@VirginiaMurr@mastodon.social
@VirginiaMurr@mastodon.social avatar

VirginiaMurr

@VirginiaMurr@mastodon.social

Social media researcher, mom, philosophy grad, and book lover. I loathe fake accounts and platform manipulation. #nobot

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VirginiaMurr, to random
@VirginiaMurr@mastodon.social avatar

My daughters and I have decided that the word "brunch" is too prissy, so we've come up with a replacement word: "blunch."

VirginiaMurr, to random
@VirginiaMurr@mastodon.social avatar

Welp

The news is a bit more depressing than usual today. Across the board.

VirginiaMurr,
@VirginiaMurr@mastodon.social avatar

@NaturaArtisMagistra

First, the Kate Middleton news (cancer)
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/princess-kate-cancer-announcement/

And ...US ceasefire proposal blocked by China and Russia at the UN
https://apnews.com/article/united-nations-us-vote-gaza-ceasefire-resolution-f6453803b3eacc9fbaa2ce5a025e2a94

And ...Russia's huge attack on Ukrainian power system
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68634444

And ... bunch of civilians dead at an attack at a Moscow concert hall
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/03/22/explosion-gunfire-hit-popular-moscow-concert-venue/

.... there's more, but those were all part of my assessment about the news being more depressing than usual.

GottaLaff, to random
@GottaLaff@mastodon.social avatar

Why yes, I am posting less this morning. Why? Packin’ the car up for our Big Canada 🇨🇦 Road Trip. Leaving in. 5 minutes. See you later!👋🏼

VirginiaMurr,
@VirginiaMurr@mastodon.social avatar

@GottaLaff

Be safe ... and try to have fun!

StillIRise1963, to random
@StillIRise1963@mastodon.world avatar

The elders in my family always say someone/something is "something else." "Something else" can mean anything you want it to. It could mean something derogatory about someone or thing - something to make you roll your eyes, or it could mean something really positive and amazing. It's all about intonation. There's this middle of the road type of intonation that makes the words seemingly mean nothing, so you can say something mean to someone's face, but can't be accused of saying anything wrong.🤣

VirginiaMurr,
@VirginiaMurr@mastodon.social avatar

@StillIRise1963

Haha ... another trip down memory lane.

I think a newer iteration of that phrase is .. "that's interesting." It could either be a slam or a compliment. Totally depends on the tone.

marcelias, to random
@marcelias@mas.to avatar

During his State of the Union address, President Joe Biden implored us all to “be honest, the threat remains, and democracy must be defended.” Republicans are prepared to play offense — to put the fate of our democracy on the docket.

So am I.
https://www.democracydocket.com/opinion/republicans-prepare-a-new-wave-of-legal-attacks-on-voting/

VirginiaMurr,
@VirginiaMurr@mastodon.social avatar

@GottaLaff @marcelias

*I second the motion. :-)

VirginiaMurr, to random
@VirginiaMurr@mastodon.social avatar

Welp, came across my 1st fake military account on here ...

I don't miss seeing those. They were a constant problem on Twitter. New military fakes were created daily there -- in the thousands.

These fakes have a tendency to start as scam accounts and move on to political propaganda. So, keep your eyes open.

(For those wondering ... yes, I reported it. And, thus far, the admins have been fantastic about suspending clear fakes. 100% better than Twitter ever was.)

VirginiaMurr, to random
@VirginiaMurr@mastodon.social avatar

Arrrrgh.

Pundits are still pondering whether or not Judge Cannon is just *inexperienced" and "naive" thus making mistakes.

Come the fuck on, already.

She's not dumb.
She has a law degree.
And, when someone's REPEATED fuck-ups benefit only one person, that is what we, in the real world, call a pattern of bad behavior. It's when benefit-of-the-doubt dies.

Cannon slaughtered benefit-of-the-doubt for her. It's not even close.

Geez.

VirginiaMurr, to random
@VirginiaMurr@mastodon.social avatar

Quick thank you to everyone who posts screengrabs of obvious asshole accounts on here. You rock!

