I have this piece of advice I often give to people that work with me or in my personal life when they are dealing with someone less than pleasant (excuse language): remember that you only need to deal with them being an arsehole for the period of your required interaction, but they have to be a cunt forever and thats actually really sad.
The tenor of your wonderful advice reminds me of an infamous Winston Churchill quote towards another MP. It should probably come with a Milkshake Duck warning: Winnie was very much a male product of his time and had some rather sexist (and racist) views alongside his talent for oratory. Caveat emptor.
Bessie Braddock, MP: “Winston, you are drunk, and what’s more you are disgustingly drunk.”
Winston Churchill: “Bessie, my dear, you are ugly, and what’s more, you are disgustingly ugly. But tomorrow I shall be sober"
And therein is a fine example of one of the great tragedies of social media and clickbait - dichotomised hatred or sycophancy of Churchill. He was a deeply flawed man but brilliant in many ways. He held some abhorrent views on race, gender, class, colonization and I would assume homosexuality and made some terrible decisions which cost many lives. He was a product of his era and his entitled upbringing. However he learnt from many mistakes (although repeated others), and led the civilised world against the greatest tyranny ever seen with courage, determination, cunning, oration and strategy which few, if any, of his time could have possibly achieved. The subtleties, contradictions and context in which people live and what they achieved is so often lost in modern discourse of a truly flawed and yet at the same time great human beings.
What the hell is Twitter about? I don't get it. How can people posting not be actual people? All this retweeting, blocking and unblocking. What is it's point. Am I really dumber than I think because I just don't get it. If conspiracy theorists can work it out why can't I?
I think this is why I enjoy the comments section on your newsletters so much. It's just so straight forward. #its probablybecauseimoldbutimnotactuallythatild😉
Overall - probably good you are not on Twitter. Don't bother.
If you use it well though - it's a great source for breaking news (people on the ground, posting what they see) - dialogue around a topic you are interested in - and just really good humour.
The trick is following good people, and not getting sucked into stupid arguments!
At its most basic - I can open Twitter in the morning and sort of get a curated snapshot of the world, and some commentary on it from people I've vetted and like!
I’m glad I never got involved in Twitter. So, so, so glad! I do Facebook to see friends’ pictures and some cool articles, and Instagram similarly. But I figure I read enough blogs related to my own interests that any important tweet will just be embedded in an article.
There indeed many bots and false accounts on Twitter (i have no understanding of how this works either!), but I think the thing about Twitter is that you can be so very anonymous. People aren't really people; they're just profiles. And so they can say whatever they please, thinking they are free of the risk of retribution.
Spot on, Alex. The anonymity is part of the problem.
This is sometimes humorously called the GIFT or "Greater Internet Fuckwad Theory", first coined by John Gabriel of Penny Arcade fame which goes like this:
Normal Person + Anonymity + Audience = Total Fuckwad
So something sort of sad is that Twitter is terrible, but for a lot of communities, it's all they have.
When Tumblr banned porn, it essentially killed Tumblr. Everyone left.
But for a ton of people, fans of various niche things, shows, books, fandom, etc... The only place they have to discuss this is TWITTER. Part is this is simply because Twitter is so widely used and known.
One good example is the Science community. You'd expect there would exist like, a hub for researchers of various fields, and doctors and stuff, to all DISCUSS Science and Research. But there isn't. There's literally no where for this discussion to occur. So what ends up happening is that all of this discourse winds up on Twitter. New paper comes out, Lab posts about it, people in community talk about it. That's it!
So even though Twitter is a terrible platform, has tons of crazies and bots, and has a shit word limit, it's often the only place to discuss things.
There are people who make up a bunch of accounts to make their viewpoints look like they are more popular than they are. Also, there are Russian click farms that are designed to forward Putin's agenda. This is the stuff about undermining American democrasy. So they look like real people, but again, it's a lot of different profiles run by a lot fewer people who are pretending to be Americans with certain viewpoints. There's loads more, bots are just software mimicking people. It's always worth checking a profile that's being really belligerent on a thread, see how new it is, how often they post and whether it's just 10 profile pic changes and no posts. Then report them for not being real.
Doing a disservice to toddlers there mate. Most toddlers I know are more open minded and it only takes a biscuit to convince them to change their mind. Although I'm right now trying to convince one that this container doesn't have a door so I can't "open the door" because there isn't one because it's a container 🙄🙄🙄
A good point re not starting up an interaction because of the audience you draw to them. Probably counts more for people who actually have followers. Also a good point to check the account for any posts that reflect that they might actually be a human with >1 interest.
