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