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The changing face of disagreements

(34 Posts)
FannyCornforth Wed 17-Feb-21 09:07:12

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

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

I feel perfectly comfortable in disagreeing.

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?

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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