I admit the laughing emojis get to me. Like, the person is so fucking smug about their ignorance. You give them an article that contradicts the claim they're trying to make and they laugh at it, and your quoted excerpt from it, before they've even had a chance to read it. It's so....RUDE.
Ok I had better get that biscuit before the screaming starts.
Some emoji's have lost all original meaning and are just now used for trolling - and an excuse for the person not to actually *say* anything. Height of stupidity.
Also - good point on the toddlers. Unfair on toddlers.
When my daughter was a toddler, she was much more open-minded about why gollies aren't good than most adults. When I told her they were sometimes used to make fun of people with dark skin, she dropped it and never wanted to play with it again. Can't say the same for my auntie and grandma when I try and explain why they're not innocuous "toys".
I did engage with one of these one-issue conspiracy theorists on Twitter last year. He assured me that the long-term side-effects of the vaccine will start showing up in me soon enough. So I’ve set an annual, reoccurring reminder to give him an update on any ailments I might have picked up over the previous 12 months. Can’t wait to update him on my pulled calf muscle and to see if he thinks that was caused by the vaccine.
Also on Yellowjackets - the night after we watched the pilot, my wife was sleep-talking and said "Melanie's role would be an interesting one to play". So it definitely grabbed us.
This is a very controlled and funny response, and I support it. Also your wife does very practical and funny sleep talking. Ha! Her dream state is correct.
Thanks David, another great start to another beautiful day in Aotearoa. Talking of toddlers, we brace ourselves for more stupid protests and junk mail as Voices For Freedom & other idiots ramp up their attacks on the vax children campaign starting nationwide today.
A man was reported in mum group yesterday, accosting children in Hataitai village a couple of days ago, asking about their vaccine status and trying to convince people not to. Wrong suburb, eh. We've been over 95% vaxxed for weeks already.
This worries me so much, I already know of parents taking their kids out of martial arts, dance classes, etc because there were vax requirements for the parents dropping them off. So many kids will miss out on safe activities they're lucky to have here in (currently) covid-safe nz because their parents aren't critically engaging with information.
I needed to hear this today! A case I’ve been involved in was wrapped up on Monday and ALL the major media outlets covered it and tweeted/Facebook/news articles everywhere and I found myself reading every single comment and the temptation to reply has been overwhelming, after I realised I’d read 400 replies on one tweet and all the quote tweets and their replies I knew it was time to stop but in this case the sheer amount of victim blaming and people not actually reading the full article was so overwhelming, I can’t imagine what that’s like for you and others in the public eye who will have literally every post scrutinised, you’re a lot more resilient than I am!
Hope you have a great week and enjoyed your horse riding!!
Hey Lauren - I can only imagine how horrific that would be, especially being involved in it. Comments on news stories bring out the absolute worst in people. So, so gross. Much aroha to you.
David's post and the other commenting here read like the wise advice of a true social media veterans, those with the scorch marks to show for it. I've never been that much involved with either Twitter or Facebook posts before my engagement with Webworm. It's been an... education.
On one level, engaging has been something of a source of personal and professional curiosity. I now understand the pull and the dopamine-fueled compulsiveness of it all, but if I'm being honest, I don't think I've achieved much of anything beyond that. And I hadn't considered the 'followers seeing the replies' effect. Bleah - who wants THAT noise.
On balance, by not engaging previously, I don't think I was missing that much and both me and the twittersphere are likely far better off if I largely don't. So this was timely advice.
Oh, Paul, my friend! I didn't realize that you were relatively new to this universe! That must explain why you are so eloquent and kind in your posts! (laughing emojis)
I actually don't do twitter often because it tends to be these one to two para reactive comments that either say nothing or not enough in many cases. The rabid ones are more likely to do this for sure and, if bots, incapable of anything else. On FB though, my inner stirrer emerges and while I don't necessarily engage, I have been known to put up the odd eye roll emoji, or face palm gif, just to give them something to have a screaming fit about and to then ignore or block them. Drives them nuts. It makes me feel slightly better for an instant about having to see some of the the bullsh*t they are spouting. 🙄😏
Really good advice. I dared to laugh at the Manosphere a week ago, the replies were fun, and they tried hard to make me discuss it. I wouldn't, the OP was biologically incorrect information about male and female sex organs (women's wombs are full of loneliness and death apparently 🙄). Nothing to discuss, facts are facts, plus I know it's a waste of time. Most of the time I resist the temptation to rattle idiot boxes but every now and again I can't help myself. As I get older I have much more control over the impulse to react to bollocks online.
