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pat_k

(14,313 posts)

5. You nailed it.

Reply to Blue Owl (Reply #2)

Fri Jun 5, 2026, 07:32 PM

Jun 5

The tools for inciting a mob on social media are downright frightening.

And that's really the key: Mob mentality.

A mob doesn't stop and think. A mob doesn't take time to seek more information or put into context. A mob doesn't consider the human capacity for transformation. A mob doesn't call for deeper investigation of reports.

No. A mob grows on it's own momentum. Emotional contagion takes hold. As the mob forms people are thoughtlessly pulled in. As more join the mob, it's the classic snowball. If all these people are out there with pitchforks and torches, there MUST be a damn good reason. No need to stop, think, learn more, or evaluate.

Had the Senate not succumbed to mob mentality in December of 2017, who knows? We might have had President Franken in 2020. At 68 years old there wouldn't be much of a question about whether he should run again at 72. Biden was a very good president, but I suspect that if that alternate future had come to pass, Franken would have been a hell of a force.

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12 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

ExtraGriz dave99 paleotn Bettie dhol82 The Roux Comes First summer_in_TX Blue Owl c-rational MustLoveBeagles questionseverything AloeVera

58 replies

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Highlight:

Hallmarks of an orchestrated smear [View all] pat_k Jun 5 OP

Deja vue all over again al bupp Jun 5 #1

Take some old school Rove tactics... Blue Owl Jun 5 #2

You nailed it. pat_k Jun 5 #5

The GOP pays pros big money for this orangecrush Jun 5 #3

Tragically, too many media outlets are delighted to jump into a mob as it forms... pat_k Jun 5 #8

Journalism died in 2016 dave99 Jun 5 #14

a certain someone onethatcares Jun 6 #48

very few, if any, fighters left in media dave99 Jun 6 #49

And we've got to treasure and promote each one!! pat_k Jun 6 #57

Remember who owns the media outlets orangecrush Jun 5 #17

yep. it's all about 'the baddies' stopdiggin Jun 5 #4

Who said "nothing to do with Platner?" pat_k Jun 5 #6

And it doesn't make it right when one is supporting an adjudicated rapist, a fraudster and a credibly alleged pedophile. MLWR Jun 5 #11

they're treating him so unfairly .. ! stopdiggin Jun 5 #12

I see the hallmarks of a smear. YMMV pat_k Jun 5 #16

Maybe, I donʻt know but David Costello is better qualified regardless. mahina Jun 5 #26

Good case. We'll know who the nominee ends up being soon enough. pat_k Jun 5 #28

P.S. I know you meant Costello, but you might correct the title. pat_k Jun 5 #29

Thank you mahina Jun 5 #31

2 funny, you couldn't remember his name questionseverything Jun 6 #51

Thatʻs a shame mahina Jun 6 #53

I think Platner is a wolf in wolfʻs clothing and Mainers are being deceived. mahina Jun 6 #55

Do you not understand how binary choices work? paleotn Jun 5 #18

creepy Collins, asshat DoBW Jun 5 #23

not at all what I said stopdiggin Jun 5 #30

Irrelevant. Mills is out. There are two choices. Two. Period. paleotn Jun 6 #54

Iʻm excited by David Costello mahina Jun 5 #25

yep, we're prodded to not vote. ExtraGriz Jun 5 #7

Classic counter-resistance stuff. Demonize, demoralize. pat_k Jun 5 #15

Exactly how this works. paleotn Jun 5 #19

I LOVE Jane Mayer ... she is an awesome writer! FakeNoose Jun 5 #9

"The Memo" in 2006 sent her to the top of my list of journalists to track. pat_k Jun 5 #33

The next things they will do... Don1 Jun 5 #10

I fear you are probably right. pat_k Jun 5 #36

People are taught to assume that where there's smoke there's fire. Or also... Beartracks Jun 5 #13

We are pretty flawed creatures. pat_k Jun 6 #56

Where's the oppo research on Collins? dlk Jun 5 #20

Recommended! H2O Man Jun 5 #21

Much appreciated! pat_k Jun 6 #42

please tell me you are not comparing Franken and Platner Skittles Jun 5 #22

I'm noting hallmarks of an orchestrated smear. No more. No less. pat_k Jun 5 #40

alrighty then Skittles Jun 6 #43

I do not know but more focus should be on David Costello mahina Jun 5 #24

As I noted above, you make a good case. pat_k Jun 5 #39

Thank you mahina Jun 6 #41

"Cue the pitchforks and torches." JoseBalow Jun 5 #27

I recently watched Young Frankenstein after perhaps 40 years. pat_k Jun 5 #32

Thanks so much for the link! I always assumed it was even worse than what I had read -- but not that much worse. eppur_se_muova Jun 5 #34

Thanks for posting. Seems to me too few people "get" the magnitude of the wrong. pat_k Jun 5 #37

I was glad to see so many Dems admitting openly that they made a mistake. Sen. Gillibrand I particularly held a grudge eppur_se_muova Jun 6 #44

Jane Mayer is a treasure! pat_k Jun 6 #45

"Dark Money" is the one I started. Armed with new glasses, I'm going to go find it right now ! eppur_se_muova Jun 6 #46

Here's a blast from the past pat_k Jun 6 #47

Sudden Last Minute Things The Republican Ex GF Don1 Jun 5 #35

I think there are people asking. But when mob mentality is triggered, thought falls by the wayside. pat_k Jun 5 #38

Ask Hillary Clinton about last minute revelations. MineralMan Jun 6 #50

Dirty little Collins rats DoBW Jun 6 #52

While The Donald gets a pass on everthing? czarjak Jun 6 #58

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