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I kind of agree with you, but I think there's two threads here that need to be teased apart. I agree that people get considered toxic because they're expressin
by jamesrcole 9y ago
I kind of agree with you, but I think there's two threads here that need to be teased apart.
I agree that people get considered toxic because they're expressing views that are unpopular within the group in question. All groups have their sacred cows and enemies (where the belief in the truth of these views is often spread socially rather than developed intellectually), and people tend to not look kindly upon someone going against the standard line.
The second thread is that toxicity is not just a matter of the opinions being expressed but also the way they're being expressed. Eg when people are going out of their way to be rude to others, or where they're not arguing in good faith.
- Kalium 9y agoI suspect the two are being conflated, and not entirely accidentally. In many social circles, going against someone's sacred cow is viewed as essentially no different from going well out of your way to be rude or argue in bad faith. This offers a signal advantage - it means it becomes acceptable to silence people who you disagree with on the basis that they're behaving badly.