What's that old saying, answer a fool and become a fool yourself?
Read a Science article a few years back looking at reward systems of the human brain. It took these classic rewards systems and compared the Endorphins to classic A Class Drugs, Sex and what triggers them in us as Primates and the the links to addiction that govern us, the usual stuff.
What was interesting was their research into Dogmatic types of people who are addicted to arguing as their brain is locked in the 'Pleasure Reward' cycle, Drug, Sex equivalent chemicals drowning their brain ... Kinky.
Thus l have side stepped street evangelical types with that crazy look in their eye, spittle on their lip and spiritual bulge in their pants.
l think modern discourse online is very similar, not really sharing, debate of ideas, something else entirely.
I'm reminded of the quote (falsely) attributed to George Bernard Shaw: "Never wrestle with a pig. You just get dirty and the pig enjoys it.." 🗣️💩🐷
But yeah, the dopamine-fueled nature of it all, especially when coupled with (partial) anonymity can bring out the worst in some people since it renders you shameless. Since shame is the emotion that acts as a warning light to prevent us harming social relationships, the absence of it's moderating influence is a bit of a human problem.
People will tweet things they'd most likely never say in person. And I include myself in that 😆😣
Yes so true, we need to have that insight to our universal human nature, the digital age has compressed our communications for both ill and positive outcomes.
I completely recognise the impulses these replies give; they press us in the exciting values part of the brain and we get a lot of stimulation out of them.
If we respond, and if these people are people and not something else - then all we do by responding is to feed their addiction right back. This is looping feedback and, like microphone feedback, it gets louder and higher pitched. A solution is to turn down the volume. Not responding is a kindness to yourself and to them.
Otherwise, they get more entrenched, we get more entrenched, and together we tug in opposing ways on the fabric that weaves society together.
All addictions have a way of preventing you from contemplating ending them. If quitting twitter is too much to contemplate (I understand, been there), they have a feature where you can *suspend* your account, just to see what it is like. I can recommend it.
I delete various apps from time to time, but usually come back to them - such is the addiction. I'll throw it one day when my heart is really in it - and perhaps when my work doesn't rely on it as much. And yeah - all those platforms rely on engagement: Literally their bread and butter. Which is why we're all fucked!
I think I missed the memo explaining social media is for engaging with people you don't know, cos I have never done so, despite being an early adopter of various platforms over the years. Went on Twitter about a decade ago cos it seemed like what a good activist did and completely failed to see the point of it so left soon after. So grok everything you say above, as strangers gossiping and bantering and hating should be seen by everyone as just irrelevant to your life.
Loved this! Such a brilliant reminder about checking before you engage and deciding on whether it’s worth it (usually not). But that tweet re Rogan…absolute gold! Normally I’d avoid anything to do with him, but that was totally worth it. Happy Monday!!
Accusing you of hate speech, of all things. Cue The Office’s Michael Scott quote, “Well I hated it a lot.”
I think this guessing game is a much healthier form on non/engagement! I used to keep my twitter public, and was outspoken about things I cared about, like reproductive healthcare. You may be familiar with Matt Walsh, who works with The Daily Wire (their big name is Ben Shapiro), but he is a monster. Unhappy with some of my tweets on abortion, he started taking pictures of myself and my baby brother (who he assumed was my son) and saying things like, “So you think it would be perfect okay to kill your son?” It freaked me out so badly that my social media is all on private now!
Since I’ve done this, I definitely spend much less time engaging with people who don’t deserve my time or energy. The only downside is that people who don’t follow me won’t see my tweets if I want to tweet at them, but I think I can live with that.
This is so great :)
I have this piece of advice I often give to people that work with me or in my personal life when they are dealing with someone less than pleasant (excuse language): remember that you only need to deal with them being an arsehole for the period of your required interaction, but they have to be a cunt forever and thats actually really sad.
Beck - well said and excellent use of the C word. Respect.
Also genuinely a very good perspective to take!
The tenor of your wonderful advice reminds me of an infamous Winston Churchill quote towards another MP. It should probably come with a Milkshake Duck warning: Winnie was very much a male product of his time and had some rather sexist (and racist) views alongside his talent for oratory. Caveat emptor.
Bessie Braddock, MP: “Winston, you are drunk, and what’s more you are disgustingly drunk.”
