Myzozoa
to find better ways to say what nobody says
I think there has been plenty of discussion besides replies to 'bigoted' posts and that obviously can be emotional too. I also don't think these discussions go on 'ad nauseum', they eventually stop one way or another and resume on a different topic. To me, that is a melodramatic hyperbole Rodan.
I know for myself, I can sometimes resist replying after a few posts exchanged.
Rodan, your post suggests that everything is about generating conflict, but obviously there is also a lot of agreement as users also agree with each other. Thats what generates what you call 'piling on', but that doesnt go on endlessly either, it usually means someone liking a post and not even replying.
I have had arguments with users in these threads, but not because I seek conflict. I am much happier to c/p links and excerpts to articles/news and have people like the post and to like others' posts.
If it feels like I am attacking people when I attack the ideas in their posts... consider the urgency of the subject matter in each case. I know I am a paranoid and traumatized person, but certain ideas have been shown to be not only false but illustrative of distortions in thinking that have,in the past manifested in violent and destructive outbursts. You will probably always see me mercilessly making fun of people who think education is harming boys in order to advance girls, or that think college students are silencing free speech in America, because I literally live in fear that someone will shoot up a school over these things, and they already have. So yes, sometimes I may be very harsh explicitly or implicitly when it comes to dealing with these topics, but I'm not sure if a bad thing and I definitely don't feel like it happens often enough to push anyone away unless they just have a pile of conspiracy theories they believe in...
I know for myself, I can sometimes resist replying after a few posts exchanged.
Rodan, your post suggests that everything is about generating conflict, but obviously there is also a lot of agreement as users also agree with each other. Thats what generates what you call 'piling on', but that doesnt go on endlessly either, it usually means someone liking a post and not even replying.
I have had arguments with users in these threads, but not because I seek conflict. I am much happier to c/p links and excerpts to articles/news and have people like the post and to like others' posts.
If it feels like I am attacking people when I attack the ideas in their posts... consider the urgency of the subject matter in each case. I know I am a paranoid and traumatized person, but certain ideas have been shown to be not only false but illustrative of distortions in thinking that have,in the past manifested in violent and destructive outbursts. You will probably always see me mercilessly making fun of people who think education is harming boys in order to advance girls, or that think college students are silencing free speech in America, because I literally live in fear that someone will shoot up a school over these things, and they already have. So yes, sometimes I may be very harsh explicitly or implicitly when it comes to dealing with these topics, but I'm not sure if a bad thing and I definitely don't feel like it happens often enough to push anyone away unless they just have a pile of conspiracy theories they believe in...