> My blood pressure increased just reading that and imagining myself on the receiving end. Sure. That's a normal response when you feel challenged. Technology

> My blood pressure increased just reading that and imagining myself on the receiving end. Sure. That's a normal response when you feel challenged. Technology has exposed people on a personal level to an unprecedented number of social groups. In the past, people talked to their neighbors and their kinfolk, because that was who was around. They didn't have to worry about what was happening in China or Russia or Wyoming or whatever. Now you are expected to have an opinion, and to have the righteous opinion of the group. I have to assume that we will learn how to deal with this impulse at some point in the future, but right now, we don't. You don't know how many times a topic has come up and been tabled in that group before you joined. Until we get past our self-righteousness phase on social media "we don't do that here" is perfect shorthand to shut down a destructive conversation. --- A note: please try not to over-interpret my comment. You don't know me. I do think it's important to actually hear the personal experience of others and defer judgement. That is not currently the norm on social media or with remote groups.