Winston Churchill: “Bessie, my dear, you are ugly, and what’s more, you are disgustingly ugly. But tomorrow I shall be sober"
Holy moly! No room to back-peddle with a statement like that!
And therein is a fine example of one of the great tragedies of social media and clickbait - dichotomised hatred or sycophancy of Churchill. He was a deeply flawed man but brilliant in many ways. He held some abhorrent views on race, gender, class, colonization and I would assume homosexuality and made some terrible decisions which cost many lives. He was a product of his era and his entitled upbringing. However he learnt from many mistakes (although repeated others), and led the civilised world against the greatest tyranny ever seen with courage, determination, cunning, oration and strategy which few, if any, of his time could have possibly achieved. The subtleties, contradictions and context in which people live and what they achieved is so often lost in modern discourse of a truly flawed and yet at the same time great human beings.
What the hell is Twitter about? I don't get it. How can people posting not be actual people? All this retweeting, blocking and unblocking. What is it's point. Am I really dumber than I think because I just don't get it. If conspiracy theorists can work it out why can't I?
I think this is why I enjoy the comments section on your newsletters so much. It's just so straight forward. #its probablybecauseimoldbutimnotactuallythatild😉
Overall - probably good you are not on Twitter. Don't bother.
If you use it well though - it's a great source for breaking news (people on the ground, posting what they see) - dialogue around a topic you are interested in - and just really good humour.
The trick is following good people, and not getting sucked into stupid arguments!
At its most basic - I can open Twitter in the morning and sort of get a curated snapshot of the world, and some commentary on it from people I've vetted and like!
I’m glad I never got involved in Twitter. So, so, so glad! I do Facebook to see friends’ pictures and some cool articles, and Instagram similarly. But I figure I read enough blogs related to my own interests that any important tweet will just be embedded in an article.
There indeed many bots and false accounts on Twitter (i have no understanding of how this works either!), but I think the thing about Twitter is that you can be so very anonymous. People aren't really people; they're just profiles. And so they can say whatever they please, thinking they are free of the risk of retribution.
Spot on, Alex. The anonymity is part of the problem.
This is sometimes humorously called the GIFT or "Greater Internet Fuckwad Theory", first coined by John Gabriel of Penny Arcade fame which goes like this:
Normal Person + Anonymity + Audience = Total Fuckwad
https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/greater-internet-fuckwad-theory
Yes, it's (partly) a joke but there is also quite a bit of truth to it.
So something sort of sad is that Twitter is terrible, but for a lot of communities, it's all they have.
When Tumblr banned porn, it essentially killed Tumblr. Everyone left.
But for a ton of people, fans of various niche things, shows, books, fandom, etc... The only place they have to discuss this is TWITTER. Part is this is simply because Twitter is so widely used and known.
One good example is the Science community. You'd expect there would exist like, a hub for researchers of various fields, and doctors and stuff, to all DISCUSS Science and Research. But there isn't. There's literally no where for this discussion to occur. So what ends up happening is that all of this discourse winds up on Twitter. New paper comes out, Lab posts about it, people in community talk about it. That's it!
So even though Twitter is a terrible platform, has tons of crazies and bots, and has a shit word limit, it's often the only place to discuss things.
There are people who make up a bunch of accounts to make their viewpoints look like they are more popular than they are. Also, there are Russian click farms that are designed to forward Putin's agenda. This is the stuff about undermining American democrasy. So they look like real people, but again, it's a lot of different profiles run by a lot fewer people who are pretending to be Americans with certain viewpoints. There's loads more, bots are just software mimicking people. It's always worth checking a profile that's being really belligerent on a thread, see how new it is, how often they post and whether it's just 10 profile pic changes and no posts. Then report them for not being real.
Doing a disservice to toddlers there mate. Most toddlers I know are more open minded and it only takes a biscuit to convince them to change their mind. Although I'm right now trying to convince one that this container doesn't have a door so I can't "open the door" because there isn't one because it's a container 🙄🙄🙄
A good point re not starting up an interaction because of the audience you draw to them. Probably counts more for people who actually have followers. Also a good point to check the account for any posts that reflect that they might actually be a human with >1 interest.
I admit the laughing emojis get to me. Like, the person is so fucking smug about their ignorance. You give them an article that contradicts the claim they're trying to make and they laugh at it, and your quoted excerpt from it, before they've even had a chance to read it. It's so....RUDE.
Ok I had better get that biscuit before the screaming starts.
Some emoji's have lost all original meaning and are just now used for trolling - and an excuse for the person not to actually *say* anything. Height of stupidity.
