I very rarely, if ever at all, respond, comment, debate or anything else with trolls. Nobody should. Why the hell would anyone want to help their engagement and reach? It took some discipline, but ignoring asshats now gives me as much a serotonin boost as when I thought I would convince myself that facts and common sense could convince the cult members.
It’s good to call them out as self-loathing bullies and even to press them with questions.* But never argue with them—this puts their bigoted willful ignorance on the same plane as rational thought.
* Such as, “Who would say they were transgender when they were not?”
With the Teds and Marges I either correct the misinformation (with ridicule) or point out that this is a distraction, trump is guilty (or whatever it is they are looking to distract us from) jack Smith has the evidence...
When they are all using the same Hunter Hilary etc talking points they are usually trying to distract us from what they are afraid of -- trumps many indictments, social security, a mass shooting, abortion, scotus, etc.
Not responding is a luxury we never could afford, but in some rarefied spaces too many 'on the left' believed we could simply deign to ignore the verbal vandals. (Heck, some would wag fingers and scold for 'giving the trolls oxygen'. I remember reading more times than I bothered to count the cliche of wrestling with a pig.)
'Ignore them' was always stunningly bad advice, proffered from a perch of privilege. Someone who faces no risk of material loss or bodily harm (even as the fascists coalesce, metastasize and seize the reigns of government at every level) can preach 'ignore them'.
My impression is that 'ignore them' makes sense within a framework in which the online world, paradoxically, serves as the exclusive realm of discourse for an individual, and is viewed by them as substantially removed from 'IRL'. That is, the online world is viewed as separate enough from meat-space that the splutterings of fascists intruding on a feminist (or queer, or anti-racist) discussion board could simply be dismissed. In other words, only for a narrow demographic does 'ignore them' make any sense- generally White, generally cis gender hetero, typically male.
The specious distinction between online speech and what happens in reality betrays not only the solipsistic indifference of, for instance, a putatively progressive tech bro, but also deficient understanding that *speech, in all its forms, is an act*.
As an act, speech functions as an instrument of power. Targets of violence can be identified (specific and generic), and the resources to threaten, intimidate, terrorize, brutalize and murder can be recruited, directed, facilitated and shielded from consequence.
Words matter.
Who knew?
Oh right, all the individuals and groups subjected, since forever, to fascist violence. They have never had the luxury of 'ignore them'. (I'd be remiss if I didn't acknowledge that my Jewish heritage has played a substantial role in helping me recognize the necessary, causal association between words and genocide.)
So, turns out, I've been writing about this for several years. Most recently:
'Hate speech is never harmless. And even the words of a law can be hate speech.' (March 9, 2023)
"The assumption that to allow hate speech to be expressed is, by itself, harmless, if not ‘beneficial to the marketplace of ideas’, and similarly, the naive belief that ‘the best ideas will win out’, only have merit in the abstract, and come from a place of privilege.
No reasonable reading of American or world history bears these assumptions out."
//
'Ignore them' presents a false dichotomy- either engage the fascist verbal vandals on their terms, or wait them out in silent passivity.
We have more options than that. The entire spectrum of political action, legal remedies, organizing, and, of course, responding to hate speech in all its forms on our terms, not theirs, with speech intended to promote pluralistic democracy and the rule of law. Democrats in the House are, as we speak, putting on a master class in how to deal with verbal vandals using every available tool.
The fascists in the House invite an anti-vax, racist nut bag to parade in front of cameras? Rather than ignore them, excoriate them (and create the conditions for perjury charges). Then methodically, from every direction, in every direction, methodically work to extricate every fascists from each and every public role and venue.
//
For those of us who hold no official capacity, or operate outside the professional commentariat, it begins at home, in our personal lives. Who we include and who we exclude, whom we support, whom we oppose. Who we give our money to (you know, fuck Marriot, and all that).
Never be silent. Never cede ground to verbal vandals. Don't be reluctant to impose social and material costs on the rank and file fascists in your community, among neighbors, coworkers, acquaintances, family. Those who spout hateful insanity and enact it with their vote.
Don't cater to their sensitivities. If they have any capacity to feel shame, shame them, because they should be ashamed of themselves. They need to be taught this, or excluded from participation in our polity if they can't be taught.
I mean, it's not like we're talking about mass death and the destruction of our pluralistic democracy or anything, right?
When they're merely trolling, perhaps we can ignore what they say while constantly exposing the underbelly--funding, connections to domestic terrorism & white nationalists, dog whistles, etc.
Oliver, your writing gives me hope and inspires me to action. Thank you!
I very rarely, if ever at all, respond, comment, debate or anything else with trolls. Nobody should. Why the hell would anyone want to help their engagement and reach? It took some discipline, but ignoring asshats now gives me as much a serotonin boost as when I thought I would convince myself that facts and common sense could convince the cult members.
