I signed on to DU last night and it looked like the National Enquirer...

[kentuck]

There was drama! There were rumors galore! There were screaming headlines! We had it all.

For a moment, I thought I had signed on to the wrong place?

[FSogol]

1. Hey everyone, did you hear they're taking the word "gullible" out of the dictionary?

[hlthe2b]

2. scourge of twitter tin foil... n/t

[EarlG]

3. I think it works something like this

Twitter personality A: "I'm hearing something big is coming! Are you hearing this, guys?"

Twitter personality B (who hasn't heard anything but wants to sound informed): "Oh yes, I'm also hearing that same thing!"

Twitter personality C (who doesn't want to be left out): "I too am hearing that something big is coming!"

Twitter personality D (who is using Twitter personality A as a source): "My sources are telling me that something big is coming!"

Twitter personality E: "My feed is lighting up with rumors that something big is coming!"

Everyone else: "Have you seen Twitter? Lots of chatter about something big coming!"

And then if something big happens within 24-48 hours everyone can pat each other on the back, and if it doesn't, nobody will remember.

[Oneironaut]

6. Favorable stories within groups also spread more easily.

It’s because of confirmation bias. That’s why I hate Twitter as a source of information. As I said yesterday, anyone can make anything up and become a “journalist.”

There are people on Twitter who purposely throw red meat stories out because they know the stories will be taken at face value and passed around.

[GusBob]

16. Yes you were one of the few skeptics

And you got an haughty slap down for being so....evidently you do follow real journalists after all hey?

And don't trust frauds who bait the gullible.

The user D using user A as a source as Earl describes caught my eye

[Oneironaut]

19. lol - Not a problem

If I learned anything from Twitter and (especially) Facebook, it’s that everything should be assumed garbage until proven otherwise.

[kentuck]

8. Pretty much right on.

[demmiblue]

11. Lol... perfect #TeamPillowForts!

[.99center]

15. #TeamPillowForts made a killing last night.

All those rumors were being circulated by Twitter accounts associated with the previous Alt-righter, Louise Mensch.

[herding cats]

12. This is it exactly!

Especially this part, “Twitter personality D (who is using Twitter personality A as a source).”

[FSogol]

17. +1 Exactly. n/t

[jodymarie aimee]

4. wait until the weekend

not much in the way of quality.

[HopeAgain]

5. We need a new word...

Twittersteria? Tweemours? Social Speculation?

[Mister Ed]

7. I heard a rumor that someone heard a rumor that something was going to happen.

But they weren't sure what.

[FSogol]

18. But that one time, that rumor came true!

[C Moon]

9. I started to wonder if some are RWr's or bots doing this, to get everyone hating Mueller.

Paranoid, I know. But it seemed crazy to believe some guy's Tweet about news from a "reliable source."

[DBoon]

10. Was there an Elvis sighting?

A scandal about the royal family?

Unflattering photos of celebrities in swimsuits?

Tell me more. Enquiring minds need to know.

[muriel_volestrangler]

14. Lots of rumours that there'd be Mueller charges against someone in the Trump family

Well, I think it was DU adding family names - the Twitter "names" were being non-specific, but smug.

Could still happen, I suppose, but I think Mueller has announced charges in the morning each time before.

[Irish_Dem]

13. People try to read the tea leaves when they don't get information.

But some of the speculation has proven to be correct.

[H2O Man]

20. Recommended.

I was tempted to address the "rumors."

[Brother Buzz]

21. Merry Fitzmas

I'm still waiting for my promised pony.

[TheBlackAdder]

22. National Enquirer here? I didn't see a bunch of Trumpsters engaged in a Putin-felating circle jerk.