I highly suspect that the Washington Post Comment section is filled with Bots

[Anonymous]

I highly suspect that the Washington Post Comment section is filled with Bots so I did some tests.
The bots seem to converge on hot topics like Gaza/Israel.
So what I did was make some comment like: I like eating Chocolate Ice Cream and then I see who comments.
For example the recent one I posted received a response like: "I guess that means you aren't in Gaza" But then that post received 6 likes.
If you try it yourself, you'll start to see that its some of the same people posting over and over again.
In other words, intentionally or not, the Wash Post or the Bots are stirring up the debate. But the person on the other side of the computer may not be human.

[Anonymous]

That’s not surprising. Bots are everywhere on Twitter, Facebook, and Reddit. Soon most of the Internet will consist largely of bots responding to each other.

[Anonymous]

Well I mean duh, where have you been for the last 15 years? Chinese and Russian bots have always spammed news message boards, yahoo message boards, Reddit, ….hell probably even here, with inflammatory content and messages just to sow discord.

[Anonymous]

IDF bots.

[Anonymous]

Why would anyone ever be in any Comments section in 2024? We know trolls troll, we know bots bot, we know fakers fake. You acting alarmed about this is like being alarmed that not every photo on Instagram is authentic. Come on, OP. Read some news, form your own perspectives, and move on with your day.

[Anonymous]

I think this is where the phrase “touch grass” is useful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:IDF bots.

Actually I was thinking HAMAS bots. Pro GAZA and Pro Palestine bots.

[Anonymous]

You should try posting on Truth Social. That site is easilly 90% bots.

As soon as Trump posts something, the comments section is full of memes glorifying Trump and having nothing to do with the original post, and they're mostly from the same accounts over and over again.

[Anonymous]

I like eating Stouffer’s lasagna.

[Anonymous]

WaPo requires people to sign up to be able to comment, so no, there are bots in their comments section. There may be prankster humans or humans who like to troll and rile up others.

I've been reading Wapo's comment section for a long time, and recognize frequent posters. Most comments are on point, whether you agree or disagree with their opinions.

Your test is meaningless, OP. Of course people are going to like ice cream along with you, regardless of the topic discussed, and some will interpret your comment politically, obviously.

You're very stupid.

(NYT also requires people to sign up to comment, before you lay into them as well.)

[Anonymous]

The coments section on WP is heavily filled with an older crowd with time on their hands. And a few trolls too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:WaPo requires people to sign up to be able to comment, so no, there are bots in their comments section. There may be prankster humans or humans who like to troll and rile up others.

I've been reading Wapo's comment section for a long time, and recognize frequent posters. Most comments are on point, whether you agree or disagree with their opinions.

Your test is meaningless, OP. Of course people are going to like ice cream along with you, regardless of the topic discussed, and some will interpret your comment politically, obviously.

You're very stupid.

(NYT also requires people to sign up to comment, before you lay into them as well.)

Twitter required people to sign up and comment too so you really have no idea what it takes to create and deploy a bot

[Anonymous]

1) Maybe there are more comments on hot topics like the war in Gaza because people are interested in those topics

2) Why are you trying to win debates in the comment section? Who cares if you're debating a real person or not?

3) I really think the "it's bots!" idea is usually completely bogus. It's probably not bots. It's probably just people who disagree with you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:WaPo requires people to sign up to be able to comment, so no, there are bots in their comments section. There may be prankster humans or humans who like to troll and rile up others.

I've been reading Wapo's comment section for a long time, and recognize frequent posters. Most comments are on point, whether you agree or disagree with their opinions.

Your test is meaningless, OP. Of course people are going to like ice cream along with you, regardless of the topic discussed, and some will interpret your comment politically, obviously.

You're very stupid.

(NYT also requires people to sign up to comment, before you lay into them as well.)

lol @ thinking a sign-up requirement prevents bots.

[Anonymous]

How do bots work on a message board or forum like Reddit/DcUM