It’s generally good heart health NOT to read the on-line comments following major stories in the commercial media.
There is a concept called “astro-turfing” in which individuals are paid to troll through major media and leave specific comments behind. Each day they are given key points to make by their employers. The impression is that these comments reflect the “grass roots,” when in fact it is all calculated, planned, and presumably well-funded. Hence, the reference to astroturf, or an artificial “grass roots.”
This is not to say that every stupid comment reflects that of a paid astroturfer, but, well, it’s rather obvious at times.
OPSEU Diablogue 