I’ve always been a “lurker” on all platforms and communities because when I do have a question or would like to contribute my first thought has become:
Actually, let me google it first
In which case I’ll usually have some answer. Usually it isn’t a complete answer but enough for me to not want to share my question anymore.
The problem with this mantra for me is that in a discussion, I don’t want to know what website x thinks the definition or answer is, I want to know what you think it is. If the term/issue is uncontroversial then googling is fine, but if it’s vague, confusing or has different interpretations, Google could make things worse.
E.g. someone complains that cultural marxism is bringing down western civilization. I could Google this and find out it’s an antisemitic conspiracy theory espoused by the Nazis and now the American right. But will this definition help me understand the person I’m talking to and what they mean? Will it help the conversation? Absolutely not.
But if I asked, “what do you mean by that” nd the person responded, e.g. “how the left is pushing diversity in society against the will of ordinary people” (or whatever), then we can have an actual conversation about what is bothering this person.
Well… If you know where someone is getting their information, it actually does say a lot about a person.
When I run across an argument like that, I know to back out of it and reassess if it’s worth it in the first place.
100% this. Trying to “understand the person” is too often a code for “let them spew their bigotry/hatred/evil” under the guise of “discussion”. It’s disingenuous and is not what OP is even talking about
Yeah I get that people use it that way but what if you actually want a discussion? Gets a bit tiresome to be accused of “letting them spew hatred” when if you actually want them to stop spewing hatred, a conversation with actual understanding is necessary, imo. Or at least the best way I know of
I lost this belief for myself. Anonymous people usually don’t have enough respect towards each other to actually make a change.
Online discussions are mostly either about “winning” or just getting so annoyed that you don’t want to continue anymore.
Especially the antisemitic conspiracy crowd have integrated their beliefs so deeply into their identity, that lighthearted conversation will not shake them.
I have empathy or atleast understanding for these people, especially when they talk about their life story and upbringing. In the end tho, it doesn’t really matter. Many people are even self-aware to a degree about their mental flaws, but simply are too broken to even seek help.
For many political ideology is simply an escape from reality. Some watch anime, some talk to random people online, some get into weird shit.