oh yeah I don't think it was all astroturfing but I do believe in the start it was at least some-what. It was popular on 4chan and reddit which are both super ripe for astroturfing but once the hiveminds all agree that they like it, their job is done. I could be completely wrong, but it just seemed that way looking back at it because of just how stupid it was and how popular it really was. i can't say for sure though
I don't even think it was astroturfing, just people saw photos of Shirtless Putin on a horse or throwing people around a Dojo and thought he was cool,
oh yeah I don't think it was all astroturfing but I do believe in the start it was at least some-what. It was popular on 4chan and reddit which are both super ripe for astroturfing but once the hiveminds all agree that they like it, their job is done. I could be completely wrong, but it just seemed that way looking back at it because of just how stupid it was and how popular it really was. i can't say for sure though