Topic: Can we trust user that spread false and dangerous news on COVID19? - page 3. (Read 890 times)

Even if it's presented as a fact and even if the user knowingly posts false information... it's a lie at most, which is not something that red trust or moderators can fix (or should fix).

Having said that, I tried reporting some of the repetitive conspiracy threads and some of the off topic BS that certain users post all over the place. Sometimes this works. So if you really care you can get rid of some of this garbage. If someone posts about bleach in a thread about unemployment, or keeps posting new miracle cure threads you can make the case that it's spam. But if they just start a unique cockamamie thread and don't break any rules - there's nothing you can do. Flag Earth thread ran for 5 years and only ended when the OP got bored.


If you noticed something after ignoring it... you're not ignoring it properly



Edit: I can't grammar.

Wait!
Is not "opinion" share a dangerous treatment (for COVID19 or other health issue) based on
E.G. Drink bleach it helps from COVID19 or
You should threat a cancer with cooking salt

Thanks for your suggestions, but I have noticed that when ignoring these users (useful) threads derailed quickly up to Microchips ...

These arguments are not shared only in P&S threads but also in local boards.
Not only trolls share these kind of informations

BTW Thanks anyway for discussion and suggestions provided by all of you again.

In Psychology we call this tendency "Authority bias". Pretty scary what authority figures (individuals or groups) can do and/or accomplish just because people perceive them as authority. As the saying goes "with great power comes great responsibility", unless you're a politician or the mainstream media, then you can do whatever you want with that power, but I digress...

No one's gonna give those users a neg tag (difference in opinions doesn't merit a neg tag), their posts are not going to be deleted (they're not breaking any rules AFAIK), and mods/admins will not prohibit discussing/posting such things like conspiracy theories or like you say "crappy arguments" in this forum because, as @Welsh said, censorship is a no go.

Now, can't you just put those users on your ignore list? Hear me out...It seems like this actually upsets you and it's understandable, you live in italy and we all know what's going on over there, but for your own mental health, just ignore those users, yeah? Seriously, the outbreak, the news, lockdowns, all of this is too stressful, but do you really want to add more stuff into that pile of negativity? Do you want to see your mental distress and anxiety increasing? I'll say it once more, ignore those users and avoid anything that makes you upset or anxious such as those posts in the P&S board, and try to engage in something more positive, do it for your own mental and physical health. Stay safe!

No, it's not the same. I wouldn't hesitate to red-trust someone who attempts to sell some miracle treatment for covid-19 because that'd be quite obviously a scam. There are some ICOs and other bullshit attempts to make money from this crisis so those are fair game for red trust I think. However just posting stupid stuff shouldn't invoke red trust.

Think about this way - most likely such users are trolls (a bunch of those wackos in P&S have been posting nonsense for a long time before covid-19) and trolls thrive on attention. Red trust is not going to stop them from posting, quite the opposite probably.

The problem with fake news does not only exist in this forum.  It exists everywhere where you talk to people or read about it. Everybody has the right to be wrong. But it is then our duty to point them out. Surely the "fanatics" will not be convinced any more. But those who are only marginally interested in conspiracy theories can still be convinced with facts.

These are not "politically" opinions, I mean, if you say "a pie in the sky" at least you should have a minimum of evidence.

My country (Italy) has been really devastated by these events.
Sharing these crappy argumentations will not give any help, but create only FUD since not all people are able to detect a fake information from a real one.
Plus other users can't talk about serious matters since there is everywhere "fried air" and not thought or fact related this pandemic events.

Bear in mind, I never talk about censorship, but freedom doesn't mean "I am free to harm someone".
Why we give negative trust for Ponzi or fake casino?
Yeah, it's pretty clear, we are all aware that there is not that can give these economic gains.

Is not the same when someone is posting fake information and/or dangerous treatment about COVID19?

I would respond to the OPs inquiry with a question....

Would it be safe to follow advice or deal with someone who is spreading the misinformation?

If someone is saying you should drink bleach to protect yourself, this advice is dangerous and this person should not be trusted. This is not unlike someone advising to post your private keys on the internet- you are going to have your money stolen from you.

If someone is saying that coronavirus is caused by 5G, they are just stupid but probably harmless.

If someone is spreading the lie that coronavirus originated in the US, they are intentionally lying to you in order to cover their own incompetence, if not worse. This is akin to a business accepting deposits, going insolvent and telling its customers that some other business owes their customers their coin.

Welcome to Politics & Society board . As I remember, some users been posting such stuff there long time before pandemy. Some users just love to make conspiracy theories about everything - 5G, vaccines, masons, flat earth and etc. They even use reference for their statements, usually it's random unknown blog or some Youtube videos.
I'm not sure what can be done with these users. Theymos values freedom of speech, so censorship probably isn't an option. Maybe using facts and some common sense could be an option to counter their nonsense.

I missed this one  Apparently people in the sites i visit has a little bit more brain cells than expected (~0) to not mention this in their discussion... My bad!
Seriously Microchips? to follow them or to control their empty head?
@The Pharmacist, you already know this tho but it is very hard sometimes to convince some people how stupid and silly the ideas they have... It reminds me of this sad joke: I spent hours explaining to my neighbour the importance of social distancing and once I finished, he kissed me twice and said i understand you now

It is difficult to stop people from spreading hoax because I do not want to call some of the information false. However, anyone that spread fake news to promote a ponzi scheme should be refuted. This is not the time and there will never be allowed time that such will be accommodated on BTT. It is sad that the world is going through this at this moment and it is absolutely crazy to spread fake news

This isn't exclusive to the forum, and this applies to some "well known" news sources as well, yet people will, and do trust whatever they read from a source which is perceived at an authority figure. I hate to say it, and I hate that this is true, but if a newbie spread false information about anything you'd be far more inclined to question it, but if it was a user like theymos as an example, you'd be far more likely to believe it without further investigation. Although, this is a bad thing as theymos, and any other authority figure within any community can be just as wrong as anybody else, but its the way most humans work. For example, notoriously shit news sources like the daily mail & s*n are terrible in almost every single way, yet there are people out there that trust these sources.

