For a couple years following the election of Trump, I made a habit of putting counter-narratives into my very blue FB feed. I argued kindly though doggedly, which served to 1) actually open or change people's minds (win!) but 2) alienate some semi-friends, and 3) evoke the wrath of certain acquaintances. For the 2 years following this effort, seeing that I had notifications in FB made me feel nauseous... I didn't know what hostility I was about to read. I also would also think obsessively about the topics I was arguing about, and more so the rhetoric ("I should have said X").
I don't think I will ever do that again.
But the nail in the coffin was seeing certain heterodox individuals embrace conspiracies, apocalyptic thinking and vicious rhetoric. To paraphrase Sam Harris, it made me want to rip up my imaginary membership card to the imaginary club that was IDW. It's like, okay, you guys all want to be vicious and horrible to each other? Fine. I'm going to focus on something else now, because unlike you, I don't thrive with bile pumping through my veins.
And thus the nuanced and humanist voices leave the conversation. My voice didn't matter nearly as much as yours, of course, but I think the pattern is the same.
Alas. At least the sky is still blue (unless you live in a cloudy island nation :-)), the grass is still green, the birds chirp, even the worst-behaving humans have goodness in their hearts, and there is other work to be done.
"The number of people who have told me, in confidence, that they have suffered a complete nervous collapse, required hospitalisation or medication and still struggle daily with managing their mental health and their social media engagement is both comforting and depressing."
You've produced multiple paragraphs of mostly empty blathering. You don't want discourse so much as you require confirmation. Supposing there's any level of meaningful intellectual discourse that's contained to 140 characters belies a small-minded conceit regarding thoughtful cultural exchange. What after all have you offered up?
"That is, there is no other platform that provides both a social function and an intellectual one at the same time and does so through the medium of writing."
Toss that guy, Helen. You are doing such thoughtful work. Thousands appreciate you. ~Theo
For a couple years following the election of Trump, I made a habit of putting counter-narratives into my very blue FB feed. I argued kindly though doggedly, which served to 1) actually open or change people's minds (win!) but 2) alienate some semi-friends, and 3) evoke the wrath of certain acquaintances. For the 2 years following this effort, seeing that I had notifications in FB made me feel nauseous... I didn't know what hostility I was about to read. I also would also think obsessively about the topics I was arguing about, and more so the rhetoric ("I should have said X").
I don't think I will ever do that again.
But the nail in the coffin was seeing certain heterodox individuals embrace conspiracies, apocalyptic thinking and vicious rhetoric. To paraphrase Sam Harris, it made me want to rip up my imaginary membership card to the imaginary club that was IDW. It's like, okay, you guys all want to be vicious and horrible to each other? Fine. I'm going to focus on something else now, because unlike you, I don't thrive with bile pumping through my veins.
And thus the nuanced and humanist voices leave the conversation. My voice didn't matter nearly as much as yours, of course, but I think the pattern is the same.
Alas. At least the sky is still blue (unless you live in a cloudy island nation :-)), the grass is still green, the birds chirp, even the worst-behaving humans have goodness in their hearts, and there is other work to be done.
I imagine an overflowing 'liberal' brain is akin to pissing in a thimble
"The number of people who have told me, in confidence, that they have suffered a complete nervous collapse, required hospitalisation or medication and still struggle daily with managing their mental health and their social media engagement is both comforting and depressing."
You've produced multiple paragraphs of mostly empty blathering. You don't want discourse so much as you require confirmation. Supposing there's any level of meaningful intellectual discourse that's contained to 140 characters belies a small-minded conceit regarding thoughtful cultural exchange. What after all have you offered up?
"That is, there is no other platform that provides both a social function and an intellectual one at the same time and does so through the medium of writing."
Quora is what you're looking for.