I'm a fan of pre-emptive blocking clearly bad actors.

VirginiaMurr, to random
@VirginiaMurr@mastodon.social avatar

Glad to see at least one Twitter "Influencer" (sooo many of her followers are fake) arrested for taking part in the Jan. 6 attack on Congress.

*Note her connection to TPUSA.

"DeLuca, who has more than 333,000 followers on the platform formerly known as Twitter, is a former congressional intern ... DeLuca’s profile on the institute’s website says she served as an ambassador for the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA."

https://apnews.com/article/isabella-deluca-influencer-arrested-capitol-riot-81c81ad10e4e407ec4827376133849a8

VirginiaMurr, to random
@VirginiaMurr@mastodon.social avatar

Here's hoping legal pundits stop giving Judge Cannon "benefit of the doubt" arguments on her behalf.

To be clear: I'm normally in favor of trying to see the best in people. Even second chances in many (though, not all) cases.

But there MUST be a line. When clear, ethical lines are repeatedly crossed, "benefit of the doubt" dies.

mastodonmigration, to random
@mastodonmigration@mastodon.online avatar

Lots of coverage today of the court filing where the criminal rapist fraudster says he can't come up with a bond. Let’s be aware this guy lies all the time and this may be some part of a ploy to attract 'investors'.

VirginiaMurr,
@VirginiaMurr@mastodon.social avatar

@mastodonmigration

The problem with liars: sometimes they tell the truth, but who the hell knows when!? Until stuff plays out, confirming or denying the lie, truth or falsity is left up in the air.

I think there's a chance this is true--strictly because the size of Trump's wealth & his "pull" with $ institutions is a point of pride for him. Incredibly important to how he views himself. I doubt admitting a) he doesn't have the money, & b) nobody will give him a bond was his first option.

VirginiaMurr, to random
@VirginiaMurr@mastodon.social avatar

Absolutely not a fan of giving my tax money to the company run by a hate-filled Nazi.

Geezus.

There really needs to be some kind of ethical line in the sand--even for govt spending.

"Musk’s SpaceX is building spy satellite network for U.S. intelligence agency, sources told Reuters"

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/16/musks-spacex-is-building-spy-satellite-network-for-us-intelligence-agency-sources-told-reuters.html

VirginiaMurr, to random
@VirginiaMurr@mastodon.social avatar

One of the murder victims in PA today was the mother of the suspect's 2 kids.

Because, of course.

fuck domestic violence

(Side-note: referencing the national news story being aired today ... the suspect is currently barricaded in a home in NJ, surrounded by cops.)

VirginiaMurr, to random
@VirginiaMurr@mastodon.social avatar

Really happy to see Japan going in this direction.

"Denying same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, a Japanese high court says"

https://apnews.com/article/japan-lgbtq-samesex-marriage-ruling-court-f869fa7d2b22bfc1eafcd5d6a7c9d5a2

VirginiaMurr, to random
@VirginiaMurr@mastodon.social avatar

Prefacing this post with:
I vote all Dem. I will, with zero doubt, be voting for Biden in 2024.

However, this character-less shit of purposefully boosting MAGA candidates because they are "easier to beat" pisses me off. A lot. it's gross. And the risk is too fucking high.

"An outside group affiliated with Senate Democrats is running ads touting the former president’s endorsement of Bernie Moreno in one of the key races for the majority.

https://www.politico.com/news/2024/03/13/dems-meddle-in-ohio-senate-race-to-boost-trump-backed-candidate-00146928

GottaLaff, to Ukraine
@GottaLaff@mastodon.social avatar

👀Via Timothy Snyder:

's allies are selling out in exchange for backing in the election.

A Trump victory in November would finish off US democracy.

And a Russian victory in Ukraine would doom freedom generally.

If this minority coalition of international fascists wins in 2024, life will be rotten for everyone else indefinitely.

If you want a chance to live in a decent world, you've got half a year to act.

VirginiaMurr,
@VirginiaMurr@mastodon.social avatar

@darwinwoodka @GottaLaff

I tracked fake networks on Twitter for years (80-100 hrs/wk).

