Just block them.

I noticed the rightwingers too. If they become belligerent and deceptive, let the blocking begin.

The old-timers are back, and more every week too.
Every site on the planet has idiots and provacateurs. i choose to not be provoked.
Although sometimes it's fun to pile on them........

It will grow again.

i know to some it might be counter to open and honest, truthful, full on dialogue, but i don't care. when a member acts like a jerk i limit my exposure. the world nor i will suffer much because i added a member to the idiot heap. block the crap, get on with the other stuff.

I see a similar trend on dating sites. There have always been fake accounts, and advertisements in the form of accounts, but now we've got fake accounts that are trying to push an agenda. On dating sites!

I think it's a function of members dropping out when the site was inaccessible, and not knowing it was back. Like me, until last month.

i wonder if what you're seeing is just a result of us all having our hackles up a bit more than we used to. it is like we are more attuned to what we can construct as disrespectful toward ourselves or those things we still appreciate in our world. perhaps the idiots are just harder to ignore now.

It is sad but true .
The lesson we have gained from covid is fear.
Fear of dissent
Fear of rational thinking
Fear of ostracisation by peers
Fear of attracting attention to ones self.
Fear of straying out from the hive.
Politics is still regarded as a safe topic where propaganda, lies and mayhem can be exchanged without fear of reprisals and or straying out of the hive mentality.
Politicians are safe targets as they, and their parties, are seen to be corrupt depending on the prevailing wind