Its the same here. Some people will trust what people say, and some won't. We aren't going to start censoring people for having their own views, and opinions about something. Can you trust them? Probably not, although even if it was from a perceived trustworthy user of the forum, just because you trust them with exchanging money does not mean you can trust their opinions, and views.

The great thing about lack of censorship is you can call them out for their bullshit without any issues from a moderation point of view, and trust point of view.

Then add a warning by replying to such posts.

To answer your question - no, we should not trust users who spread this nonsense. But we shouldn't use red trust for it (being stupid is not necessarily a risk in a trade). Perhaps a neutral rating with a clear and concise rebuttal of their nonsense would help, however a direct reply wherever possible is the best option IMO. And yes, they'll probably drown your reply with further nonsense but if anybody is prone to believing it to begin with then they would still believe that stuff even if the user gets red-trusted or banned or whatever.

Hi The Pharmacist,
I prepared and providing to some of these users "long explanation" (like 3 or more pages) where I debunked each sentence of crappy youtube posted, spending on this activity some hours during my free time.
For What?
I received as reply "You can't change my idea"... or "You (group of people ) will not win ( )"

Or, just as example, if you claim without evidence/proof that "COVID19 has pieces of HIV " how I can discuss since it's like speaking about "fried air"?

About free-speech, yes it's ok for me, isn't a problem at all since I don't like censorship.
But if some one use this as an excuse and providing DANGEROUS information  
it's the same situation we have with Ponzi.
They are free to speech but we give a clear WARNING to all USERS.



I don't want accuse anyone in public this is not my interest and I Want just try to understand what is the better solution to handle these situations since also these kind of stuff can harm other people.
If you (or other one) want specifically information just send a MP or check my previous post history since as I replied here I have already spent several hours debunking these fake/dangerous informations

You're a great guy - but who are "they" that you speak of?  I'm not going to go looking for them - this is your thread, please give examples of who on DT1 (or any other rank) "they" are.

If you see anyone promulgating unscienfic "facts" like your example:


...I would suggest taking a few moments and rebutting their claims with facts (if you have them) or at least asking them to provide references which back up their claims.  Who knows what the motivation is behind spreading misinformation--part of it could be reliance on rumor; misunderstandings; and outright maliciousness.  In the end it doesn't matter why someone is spreading false information, but when you see it you ought to challenge it lest others see it, think it's true, and spread it even further.

Free speech is well-tolerated on bitcointalk, by the way.  That basically means that mods aren't going to be quick to delete posts by conspiracy theorists or others who spew mis- an dis-information.

There are some people that share also these (bleach) remedy https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/dont-drink-bleach-to-prevent-coronavirus-poison-control-center-warns but maybe these are so obvious and mosts will no try.  

But, I have seen user sharing here on forum an experimental treatment (actually used only in re-animation and not for cure COVID19 or prophylactic usage) with a commercial drug, like the "solution" for COVID19.

I am scared to see these information posted as "real information" since this specific product is "easy" to find at pharmacy and you can have also in your pharmaceutical cabinet...
If someone use this medicine without medical assistance it's going to die in a couple of hours... likewise drinking bleach.
Sharing these information about medicine (without a disclaimer/warning) it can seriously harm some one since I guess not all people have the same information related health treatment.

I can live with conspiracy theories, some of them can even bring a good laugh from time to time. But any post suggesting people to commit suicide/physically harm themselves should be deleted ASAP, and I'd even consider a temp-ban on such accounts. Fuck freedom of speech if you are trying to get people killed with it.

Needless to say, never trust such a person

Good discussion mate, I also encountered users who have crazy views about COVID19. There is no source of what they said, it's a pure conspiracy theory on their own. But there's nothing we can do since we have different views about COVID19 and all of us have a freedom to speak as long it is not off-topic. Once it is off-topic we can simply report to the moderator using the magic button " Report to Moderator" and let them handle those posts.

If they make the worst statement with regards to COVID19 false statement (or malicious scam link) that you don't like, probably that is the time you will include them to your ignored list.

Anyway, in our place. Those people who spread fake news in social media about COVID19 will put in jail. Probably it is also good if there is punishment for those users.

Thank you all for your contribution, very much appreciated.

In the case of COVID19 (we leave out the other strange theories...) I am concerned to see that harmful informations are shared by "high level accounts" without a warning (high risk to get a physical damage)  or DT1 red trust.
EG: "drinking bleach helps you cure COVID" or "xxx treatment guarantees healing".
These informations can harm someone as it can happen by promoting a bitcoin-doubler or a ponzi site.

Science is evidence based is not just an opinion and no one should spread unproven remedies.
I noticed a constant increase of this information in the various "serious" topics as if these people are taking "courage" or maybe since they are unemployed have more time to spend in this hobby.

I have no idea if they are trolls or simply "conspiracy" but they can harm people that read these kind of stuff this is why I opened this topic and ask my question: "Can we Trust these people?"

Just have a look at the first couple of pages of Politics and Society. Plenty of examples there.

But as I (and others) said above, there is a distinction between someone who genuinely believes this stuff (which is fine) and those who are trying to cause trouble/scam (which isn't).
Most of these arguably fall into the former group. Personally I am happy to debate with people who I think have crazy views, although at times it can be frustrating - probably for them as well as for me.