Expect to be inundated with a lot of disinformation about the situation

[dutch508]

Tommy Carcetti (40,811 posts)
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100216354704

Expect to be inundated with a lot of disinformation about the situation in Ukraine.

Even here at DU.
You're probably going to hear a lot about appeals about a desire to supposedly be "anti-war" or "anti-imperialism." Expect to hear a lot about NATO expansion in Europe, about the US invasion in Iraq or prior CIA actions in places like Chile or Iran. Expect to hear about how the 2014 Maidan protests in Ukraine were actually a US sponsored coup, or how the current Ukrainian government is corrupted by fascist or neo-Nazi elements.

A lot of this might sound good on the surface, especially to persons--myself included--who fashion themselves pacifists or at least a fan of diplomacy over military action when it comes to foreign affairs.

However, a lot of it is either blatantly untrue, heavily distorted versions of the truth, or simply irrelevant to the current situation at hand.

Use proper discernment and consider the sources being used. Fact check using reliable sources of information. Don't just go on what might sound good on the surface.

This might seem obvious considering that is what we've had to deal with with persons on the right, but the left can--and has been--susceptible to agenda-driven disinformation efforts as well.

And this is not our first go-around here at DU. Perhaps some might remember back in 2014 and 2015 these same talking points making the rounds heavily on DU in light of the Maidan protests and then the Russian annexation of Crimea and their instigation and infusion of pro-Russian fighting in Eastern Ukraine.

There were a lot of posts that went unchallenged and were accepted as true because too many people thought what was being said sounded good. Even some long time DUers fell victim to these trappings.

Thankfully, we're better prepared these days. In 2014-15, the notion of disinformation and false news was still a great unknown, but the 2016 election and subsequent right-wing oriented disinformation efforts have served as a great wakeup call. And a lot of the DUers who participated in spreading the disinformation about Ukraine eight years ago left in the middle of 2016 because they didn't want to get behind the Democratic Party nominee.

But that doesn't mean we should let our guard down. I've already seen disinformation about the Ukrainian situation seeping its way back onto DU, and we can only expect more if matters take a turn for the worse in coming days.

All you have to realize throughout are some very simple truths:

1. Ukraine is a sovereign nation, and whether it desires to join NATO or the EU is its own decision, not anyone else's
2. Putin is the sole aggressor in this situation. Not Ukraine. Not NATO. Not the US.
3. The US has no plans to put boots on the ground in Ukraine, nor does Ukraine expect the US to put boots on the ground in Ukraine
4. Ukraine is a democracy--a flawed and fledging democracy, but a democracy nonetheless--and providing material support to a democracy in the face of unjustified aggression is not a bad thing
5. Being "anti-war" or "anti-imperialism" does not mean acquiescing to unchecked aggression by an autocratic regime against its democratic neighbor simply because you think that's "peace." That's not "peace" at all.

In the Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Rite Catholic liturgies that are prevalent throughout Ukraine, there is at one point in the mass where the celebrating priest--before reading the gospel--announces to the congregation, "Wisdom! Be attentive!"

Now, putting aside any discussion of religious belief or lack thereof, on a simply secular level, that's still very good advice to be had in any type of given situation.

Wisdom.

Be attentive.

 

Star Member iemanja (48,660 posts)

4. It's already started

and I was happy to see all but a couple of DUers call the poster out on his bullshit.

Star Member sarisataka (13,297 posts)

8. In posts about both Ukraine and the Olympics

I have been seeing many "poor misunderstood Russia" or "whatabout when the US did..." comments.

Regardless if the reason is Russia is the victim or we are far more evil I expect quite a bit more posts supporting Russia can do whatever they please.