Also - good point on the toddlers. Unfair on toddlers.
When my daughter was a toddler, she was much more open-minded about why gollies aren't good than most adults. When I told her they were sometimes used to make fun of people with dark skin, she dropped it and never wanted to play with it again. Can't say the same for my auntie and grandma when I try and explain why they're not innocuous "toys".
I did engage with one of these one-issue conspiracy theorists on Twitter last year. He assured me that the long-term side-effects of the vaccine will start showing up in me soon enough. So I’ve set an annual, reoccurring reminder to give him an update on any ailments I might have picked up over the previous 12 months. Can’t wait to update him on my pulled calf muscle and to see if he thinks that was caused by the vaccine.
Also on Yellowjackets - the night after we watched the pilot, my wife was sleep-talking and said "Melanie's role would be an interesting one to play". So it definitely grabbed us.
This is a very controlled and funny response, and I support it. Also your wife does very practical and funny sleep talking. Ha! Her dream state is correct.
Make it every four months!
Thanks David, another great start to another beautiful day in Aotearoa. Talking of toddlers, we brace ourselves for more stupid protests and junk mail as Voices For Freedom & other idiots ramp up their attacks on the vax children campaign starting nationwide today.
A man was reported in mum group yesterday, accosting children in Hataitai village a couple of days ago, asking about their vaccine status and trying to convince people not to. Wrong suburb, eh. We've been over 95% vaxxed for weeks already.
JUST TOTALLY NORMAL BEHAVIOUR FOR ADULTS
ugh
This worries me so much, I already know of parents taking their kids out of martial arts, dance classes, etc because there were vax requirements for the parents dropping them off. So many kids will miss out on safe activities they're lucky to have here in (currently) covid-safe nz because their parents aren't critically engaging with information.
Ugh, I saw some reports of intimidation and so on. So much for freedom, right? UGH.
I needed to hear this today! A case I’ve been involved in was wrapped up on Monday and ALL the major media outlets covered it and tweeted/Facebook/news articles everywhere and I found myself reading every single comment and the temptation to reply has been overwhelming, after I realised I’d read 400 replies on one tweet and all the quote tweets and their replies I knew it was time to stop but in this case the sheer amount of victim blaming and people not actually reading the full article was so overwhelming, I can’t imagine what that’s like for you and others in the public eye who will have literally every post scrutinised, you’re a lot more resilient than I am!
Hope you have a great week and enjoyed your horse riding!!
Hey Lauren - I can only imagine how horrific that would be, especially being involved in it. Comments on news stories bring out the absolute worst in people. So, so gross. Much aroha to you.
Re: Melanie Lynskey. I had no idea she was a kiwi. She nails the American accent and our behavior. Kudos to her, she’s brilliant.
You need to go and watch the movie Heavenly Creatures...
Oh, it's Peter Jackson's best!
She's a gem. And really good to follow on Twitter! https://twitter.com/melanielynskey
David's post and the other commenting here read like the wise advice of a true social media veterans, those with the scorch marks to show for it. I've never been that much involved with either Twitter or Facebook posts before my engagement with Webworm. It's been an... education.
On one level, engaging has been something of a source of personal and professional curiosity. I now understand the pull and the dopamine-fueled compulsiveness of it all, but if I'm being honest, I don't think I've achieved much of anything beyond that. And I hadn't considered the 'followers seeing the replies' effect. Bleah - who wants THAT noise.
On balance, by not engaging previously, I don't think I was missing that much and both me and the twittersphere are likely far better off if I largely don't. So this was timely advice.
Oh, Paul, my friend! I didn't realize that you were relatively new to this universe! That must explain why you are so eloquent and kind in your posts! (laughing emojis)
Only here. 😆 Rabid anti-vaxxers and twitter trolls test my patience. Mea culpa.🤦♂️
Just be careful this engagement doesn't suck you in, Paul! I might have to stage an intervention!
I actually don't do twitter often because it tends to be these one to two para reactive comments that either say nothing or not enough in many cases. The rabid ones are more likely to do this for sure and, if bots, incapable of anything else. On FB though, my inner stirrer emerges and while I don't necessarily engage, I have been known to put up the odd eye roll emoji, or face palm gif, just to give them something to have a screaming fit about and to then ignore or block them. Drives them nuts. It makes me feel slightly better for an instant about having to see some of the the bullsh*t they are spouting. 🙄😏
I think you probably have the correct approach, Linda.
