Communication is in the beginning of what I emphasised ("by the use of the mails or any means/instrumentality of interstate commerce"). A legal term that includes any interstate communication.
Obviously there's more to manipulation than just "discussing which stocks to buy". The entire WSB subreddit was and is obsessed with effecting transactions to raise the price of certain stocks in order to induce a short squeeze = purchase of such security by others (Melvin). And they succeeded.
Here's what the case law typically requires and I think it all took place there: (1) The accused had an ability to influence market prices; (2) the accused specifically intended to create or effect a price or price trend that does not reflect legitimate forces of supply and demand; (3) an artificial price existed; and (4) the accused caused the artificial price.
Did you bother to have even just a brief look at what you defend? WSB is a disgraceful amalgam of foul language, complaints about Robinhood, and apparently illegal market manipulating pump-and-dump schemes. Below is a small selection, all copied verbatim:
GME Squeeze and the Demise of Melvin Capital (submitted 3 months ago)
GME Gang vs. Melvin Capital (submitted 1 month ago)
Melvin's losing money on its GME puts. Let's get it over $24 retards! (submitted 1 month ago)
Melvin vs WSB! Place your bets retards... GME to the MOON!!! (submitted 28 days ago)
Melvin Capital - GME Put Positions (submitted 15 days ago)
$GME /r/wallstreetbets vs Melvin Capital (submitted 14 days ago)
Fuck Melvin Capital (submitted 14 days ago)
Melvin Capital shorting GME (submitted 13 days ago)
GME going to the moon, melvin capital gets nutted on (submitted 12 days ago)
FUCK MELVIN CAPITAL (submitted 12 days ago by)
Bought in yesterday and averaged up today. Fuk Melvin Let’s ride (submitted 12 days ago)
Yolo update: EAT THIS MELVIN (submitted 6 days ago)
Melvin is bleeding in the billions. Position: 100% all-in GME shares on a cash account. (submitted 2 days ago)
Buy the dip! Fuck Melvin. $BB $GME to the moon (submitted 1 day)
Missed GME and Still Want to Fuck Melvin? Buy $BBBY (submitted 1 day ago)
You are a fucking idiot and have no clue what is actually going on.
WSB was talking about GME long before your little copy and paste. Particularly one guy put out solid DD about his opinion on a bullrun. He was LAUGHED at in the sub. It wasnt until recently that people started hopping on because he was posting his gains as it went up.
It snowballed from there. That isnt manipulation. People talking about stocks they like and why they are buying is not manipulation. No more than your barber telling you about his portfolio while you get your fucking horseshoe shaped. Those copy and pastes are from when the "work" was already done and at that point just adding fuel to the fire. By that time, the cat was out of the bag. When people started piling on, is when more information about SI came out.
ANd where in your fucking drugged up mind do you think its good risk management to be in an equity that is short 140%? Whose fault is that? Is that retails fault because they caught them with their pants down and then told their friends to look at the big bad HF with his ass showing?
WSB is no different than Cramer going on his show, saying why he thinks a stock is going down, and telling people to "sell, sell, sell." In fact, Cramer can be seen as actually manipulative rather than WSB.
Not to mention the BS RH pulled that is obviously shady.
Andrew Left, dat you? Good luck trying to prosecute people who bought the stock because they like the stock. Next time, dont over-short a stock because you think nothing is going to happen to you.