It’s good to call them out as self-loathing bullies and even to press them with questions.* But never argue with them—this puts their bigoted willful ignorance on the same plane as rational thought.
* Such as, “Who would say they were transgender when they were not?”
Good advice.
Love Kal-El. 💕
With the Teds and Marges I either correct the misinformation (with ridicule) or point out that this is a distraction, trump is guilty (or whatever it is they are looking to distract us from) jack Smith has the evidence...
When they are all using the same Hunter Hilary etc talking points they are usually trying to distract us from what they are afraid of -- trumps many indictments, social security, a mass shooting, abortion, scotus, etc.
The low hanging fruit are a block. No engagement.
Not responding is a luxury we never could afford, but in some rarefied spaces too many 'on the left' believed we could simply deign to ignore the verbal vandals. (Heck, some would wag fingers and scold for 'giving the trolls oxygen'. I remember reading more times than I bothered to count the cliche of wrestling with a pig.)
'Ignore them' was always stunningly bad advice, proffered from a perch of privilege. Someone who faces no risk of material loss or bodily harm (even as the fascists coalesce, metastasize and seize the reigns of government at every level) can preach 'ignore them'.
My impression is that 'ignore them' makes sense within a framework in which the online world, paradoxically, serves as the exclusive realm of discourse for an individual, and is viewed by them as substantially removed from 'IRL'. That is, the online world is viewed as separate enough from meat-space that the splutterings of fascists intruding on a feminist (or queer, or anti-racist) discussion board could simply be dismissed. In other words, only for a narrow demographic does 'ignore them' make any sense- generally White, generally cis gender hetero, typically male.
The specious distinction between online speech and what happens in reality betrays not only the solipsistic indifference of, for instance, a putatively progressive tech bro, but also deficient understanding that *speech, in all its forms, is an act*.
As an act, speech functions as an instrument of power. Targets of violence can be identified (specific and generic), and the resources to threaten, intimidate, terrorize, brutalize and murder can be recruited, directed, facilitated and shielded from consequence.
Words matter.
Who knew?
Oh right, all the individuals and groups subjected, since forever, to fascist violence. They have never had the luxury of 'ignore them'. (I'd be remiss if I didn't acknowledge that my Jewish heritage has played a substantial role in helping me recognize the necessary, causal association between words and genocide.)
So, turns out, I've been writing about this for several years. Most recently:
'Hate speech is never harmless. And even the words of a law can be hate speech.' (March 9, 2023)
https://iandouglasrushlau.substack.com/p/hate-speech-is-never-harmless-and?utm_source=profile&utm_medium=reader2
"The assumption that to allow hate speech to be expressed is, by itself, harmless, if not ‘beneficial to the marketplace of ideas’, and similarly, the naive belief that ‘the best ideas will win out’, only have merit in the abstract, and come from a place of privilege.
No reasonable reading of American or world history bears these assumptions out."
//
'Ignore them' presents a false dichotomy- either engage the fascist verbal vandals on their terms, or wait them out in silent passivity.
We have more options than that. The entire spectrum of political action, legal remedies, organizing, and, of course, responding to hate speech in all its forms on our terms, not theirs, with speech intended to promote pluralistic democracy and the rule of law. Democrats in the House are, as we speak, putting on a master class in how to deal with verbal vandals using every available tool.
The fascists in the House invite an anti-vax, racist nut bag to parade in front of cameras? Rather than ignore them, excoriate them (and create the conditions for perjury charges). Then methodically, from every direction, in every direction, methodically work to extricate every fascists from each and every public role and venue.
//
For those of us who hold no official capacity, or operate outside the professional commentariat, it begins at home, in our personal lives. Who we include and who we exclude, whom we support, whom we oppose. Who we give our money to (you know, fuck Marriot, and all that).
Never be silent. Never cede ground to verbal vandals. Don't be reluctant to impose social and material costs on the rank and file fascists in your community, among neighbors, coworkers, acquaintances, family. Those who spout hateful insanity and enact it with their vote.
Don't cater to their sensitivities. If they have any capacity to feel shame, shame them, because they should be ashamed of themselves. They need to be taught this, or excluded from participation in our polity if they can't be taught.
I mean, it's not like we're talking about mass death and the destruction of our pluralistic democracy or anything, right?
Just sayin'.
When they're merely trolling, perhaps we can ignore what they say while constantly exposing the underbelly--funding, connections to domestic terrorism & white nationalists, dog whistles, etc.
“political malpractice” -- love this turn of phrase!
My go to reply to trolls is 🤡 accompanied by one of my many memes😈🤣 Then they get blocked.
Facebook made it easier to block. I scan and block every day.