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The changing face of disagreements

(34 Posts)
Sarah48 Tue 16-Feb-21 13:27:16

www.theguardian.com/society/2021/feb/16/how-to-have-better-arguments-social-media-politics-conflict

Interesting (long) read from the Guardian on the changing nature of discussion and arguments.

Technology is at least partially responsible for a world in which toxic disagreement is ubiquitous; in which offence seems to be constantly given and taken; in which we do ever more talking and ever less listening. The Silicon Valley entrepreneur Paul Graham has observed that the internet is a medium that engenders disagreement by design. Digital media platforms are inherently interactive and, well, people are disputatious

Kim19 Wed 17-Feb-21 05:43:56

Sarah, thank you for sharing this. Yes, it was indeed a long read (what else am I doing?!) but so enlightening and indeed edifying. Somewhat repetitive towards the end but that only served to reinforce the content for me. I'm very interested in why genuine debate regularly turns to aggression on social media. I have my own theories but this expanded them and perhaps I will not push off so quickly in future when the boring bullies take over. I will not contribute but will continue to observe for longer than I usually do. Very interesting indeed. Again..... thanks.

Esspee Wed 17-Feb-21 06:46:49

I look forward to reading the article. I hope it might spread some light on the type of posts seen on this forum recently.

Lisagran Wed 17-Feb-21 07:30:55

Very interesting read, thank you for posting it. Quite a bit to think about.

nanna8 Wed 17-Feb-21 08:23:23

ActuallyI think things are better here in the last couple of weeks but maybe I have been looking at the wrong threads. I found the long, non ending post very aggressive but that has disappeared into the ether, thank goodness.

muse Wed 17-Feb-21 08:54:41

I think you're correct nanna8. I joined GN about a month ago and am noticing a difference recently. I do think this is just a lull. Someone was commenting about the lack of interesting threads yesterday. I didn't agree, but didn't say so. However, it made me wonder what, for some, makes a thread interesting or perhaps it's more the comments themselves that make it interesting.

Look forward to reading the article. I follow a few other social media sites and disputatious*{grin] yes - but some are arguments are vitriolic. I now do what you do Kim19.

NanaandGrampy Wed 17-Feb-21 09:01:26

Very interesting read.

Maybe the change in tone here is because now posters are fearful of being banned for breaking a rule that they didn't know was there?

Or because it became obvious that you could be reported simply because you disagreed with a post and someone took offensive rather than debating the point?

You mention Muse you didn't agree with a post but didn't say so - maybe lots of people feel like that now? Unable to disagree?

Galaxy Wed 17-Feb-21 09:02:37

I feel perfectly comfortable in disagreeing.

FannyCornforth Wed 17-Feb-21 09:07:12

Muse, that was me - who said that it was a bit uninteresting at present.

Septimia Wed 17-Feb-21 09:07:47

DH blames a lot of things on social media.

Often he's right - like the misinformation about Covid-19.

Sometimes, though, it can be a force for good, like the supportive posts on GN.

grandmajet Wed 17-Feb-21 09:16:13

Muse, I think you’re right that it’s the comments that make a thread interesting/amusing or otherwise. The interest is in seeing other people’s take on the same subject.
I’m not always comfortable disagreeing publicly either; I’m not sure if that’s because I’m often uncertain of my facts, or that I don’t want to be ‘attacked’, whereas I’m often just curious as to why people feel a certain way.
The article is interesting and led to a discussion with my husband yesterday evening on this subject - he is of very old fashioned working class origins but now is distinctly right of centre and can get a bit of stick for this.

PamelaJ1 Wed 17-Feb-21 09:37:53

Do I post on here or not? I have made a decision not to post on anything that could be a bit controversial. I am not a particularly ‘deep’ person so,like grandmajet don’t have an encyclopaedic knowledge of most subjects.
In real life my usually flippant remarks are not taken seriously and I don’t seem to upset anyone.
On here, however, even if I accompany my posts with a laughing ? there are so many posters that seem to lack the ability to see my remarks are a bit tongue in cheek.
I started what I thought was a lighthearted thread and some of the responses were really nasty. I don’t think that I am allowed to name the thread as that would be a thread about a thread?

Jaxjacky Wed 17-Feb-21 09:44:28

Sarah48 thanks for the post, got the old brain cells working early!
Although it’s a bit sad in places with its conclusions, in some areas, like marketing, it makes logical sense. GN is different from some other social media in that it’s rules of transgression are different and it’s general audience is niche. I’m like some others, I follow threads, comment on some, particularly if I think I can be helpful. I rarely confront because in real life I would address any issues face to face, one on one, without an audience. On social media you see one facet of a person, in real life you may be aware of contributory factors to a person’s attitude which may be a consideration. I like GN, but I’m wary in what I say sometimes.

kittylester Wed 17-Feb-21 09:58:39

NanaandGrampy

Very interesting read.

