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Humans are social animals. We are wired to care about the good opinions of the people around us. Being constantly berated is psychologically damaging; it wears
by PhasmaFelis 8y ago
Humans are social animals. We are wired to care about the good opinions of the people around us. Being constantly berated is psychologically damaging; it wears on you. And "growing a thicker skin," as people commonly advise, involves forcefully suppressing the part of you that cares about others' opinions, which can make you more callous and less empathetic in everyday life. It's a bad situation.
- the_af 8y ago"Growing a thicker skin" is well-intentioned but harmful advice, especially when told to victims of online harassment. Not only because of what you said -- becoming callous and less empathetic isn't a good outcome -- but also because for a lot of people it's not even possible to begin with. Often you cannot decide to "not care".
- rectang 8y agoAnd it puts the onus on the recipient of the abuse for change rather than the source of the abuse.