When the number one tactic involves paying people to troll and influence on social media it's being willfully ignorant to look at every post in a vacuum and to not look for patterns.

Let us also recognize that Russia is just one of hundreds of interests that are trying to influence conversation online, not discounting several factions in the US government.

It is very easy to spot them, especially on platforms like Twitter where they spread obvious, blatant lies. No one is immune, especially with disinformation campaigns being waged by domestic parties, corporate interests, PR firms.

It has always been a reality that the internet attracts misinformation and conspiracy, even more so in the past than now. And yet, we continue to evolve from a technology that doesn't allow for us to distinguish fantasy from reality.

We aren't North Korea who is so threatened by outside messages they have to block foreign radio broadcasts and are susceptible to leaflet propaganda drops.

Or we shouldn't be.

We shouldn't be threatened by foreign posters claiming this or that. If legitimate problems are brought up they should be acknowledged in a free society. If lies are brought up they should be ignored or addressed. But this OMG Russian Posters Everywherez is disturbing. It signals fear and weakness. It's more disturbing than the actual existence of Russian posters. Let them post. Listen to what they say if you care. It should not be a real threat if we are right. If we are not right we should get right.

If you can't separate a message from who you suspect the messenger might be there is little point in verifying claims either.