I’ve had a good time to think about what to say about the growing consensus on toxicity in social platforms. I don’t know if this will make any sense but here goes.
When you come across someone with very strong negative views, there are several responses available.
You can:
Feel it: try to make sense of it
Or
Fuel it: argue your own points
Or
Flee it: block and/or mute it out of your life
Or just say fuck it and scroll on.
Which one are you?
#CoSoThoughts
@DocLaing ~ as an oft-times passionate dispensary of political thought, my own choice has been to confine my "SocMed time" to mornings; I noticed the longer I stay umbilically attached to FB or TW or CoSo, the more I (was) seeking greater engagement.
My shift to mostly mornings, frees my mind and time to enjoy the planet.
@zenmudprod
That’s a great policy. I feel like I’m stuck in this chair sometimes because I can’t let go of the connections I’ve made. I might miss something.
@DocLaing ~ some exceptions do occur; I might, during evening YouTube sessions, post whatever I'm watching (last night's first viewing of a Swedish crime drama "MODUS" is an example)...
But mentioning YT here, yields an admission: I can't help commenting on random mystery film comments (USA viewers saying "Why don't Brit cops carry gunz!?" gets a hearty reply)
👁️👁️🍾🥂
@DocLaing I generally just scroll past. If I see two or more by the same person that feel the same negative way then I usually block them.
@Wanderer57
I’ve done that just recently.
@DocLaing so blocking / moving on is the best option. Let's take -- I don't know, Elon, trump, tucky tuck tuck -- any of them really, makes no diff. I would argue the best option is to block & move on.
I know a lot of stuff enrages us, esp. online. I get sucked into it too - I'm def. not immune here. But take those 3 I just mentioned, what if we "blocked them" and moved on? Stop pointing 📷 at them, writing articles, talking abt them. They would just *go* *away*.
@DocLaing If *no one* listens, they have no power. They would effectively become "normal" like the rest of us. We're all capable of enraging people and keeping the fire going, but no one is pointing a camera at us and putting us on Fox or CNN or whatever. It's also part of why social media is so addictive -- it's providing the *illusion* that were reaching the world with our views.
@_Hunter
I’ve read that only 22% of Americans are on Twitter. I have to believe I reach some of that percentage. A tiny bit at least.
@_Hunter
Media won’t. I blocked the #MangoMeathead from day one, still he showed constantly in my feed.
@DocLaing
Read it. Did it make sense. My first thought is everyone can have a shit day/week & needs to get it out there.
But continuous negative takes or replies? I’ll mute.
A woman on Shitter got a block from me for her jumping in on any topic with her version of “the harsh reality is…”. Exhausting.
@Anouk
Pushy people annoy the fuck outa me too. 🤦🏽♂️
@DocLaing it kind of depends on my own mood and energy levels, like if I’m spoiling for a fight myself, I might fuel it, but as a general rule I block/mute. ESPECIALLY as a lot of outrage fueling is done by bots.
@DocLaing It depends. If someone is being attacked I might jump in to give them a positive uplift. If it's political, I don't see the point in arguing because in today's world it's impossible to help people see reason. Facts just don't matter. But, most of the time I keep scrolling. Although I haven't encountered the need to do that here. CoSo is very different than other social media sites. #CoSoPositivity