Star Member PortTack (23,683 posts)

11. I don't listen to any of the news here regarding Ukraine

There are lots of reliable news sources coming out of the EU...NOT the guardian, they’re as bad as the news here

mactire (50 posts)

12. Ukraine history with Russia

I had just been referred to a couple informative sources regarding the situation Ukraine is/ has been with Russia the many years. A scholar from Cambridge, Rory Finnin, associated with Ukrainian studies department, just submitted an opinion piece a couple days ago to Politico magazine(politico.com), and recently authored a book “Blood of Others-Stalin’s criminal atrocity and the poetics of solidarity”. I found the opinion piece to be a relevant synopsis leading up to current events. I intend to find the book to read and learn more. I recall a CNN international interview with him from a few years ago regarding Russia’s nefarious intents over Crimea. He demonstrated his expertise quite convincingly.

 

lagomorph777 (28,206 posts)

14. Yup, I've been seeing it here.

Finally got one long-time troll kicked off.

Tommy Carcetti (40,811 posts)

27. I just noticed that one.

That poster was rather subtle about pushing the message, which made him/her all the more insidious.

Star Member W_HAMILTON (4,772 posts)

16. I've already seen it.

Furthermore, those anti-"forever-war" types on the left that somehow are unwilling to simply call out Russia and instead try to deflect and place blame on the U.S. or other Western countries for Russia's military aggressions, they should especially be called out.

You don't get to ****ing call everyone and their mother a "war criminal" for years and then sit silent when Russia is literally amassing troops on a democratic nation's borders with an evil intent to invade. We see you.

Star Member C Moon (10,276 posts)

17. putin's owned GOP congresspeople are probably going to appeal to the anti-vax /maskers on this one.

Sympthsical (3,267 posts)

23. I laughed

Can't figure misinformation over a football game, but international diplomacy? Tch, cakewalk.

I am enjoying, "If you don't want war, you're pro-Russia," spin happening. Seems . . . Republicanish. Actually, anything disagreeable is pro-Russia these days, so who knows.

I have not been following the Ukraine situation, so I have almost zero knowledgeable opinion on it outside of Putin is aggressive and expansionist. So . . . I don't discuss it.

Which is kind of a radical position to take, admittedly.

Star Member Lithos (25,773 posts)

28. You can already see the start of the campaign

The usual disinformationalists are starting their rounds. Tulsi, Rand, etc.

Tommy Carcetti (40,811 posts)

29. Also Tucker Carlson, Tucker Carlson, Tucker Carlson...

Who although no one on the left would ever admit to taking seriously, does have a lot of the Glenn Greenwald, Tulsi Gabbard types on his program who some still do.

Tommy Carcetti (40,811 posts)

34. Just as an example about how posts were here in 2014-15 on this topic, a brief sample.

It's rather cringeworthy in hindsight:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10026252363

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10024677598

 

[SVPete]

DU preparing to

[dandi]

Moonbats don't give a tin shit about Ukraine or Ukrainians. They want a war to make their bumbling, ineffectual leader look tough and decisive. Investigations and war are all the Democrats have. The government is being propped up and run by an amoral collection of nincompoops and nihilists.

[DLR Pyro]

the left has fallen in love with the words "disinformation" and "misinformation" since late 2020.  Anything they don't agree with is suddenly dis/misinformation and must be stopped while the spreader of this "dis/misinformation" must be cancelled from any platform that might allow their opinions to be made public.

They conveniently fail to acknowledge the biggest spreader of dis/misinformation is themselves with how they still to this day push the "Russia, Russia, Russia" mantra and blame Putin for anything that happens that they see as harmful to their cause.

[DefiantSix]

the left has fallen in love with the words "disinformation" and "misinformation" since late 2020.  Anything they don't agree with is suddenly dis/misinformation and must be stopped while the spreader of this "dis/misinformation" must be cancelled from any platform that might allow their opinions to be made public.

They conveniently fail to acknowledge the biggest spreader of dis/misinformation is themselves with how they still to this day push the "Russia, Russia, Russia" mantra and blame Putin for anything that happens that they see as harmful to their cause.

Just wait until all the enemies of leftist scum enemies are "counterrevolutionaries".

Then the REAL fun begins...