But as cathartic and entertaining as it might be, skewering trolls and attacking jerks is never going to change their minds. Putting people on the defensive only hardens their positions.
When it comes to actually changing minds, I think we’re stuck with love.
Recognizing the humanity of people who do awful things is one of the core challenges of being human. (We have enough trouble recognizing it even in people who are like us.) But it’s the only way out. Even when the worst trolls are beyond visible redemption, the way we handle them is visible to so many others who are still capable of feeling empathy or recognizing pain or changing their minds.
How to Kill a Troll - Incisive.nu
From Erin Kissane (@kissane on the Tweetr), one of the best displays of generosity of spirit I’ve read in the past few months.
Worth striving for, even if we fall short.
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Source: incisive.nu
3 Notes/ Hide
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tony-starked likes this
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alexivore likes this
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behaviouristatplay said:
I have to agree. Find something to reinforce, give respect to and you’ll see more of those positive traits. Punishing them by telling them their view is wrong fails to teach the troll another way to interact, view the world.
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solchrom posted this
Citizen, cyclist, father, diver, cheap-laugh aficionado, sanctimonious wanker, #BadJew. Thoughts are my own.