I fully agree the account has all the hallmarks of a fake (troll) acct. Determining its place of origin is much more difficult, but I don't think it's necessary to do so.

I'm glad there aren't too many accts like it (yet) on Mastodon. In bulk (easily in the thousands), they are capable of swaying opinion ... because average users assume they're real. It's really messed up.

*edited for typos ... sorry

VirginiaMurr, to random
@VirginiaMurr@mastodon.social avatar

You just know that this is getting under Trump's skin ...

"Biden raises $10 million in 24 hours after his State of the Union speech"

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-raises-10-mln-24-hours-after-his-state-union-speech-2024-03-10/

VirginiaMurr, to random
@VirginiaMurr@mastodon.social avatar

FWIW:

I block people who post Seth Abramson as a credible source.

*Rules-of-thumb for disinfo apply to everyone. Political alignment has nothing to do with it.

rodhilton, to random
@rodhilton@mastodon.social avatar

I just love that the GOP Response to the SOTU just had to clear the bar of "act like a normal person" and they couldn't find a single person in the party who could do it.

VirginiaMurr,
@VirginiaMurr@mastodon.social avatar

@rodhilton

What I have found interesting is that ... they were trying to appeal to women w/ their full-on embrace of Christian-woman-in-the-kitchen, subservient vibe. They DID exactly that!

Dems (& anyone w/any respect for women) hated it for obvious reasons.

BUT their misogynist base hated it too! Not because of the disrespect for women--but because it wasn't "masculine enough" for them.

She was their "ideal" woman & they hate her for it. And that fully sums up the Right's view of women.

dangillmor, to random
@dangillmor@mastodon.social avatar

The bots that "friend" me on Facebook -- typically with photos of young Asian women -- have arrived here on Mastodon. Easy enough to block/report.

VirginiaMurr,
@VirginiaMurr@mastodon.social avatar

@dangillmor

They tend to come in tiny waves on here. When the admins notice (usually because someone reports the accounts), they suspend them relatively fast here (unlike the other platforms).

VirginiaMurr, to random
@VirginiaMurr@mastodon.social avatar

The 2 most nerve-grating things from last night's SOTU:

  • Mike Johnson's constant smirk & eye-rolling (even when my kids were teens ... and one still is, they didn't smirk or eye-roll like that ... egads, he can't shut it off)

  • Katie Britt's horrific, breathless wanna-be actress response to the SOTU. Nails down a chalkboard.

aral, to ai
@aral@mastodon.ar.al avatar

What fresh hell is this?

VirginiaMurr,
@VirginiaMurr@mastodon.social avatar

@aral

It's crap. But, and I am serious, at least it's is honest crap.

Prepping my rusty-since-being-off-Twitter block finger. :-)

VirginiaMurr,
@VirginiaMurr@mastodon.social avatar

@daniel @aral

Absolutely. I tracked fakes on Twitter for years (80-100 hrs/wk). One of my big takeaways was how easily average people were duped by the fakes. Even the simplest fakes such as model bots (the ones used for scams, false amplification, and political propaganda) ... yet the average user had no idea that they were fake.

I'm very concerned about the impending deluge of the more complex fakes (that aren't honest about being fake).

dansup, to random
@dansup@mastodon.social avatar

I just had to deal with the worst kind of report, I immediately banned the account and cleared associated media from our CDN

Ended up spending the evening working on federating account deletions to purge this from known fediverse servers (done ✅)

Now I'm working to make it easier for admins to report illegal content to the authorities

I'm making this public because @pixelfed needs your help to report sus posts and feedback on how to keep our community safe from illegal content

VirginiaMurr,
@VirginiaMurr@mastodon.social avatar

@dansup @pixelfed

Just wanted to say kudos to you for caring enough to do this.

I used to report (what I'm guessing is) the same type of content on Twitter ... for hours (often daily). There were just so many.

It's horrific & emotionally draining. But, egads, it's necessary (crucial, really) for decent people to step in.

So, thank you.

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