifes. Defending homosexuals is also legal as opposed to Russia where it is punishable by law. Also in most countries when right wing fanatics attack a pride parade the police forces do not charge in and help them.
I could go on like this.

Most of the xenophobia is aimed at Russia, and are you surprised?
In the past two years you practically annexed half of Ukraine and parts of Georgia. Now you are talking about how giving the Baltic states their countries back was illegal.

Belarus is in dire poverty and its practically a satellite state of yours.
Finland is being openly threatened to refuse to join either NATO or the EU.
The Balkans are like a big joke.
The Baltic states fear that Russian tanks will roll in any day, your jets are flying over them and forces are being moved in and out of Kaliningrad, a piece of land which you seem to have without really any good reason.
You even had the audacity to kidnap an Estonian official from Estonia and drag him into a Russian prison for "espionage" and whatnot.

Funny. There are many people in Russia that have criticised Putin ever since 2000, yet they still live. Putin's greatest political rivals are all still alive too. I think you are misinformed. There is very much freedom of expression in Russia, even without considering the internet. You just need to look beyond the state media. Plenty of anti-Putin media around. It is true that journalists and politicians are sometimes murdered, but this is usually to do with corruption investigations or upsetting the wrong criminals. Pro-Putin journalists and politicians are killed as well as anti-Putin journalists and politicians. Yet you only ever hear in the West when an anti-Putin journalists is killed and Putin is immediately blamed for it without any kind of research. Now who is brainwashing its people?
It is ridiculous. Why would Putin want to murder his critics? None of them is even a remote danger to his position and popularity, murdering them could only harm it.

Please. Putin is practically a dictator. Everything he says seems to somehow be made into law.

You can say what you want, but you cant change the fact that his major opponents have a tendency do disappear in one way or another. He dosent need to have everybody killed, only the more prominent of his enemies.
Recently one of his "enemies" was shot in the back of the head outside the Kremlin. The official statement said that they "suspect suicide". If that isnt suspicious i dont know what is.


What you seem to be implying is that I follow "western media" and whatnot. First of all, no I dont. And second, if you tell me that RT is a legitimate source of information i am going to laugh.

So anyway back on topic, have a lot of you run into similar things? I just looked back over the article and roughly 40% of all the posts are blocked because they received to many thumbs down. And of that 40% about 99% are somehow negative about Russia or state facts such as the current exchange rate of the Ruble. the remaining 1% are the regular trash from idiots you see on the internet you know, "Israel is responsible for 9/11" "Black people aren't actually Humans" "The yankees are the best baseball team in the world" that kind of nonsense.

I see jingoistic nonsense from Americans too though, from people who lap up stuff from Fox News. More broadly though, the issue with Russia is that there is more state control over education and the media meaning that citizens only get one side of the story, this has been the case for many years and the effect is a distorted sense of history across the generations. We in western countries are far more free to disscuss and print things that are against the current administration or that are otherwise controversial. We discuss for example if the use of the atomic bomb or the bombing of Dresden were war crimes or justified. Russia doesn't even admit the crimes of Stalin or the Red Army, it's all swept under the carpet, it's always Russians saying that the atrocities are made up or grossly exaggerated by the west - Conspiracy theory nonsense, sponsored by the Russian state education system no doubt.

Recent example is the Iraq War, there was a huge mount of discussion over the legitimacy of that and still is, people publicly protested it and the government's information was questioned. I rather doubt that has been the case of Ukraine in Russia. Repeated we get denials from many Russians online that fly in the face of international evidence, and when Putin finally admits something the goalposts are moved slightly back and the denials begin again.

SO no one is disputing our natural beard making superiority. Hah! Take that Ecuador!

 Iron_Captain wrote:
just happened to need the resources or territory. It is called imperialism, and it is nothing personal, just politics.

Did you seriously mean to write that? "It's just imperialism"...

Russia:

What happens when you skip the Enlightenment.

MB

 Steve steveson wrote:

 Iron_Captain wrote:
just happened to need the resources or territory. It is called imperialism, and it is nothing personal, just politics.

Did you seriously mean to write that? "It's just imperialism"...

Unfortunately he is right. Every large Empire tru human history was doing it. I see no reason why Russia and USA will differ from it. However, it's beyond me how in the name of the Emperor Russia got so many rescources, but it's people are so very poor.

The Balkans are like a big joke.

Yes, we have sum good jokes.


On the topic. The OP is right, and it's not only Yahoo. Almost every one local news or political site is infected by well paid pro-russian trolls. Unfortunately, there are pro-western paid trolls to retalite back.

 Daemonhammer wrote:

Russia certainly has never had "Feth Eastern Europe" or anything like that as reason for its actions. Most Russians don't hate Eastern Europe at all, and Russia does not more bully neighbours into submission than other great powers do. That is just the way things work in the world.
When the Russian Empire or Soviet Union conquered other parts of Eastern Europe, they did not do so because they hated Eastern Europe, they did so because they were already at war with that area anyway or just happened to need the resources or territory. It is called imperialism, and it is nothing personal, just politics. How does engaging in the same behaviour every other empire in history has also engaged in make Russians into not normal people?

Considering how many times Russia has tried to wipe out our culture and history, and the fact that Poland has been one of the greatest enemies of Russia for many years I would say its pretty personal. Maybe you dont all hate us, but most Russians definitely hold Eastern European countries in contemption.
Russian people seem pretty supportive of those actions, while nations like USA or Britain (since you keep bringing them up) have pretty strong opposition to the whole imperialism thing.

And "the other guys do it too" is not really an excuse.