Really good advice. I dared to laugh at the Manosphere a week ago, the replies were fun, and they tried hard to make me discuss it. I wouldn't, the OP was biologically incorrect information about male and female sex organs (women's wombs are full of loneliness and death apparently 🙄). Nothing to discuss, facts are facts, plus I know it's a waste of time. Most of the time I resist the temptation to rattle idiot boxes but every now and again I can't help myself. As I get older I have much more control over the impulse to react to bollocks online.
"React to bollocks online". I see what you did there. 😆
What's that old saying, answer a fool and become a fool yourself?
Read a Science article a few years back looking at reward systems of the human brain. It took these classic rewards systems and compared the Endorphins to classic A Class Drugs, Sex and what triggers them in us as Primates and the the links to addiction that govern us, the usual stuff.
What was interesting was their research into Dogmatic types of people who are addicted to arguing as their brain is locked in the 'Pleasure Reward' cycle, Drug, Sex equivalent chemicals drowning their brain ... Kinky.
Thus l have side stepped street evangelical types with that crazy look in their eye, spittle on their lip and spiritual bulge in their pants.
l think modern discourse online is very similar, not really sharing, debate of ideas, something else entirely.
I'm reminded of the quote (falsely) attributed to George Bernard Shaw: "Never wrestle with a pig. You just get dirty and the pig enjoys it.." 🗣️💩🐷
But yeah, the dopamine-fueled nature of it all, especially when coupled with (partial) anonymity can bring out the worst in some people since it renders you shameless. Since shame is the emotion that acts as a warning light to prevent us harming social relationships, the absence of it's moderating influence is a bit of a human problem.
People will tweet things they'd most likely never say in person. And I include myself in that 😆😣
Yes so true, we need to have that insight to our universal human nature, the digital age has compressed our communications for both ill and positive outcomes.
Feed back loops, and which wolf do we feed?
Twitter is addictive.
I completely recognise the impulses these replies give; they press us in the exciting values part of the brain and we get a lot of stimulation out of them.
If we respond, and if these people are people and not something else - then all we do by responding is to feed their addiction right back. This is looping feedback and, like microphone feedback, it gets louder and higher pitched. A solution is to turn down the volume. Not responding is a kindness to yourself and to them.
Otherwise, they get more entrenched, we get more entrenched, and together we tug in opposing ways on the fabric that weaves society together.
All addictions have a way of preventing you from contemplating ending them. If quitting twitter is too much to contemplate (I understand, been there), they have a feature where you can *suspend* your account, just to see what it is like. I can recommend it.
I delete various apps from time to time, but usually come back to them - such is the addiction. I'll throw it one day when my heart is really in it - and perhaps when my work doesn't rely on it as much. And yeah - all those platforms rely on engagement: Literally their bread and butter. Which is why we're all fucked!
Haha Joe Rogan shifting those goalposts right at the end there… classic.
What a quality human he is
I think I missed the memo explaining social media is for engaging with people you don't know, cos I have never done so, despite being an early adopter of various platforms over the years. Went on Twitter about a decade ago cos it seemed like what a good activist did and completely failed to see the point of it so left soon after. So grok everything you say above, as strangers gossiping and bantering and hating should be seen by everyone as just irrelevant to your life.
You instinctively "got it", which is lucky for you! It took me awhile...
Loved this! Such a brilliant reminder about checking before you engage and deciding on whether it’s worth it (usually not). But that tweet re Rogan…absolute gold! Normally I’d avoid anything to do with him, but that was totally worth it. Happy Monday!!
Accusing you of hate speech, of all things. Cue The Office’s Michael Scott quote, “Well I hated it a lot.”
I think this guessing game is a much healthier form on non/engagement! I used to keep my twitter public, and was outspoken about things I cared about, like reproductive healthcare. You may be familiar with Matt Walsh, who works with The Daily Wire (their big name is Ben Shapiro), but he is a monster. Unhappy with some of my tweets on abortion, he started taking pictures of myself and my baby brother (who he assumed was my son) and saying things like, “So you think it would be perfect okay to kill your son?” It freaked me out so badly that my social media is all on private now!
Since I’ve done this, I definitely spend much less time engaging with people who don’t deserve my time or energy. The only downside is that people who don’t follow me won’t see my tweets if I want to tweet at them, but I think I can live with that.
It's very funny how quickly proponents of "free speech" accuse others of "hate speech". It's very funny.
It is, and somehow it never gets *less* funny. I guess we should hold tight to the things that can make us laugh!