# The "walkaway movement to abandon liberalism" is astroturf. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 3, 2018, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walkaway-movement-to-abandon-liberalism-is-astroturf/817206 "2018-07-03T00:10:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walkaway-movement-to-abandon-liberalism-is-astroturf/817206/1 "2018-07-03T00:10:08Z")
There’s a new “movement”, #walkaway, on Twitter that appears to be going viral. It’s called “the walkaway movement to abandon liberalism”. It appears to be obvious astroturf. Twitter account “New Knowledge” makes the case: [https://www.twitter.com/NewKnowledgeAI/status/1013463132268826624?s=17](https://www.twitter.com/NewKnowledgeAI/status/1013463132268826624?s=17) > [@New Knowledge](#): > > We found Twitter accounts with small follower counts benefiting from a huge spike in engagement. But on closer inspection, some of the #walkaway accounts being amplified are clearly fake. One popular account is using a stock image for a profile photo. > > Regardless, as of today, the fake Sofia Vargaros account is still active, and its most successful post has been retweeted over 16K times. The account has seen a 1200% increase in followers. > > Many other accounts have been copy/pasting identical content to create the false impression of broad public support for the #walkaway campaign. > > In addition to the amplification by domestic groups like 4chan and alt-right subreddits, the campaign is also getting a boost from foreign actors. #walkaway is by far the top hashtag amplified by the network of Russia-linked Twitter accounts monitored by #Hamilton68. Googling “Walkaway Movement” shows a number of results declaring it a “danger to Democrats” and stating that it’s “gaining steam” and that “freethinkers are abandoning the left”. The list includes some of the usual suspects such as Breitbart. To me, it’s obvious bullshit. Do they really believe that people are going to fall for this? This kind of deliberate pollution of the internet irritates the hell out of me. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walkaway-movement-to-abandon-liberalism-is-astroturf/817206/2 "2018-07-03T00:19:03Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > To me, it’s obvious bullshit. Do they really believe that people are going to fall for this? This kind of deliberate pollution of the internet irritates the hell out of me. They have fallen for worse. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walkaway-movement-to-abandon-liberalism-is-astroturf/817206/3 "2018-07-03T00:43:59Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > They have fallen for worse. People on the right may fall for it, but I find it hard to believe that many on the left will “abandon liberalism” because they think others are doing so. Do the people behind this really believe that it will achieve something? ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walkaway-movement-to-abandon-liberalism-is-astroturf/817206/4 "2018-07-03T00:46:26Z")
Hey, it worked pretty well once before. Expect a lot of this kind of garbage in advance of the mid-terms. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2018, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walkaway-movement-to-abandon-liberalism-is-astroturf/817206/5 "2018-07-04T03:59:15Z")
You go to some conservative sites and you’d think the walk away movement is the second coming of christ, but then you try to find some more legit sources on the subject and it soon becomes clear that it is very overhyped. But that’s not to say it couldn’t become a thing. I work in a blue area with lots of black guys and it is pretty apparent that the Democratic platform is highly problematic for a lot of them. You have guys who are black and very against abortion, you have very religious black people that are not really going to warm up to atheists who belittle their beliefs and say stuff like “worshipping some sky man,” the metoo movement is a little scary for a population used to being judged guilty of all manner of things with little evidence. Etc. If, hypothetically, their was no longer a belief that Republicans are patently racist, neonazi sympathizers probably the Democrats would lose a lot of support. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2018, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walkaway-movement-to-abandon-liberalism-is-astroturf/817206/6 "2018-07-04T06:12:59Z")
> [@Mr.Nylock](#): > > If, hypothetically, their was no longer a belief that Republicans are patently racist, neonazi sympathizers probably the Democrats would lose a lot of support. Luckily for the Democrats, it doesn’t seem like that’s going to happen in my lifetime. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2018, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walkaway-movement-to-abandon-liberalism-is-astroturf/817206/7 "2018-07-04T13:17:51Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Luckily for the Democrats, it doesn’t seem like that’s going to happen in my lifetime. If you’re assuming your lifetime is less than 6 years from now I would agree. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2018, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walkaway-movement-to-abandon-liberalism-is-astroturf/817206/8 "2018-07-04T13:38:19Z")
