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I think the rise of social media, and its vast ability to strip comments/speech of context and so enable dogpiling/offence/etc, has caused a huge rise in person

I think the rise of social media, and its vast ability to strip comments/speech of context and so enable dogpiling/offence/etc, has caused a huge rise in personal attacks for "problematic" statements. I have personal conversations offline with people where we can discuss controversial topics without anyone taking offence or "calling out". I have learned to avoid any such topics on social media because of the social consequences. I know many others who do the same: simply avoid certain topics online. I'm old enough to remember how we were before the internet, too. It wasn't like this. Discussions were more interesting and less fraught. People had a wider range of opinions on everything. At least, that's how I remember it.

fit2rule 8y ago
Every salient point concerning social agency and individual responsibility made by Monty Python in "Life of Brian" as well as most of their other films, can be validated by the manifestations of social media. We are, literally, living the Monty Python moments which resonate so well. All it takes to demonstrate this is a brief moment of pause before you hit the upvote or the downvote button. Beyond that point, we are all made of wood and weigh the same as a duck.
- otaviokz 8y ago
  > All it takes to demonstrate this is a brief moment of pause before you hit the upvote or the downvote button. WOW, that was well phrased.
inflatableDodo 8y ago
There may be an increase in off the cuff rudeness to people you are unlikely to meet, as the internet makes that so much easier with fewer immediate consequences, but (at least here in the UK) we do not have anywhere near the same level of serious personal attacks. You might be more likely to encounter someone on the internet who is willing to be rude to you for your opinion, but you are much less likely to meet someone on the street that is willing to beat you up for it.
- BLKNSLVR 8y ago
  Conkface
  - inflatableDodo 8y ago
    Shut it, bignose.
basetop 8y ago
It's not social media per se, it's the authorities or people in power. 10 or even 5 years ago, you could have debates on every controversial topic online from abortion to atheism to lgbt to healthcare. In comment threads you would literally see every side of the debate. But something happened fairly recently where social media got weaponized for political reasons. And "blasphemy laws" got established on social media platforms. What's interesting is that the same "blasphemy laws" are on every platform as if a pope or an authority figure sent out a decree that everyone had to obey. Now there are even well funded "hit squads" to attack or shame people for wrongthink. But I think their time is coming to an end because more and more people are getting tired of censorship.
- humanrebar 8y ago
  I think the secular folks in these threads must not see the modern secular analogs to blasphemy, penance, indulgences, and purity. Misguided virtue signalling boycotts and all!
  - inflatableDodo 8y ago
    As someone who is pretty secular, why do you think we must not? I mean, I've posted a couple of John Gray links here and it would be difficult to have read anything of his without having spent at least a little time thinking about the secular analogs to religious practices, as that is one of his major themes.
    - ytNumbers 8y ago
      Because if you really thought about it, you'd realize that you have so much in common with the religious zealots of old (and be so horrified by this) that you'd have to go home and completely re-think your belief system. In the 21st century, people want to believe that they have nothing in common with the Spanish Inquisition.... "Put her in the comfy chair!".
      - inflatableDodo 8y ago

fit2rule 8y ago

Every salient point concerning social agency and individual responsibility made by Monty Python in "Life of Brian" as well as most of their other films, can be validated by the manifestations of social media. We are, literally, living the Monty Python moments which resonate so well. All it takes to demonstrate this is a brief moment of pause before you hit the upvote or the downvote button. Beyond that point, we are all made of wood and weigh the same as a duck.

otaviokz 8y ago
> All it takes to demonstrate this is a brief moment of pause before you hit the upvote or the downvote button. WOW, that was well phrased.

inflatableDodo 8y ago

There may be an increase in off the cuff rudeness to people you are unlikely to meet, as the internet makes that so much easier with fewer immediate consequences, but (at least here in the UK) we do not have anywhere near the same level of serious personal attacks. You might be more likely to encounter someone on the internet who is willing to be rude to you for your opinion, but you are much less likely to meet someone on the street that is willing to beat you up for it.

BLKNSLVR 8y ago
Conkface
- inflatableDodo 8y ago
  Shut it, bignose.

basetop 8y ago

It's not social media per se, it's the authorities or people in power. 10 or even 5 years ago, you could have debates on every controversial topic online from abortion to atheism to lgbt to healthcare. In comment threads you would literally see every side of the debate. But something happened fairly recently where social media got weaponized for political reasons. And "blasphemy laws" got established on social media platforms. What's interesting is that the same "blasphemy laws" are on every platform as if a pope or an authority figure sent out a decree that everyone had to obey. Now there are even well funded "hit squads" to attack or shame people for wrongthink. But I think their time is coming to an end because more and more people are getting tired of censorship.

humanrebar 8y ago
I think the secular folks in these threads must not see the modern secular analogs to blasphemy, penance, indulgences, and purity. Misguided virtue signalling boycotts and all!
- inflatableDodo 8y ago
  As someone who is pretty secular, why do you think we must not? I mean, I've posted a couple of John Gray links here and it would be difficult to have read anything of his without having spent at least a little time thinking about the secular analogs to religious practices, as that is one of his major themes.
  - ytNumbers 8y ago
    Because if you really thought about it, you'd realize that you have so much in common with the religious zealots of old (and be so horrified by this) that you'd have to go home and completely re-think your belief system. In the 21st century, people want to believe that they have nothing in common with the Spanish Inquisition.... "Put her in the comfy chair!".
    - inflatableDodo 8y ago