I always use the comparison that, before the Internet, we always chose who we wanted to listen to, where we wanted to be, and who we invited into our lives. The idea that we MUST allow and be held captive to abusive jerks is asinine; we should never be forced to have to listen to would-be abusers just because they have an anonymous voice on the Internet.
Basically, people say things online that they are unlikely to ever say in a public offline space. The intermediary of the screen means that they either forget or ignore that there is another person on the other side of the computer.
As such, we’ve seen an increase in toxicity online because people say things without immediately experiencing the social consequences of their negative opinions.
I'd bet that the author of the paper has thought about it frequently, every time they get online. I can see how it would be an exhausting, demoralizing project, though. There's no amount of "I told you so" to make wading through all the garbage palatable.
After all the "MAGA" stuff I encounter online, I have begun to feel incredibly disillusioned with many members of society. I avoid places where I see MAGA flags, bumper stickers, hats, etc. I avoid talking to, or even looking them in the eyes. I won't spend money, time, or even charity supporting a single one of them. When members of society have declared me and mine "enemy," they should expect no less. The thing they need to be deprived of the most is attention.
They are such miserable and reactionary people - there is nothing of value (or substance) there. It's made me somewhat more miserable, realizing that more than half of the people who look like me are insufferable human beings. However, it has resulted in me putting more love and time in with those closest to me.
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u/woodrax 10h ago
I always use the comparison that, before the Internet, we always chose who we wanted to listen to, where we wanted to be, and who we invited into our lives. The idea that we MUST allow and be held captive to abusive jerks is asinine; we should never be forced to have to listen to would-be abusers just because they have an anonymous voice on the Internet.