Maybe the change in tone here is because now posters are fearful of being banned for breaking a rule that they didn't know was there?

Or because it became obvious that you could be reported simply because you disagreed with a post and someone took offensive rather than debating the point?

You mention Muse you didn't agree with a post but didn't say so - maybe lots of people feel like that now? Unable to disagree?

Good post n&g!

muse Wed 17-Feb-21 09:59:23

FannyCornforth

*Muse*, that was me - who said that it was a bit uninteresting at present.

Thank you FC. I spent ages on GN yesterday and couldn't remember. A point was made in your thread about why such threads were not appearing. The current ^climate* is to blame. That I do agree with that.

If the title of thread grabs me, I continue to read on. I do find myself drawn to the Chat one.

N&G well said.

Excellent article. I'd hope that someone at GNHQ spots it.

lemongrove Wed 17-Feb-21 10:11:27

NanaandGrampy

Very interesting read.

Maybe the change in tone here is because now posters are fearful of being banned for breaking a rule that they didn't know was there?

Or because it became obvious that you could be reported simply because you disagreed with a post and someone took offensive rather than debating the point?

You mention Muse you didn't agree with a post but didn't say so - maybe lots of people feel like that now? Unable to disagree?

Spot on nana I think that’s exactly the case.
Things will be more anodyne if that’s the case, which isn’t great. It will become like the Universities ‘no platforming’ which has gone on up to now ( although that could change).
An interesting read, thank you to Sarah48

Ellianne Wed 17-Feb-21 10:14:28

That was certainly some read and very interesting delving into the human psyche!
Thank I enjoyed it but need to have another read to analyse it and comment properly.
And that is exactly the issue for me. Like several here I don’t have an encyclopaedic knowledge of most subjects and I just post my feelings. Yes,muse flippant comments at times, but true to the heart. I guess that infuriates some into disagreements and giving me the (sigh) word, but that's fine. We all express ourselves differently, especially on social media. Live and let live.

nanna8 Wed 17-Feb-21 10:15:42

Pamela I agree with you and I have found the same. I got told off for using the phrase ‘pet hates’ when in fact it was meant to be a lighthearted look at small irritants in life. I nearly left because I thought if the people here are like that, with little sense of humour, well ‘I’m off’ Glad I stayed though because it has definitely got better .

Kim19 Wed 17-Feb-21 10:17:11

Galaxy, your contribution makes me smile. Interpretation of the written word indeed. I can't decide whether your statement is a gauntlet or tongue in cheek or..... whatever. I'm sure this is exactly what you intended and rightly so. Well done.

suziewoozie Wed 17-Feb-21 10:17:42

NanaandGrampy

Very interesting read.

Maybe the change in tone here is because now posters are fearful of being banned for breaking a rule that they didn't know was there?

Or because it became obvious that you could be reported simply because you disagreed with a post and someone took offensive rather than debating the point?

You mention Muse you didn't agree with a post but didn't say so - maybe lots of people feel like that now? Unable to disagree?

FGS - are you looking for an argument? I couldn’t disagree more with what you’ve posted.

lemongrove Wed 17-Feb-21 10:22:04

Are you looking for an argument Suzie ? Because I doubt very much that Nana is.
Starting a post ‘FGS are you looking for an argument’ is a typical aggressive social media comment.
Read the article.

merlotgran Wed 17-Feb-21 10:25:28

Or because it became obvious that you could be reported simply because you disagreed with a post and someone took offensive rather than debating the point?

I agree with this point and I can't be the only one to have had the odd post deleted lately because somebody has disagreed and reported it rather than reply.

It does rather leave you scratching your head confused

I haven't read the article yet as there's rather a lot going on this morning.

grandmajet Wed 17-Feb-21 10:26:19

My thoughts exactly lemongrove

Galaxy Wed 17-Feb-21 10:27:18

No gauntlet. I have absolutely no problem disagreeing on GN. I have managed to have very lively disagreements mostly on politics and have only been deleted once. And they were right to delete me.

nanna8 Wed 17-Feb-21 10:38:08

I would never report a post unless it was racist. If it was rude I would just ignore it the same as in real life. No point in engaging with rude, offensive people. I always think they have had something difficult in their lives to be like that.