Most ‘liberals’ aren’t very committed to the philosophy, they’ll walk away eventually of their own accord. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2018, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walkaway-movement-to-abandon-liberalism-is-astroturf/817206/9 "2018-07-04T14:00:37Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > People on the right may fall for it, but I find it hard to believe that many on the left will “abandon liberalism” because they think others are doing so. Do the people behind this really believe that it will achieve something? Well it depends. Is it all the cool kids doing it? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2018, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walkaway-movement-to-abandon-liberalism-is-astroturf/817206/10 "2018-07-04T14:13:55Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Most ‘liberals’ aren’t very committed to the philosophy, they’ll walk away eventually of their own accord. Most people aren’t very committed to any philosophy let alone ones as sweeping as “liberal” or “conservative”. It’s not like there’s some underlying unfying reasoning connecting their abortion rights, Affirmative Action and free trade positions. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2018, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walkaway-movement-to-abandon-liberalism-is-astroturf/817206/11 "2018-07-04T14:34:21Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Most people aren’t very committed to any philosophy let alone ones as sweeping as “liberal” or “conservative”. It’s not like there’s some underlying unfying reasoning connecting their abortion rights, Affirmative Action and free trade positions. It’s about whether they’ll take action based on their professed philosophy. Liberals talk big and act little. The conservative side never hesitates to vote for their bottom line, and neither does the liberal side. The conservative base votes reliably, the liberal base needs to be exhorted to come out an vote. Conservative is like a religion, it attracts true believers, liberals are just bystanders. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2018, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walkaway-movement-to-abandon-liberalism-is-astroturf/817206/12 "2018-07-04T15:45:57Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > People on the right may fall for it, but I find it hard to believe that many on the left will “abandon liberalism” because they think others are doing so. Do the people behind this really believe that it will achieve something? I don’t see anyone changing their political values over this, but I could see some people buying into it enough that they get dispirited and stay home on Election Day. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2018, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walkaway-movement-to-abandon-liberalism-is-astroturf/817206/13 "2018-07-04T15:48:41Z")
About the only thing that could counter that would be if Il Douche committed some monumentally stupid, cruel and/or treasonous act. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2018, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walkaway-movement-to-abandon-liberalism-is-astroturf/817206/14 "2018-07-04T16:19:34Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I don’t see anyone changing their political values over this, but I could see some people buying into it enough that they get dispirited and stay home on Election Day. That’s kind of the flip side of what I’m saying. It’s a question of whether this is the cause or the symptom. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2018, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walkaway-movement-to-abandon-liberalism-is-astroturf/817206/15 "2018-07-04T16:23:08Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Most ‘liberals’ aren’t very committed to the philosophy, they’ll walk away eventually of their own accord. Really? Where will they go? ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2018, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walkaway-movement-to-abandon-liberalism-is-astroturf/817206/16 "2018-07-04T16:25:29Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > About the only thing that could counter that would be if Il Douche committed some monumentally stupid, cruel and/or treasonous act. I guess you wrote this in 1950? Because he’s been doing that since he learned he could pull the wings off flies. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2018, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walkaway-movement-to-abandon-liberalism-is-astroturf/817206/17 "2018-07-04T16:27:20Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > Really? Where will they go? They just stay home. I don’t think many people change their political philosophy, but it’s a question of whether they’ll act or stand by. The liberal side seems to become complacent with the status quo and not realize the other side is relentless. Look at which side campaigns on rolling back change. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2018, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walkaway-movement-to-abandon-liberalism-is-astroturf/817206/18 "2018-07-04T21:13:20Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > They just stay home. I don’t think many people change their political philosophy, but it’s a question of whether they’ll act or stand by. The liberal side seems to become complacent with the status quo and not realize the other side is relentless. Look at which side campaigns on rolling back change. I feel quite strongly that the last thing the liberal side of this country is, is complacent. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2018, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walkaway-movement-to-abandon-liberalism-is-astroturf/817206/19 "2018-07-04T22:08:35Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Well it depends. Is it all the cool kids doing it? At least a couple of them are - but I doubt you would know anything about that. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2018, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walkaway-movement-to-abandon-liberalism-is-astroturf/817206/20 "2018-07-04T22:34:50Z")
Vagaros isn’t even a spanish/hispanic surname. In fact, it doesn’t even appear to be a name at all. [https://www.google.com/search?safe=off&client=ms-android-sprint-us-revc&source=android-browser&ei=y0o9W8\_\_KcnBjwTq\_otg&q=vagaros+name+origin&oq=Vagaros+name](https://www.google.com/search?safe=off&client=ms-android-sprint-us-revc&source=android-browser&ei=y0o9W8__KcnBjwTq_otg&q=vagaros+name+origin&oq=Vagaros+name) [https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?gl=usfedcen&rank=1&new=1&so=3&MSAV=0&msT=1&gss=genfact&gsln=vagaros&uidh=000](https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?gl=usfedcen&rank=1&new=1&so=3&MSAV=0&msT=1&gss=genfact&gsln=vagaros&uidh=000) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walkaway-movement-to-abandon-liberalism-is-astroturf/817206.md?page=2)