When did we collectively decide to abandon "don't feed the troll"?

[esurel@chaos.social]

When did we collectively decide to abandon "don't feed the troll"? Who thought it was a good idea to treat every incoherent cry of random drunkards echoing through a train station as if they were noteworthy contributions to a discussion or conversation?

[lucawantstobeacat@chaos.social]

@esureL afaik this is the current consensus among professionals in anti-discrimination organisations like hate aid, and scientists. it's hard to find a source on this, but aparently it has been shown that it's important to say something small against every troll statement. only a few words like "i don't agree" though

[codepitbull@chaos.social]

@lucawantstobeacat @esureL I honestly would love to see some citation on that. As far as the algorithms go, every interaction will boost the original message. You are basically throwing your followers into the mix since they will now also see it and boost visibility of the original post.

[lucawantstobeacat@chaos.social]

@codepitbull @esureL there was an interview between german twitch streamer maxim and someone from an anti-hatespeech organisation or the EU a few months ago? quite lengthy and she said it multiple times. i've been looking for it but can't find it right now. but a small citation at least 😅

[oranger@piaille.fr]

@lucawantstobeacat @codepitbull @esureL
Sometimes just laughing (like 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣) with no comment, at idiocy works well.

[marquis@mamot.fr]

@esureL when we stopped considering Eternal September was a thing.

[fringemagnet@sunny.garden]

@lucawantstobeacat Respectfully, there is a vast difference between standing against injustice and making a clear statement against hate and bigotry, and replying to every troll account that very deliberately tries to provoke.

An interview, and the opinion of one person, if indeed replying to any and all troll statements was their opinion, is anecdotal, not a scientific consensus. They are entitled to their view, but in the same regard, I have seen hundreds of people and minority groups asking folks to stop amplifying the voice of every bigot/misogynist/racist for clicks and clout.

There have been several scientific studies around the negative psychological effects of rage bait and how it increases stress, anxiety, depression, and creates a bleaker world view.

https://www.newporthealthcare.com/resources/industry-articles/rage-bait-mental-health-impact/#:~:text=Rage%20baiting%20can%20have%20a%20number%20of,*%20Wreaking%20havoc%20on%20the%20nervous%20system

@codepitbull @esureL

[lucawantstobeacat@chaos.social]

@fringemagnet thank you for adding much-needed context to my replies. i was well aware of how i may have oversimplified the opinion of the person in question and how my comment was anecdotal, and i will try to add that as a disclaimer next time

[lucawantstobeacat@chaos.social]

@fringemagnet still, i also believe short, oversimplified comments made by real people in good faith are more useful than saying nothing at all in face of perfectionism. it's never possible to say everything that is needed to say and always important to say at least something. the truth is somewhere inbetween of course

[fringemagnet@sunny.garden]

@lucawantstobeacat I see where you're coming from, and I do agree that speaking in absolutes doesn't really solve the issue. On a personal level, I'm a firm believer in picking your battles. I think the notion of not staying silent and calling out problematic behaviour certainly applies way more in real life, with people calling out their friends and immediate circle and showing such behaviour is not acceptable.

Ideally we should strive for finding a way of saying "this is wrong" and amplifying progressive voices instead, without giving people whose minds we can't change the attention they try to get.