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Should we be kind? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 3 years ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Hi lemmy! So this is kind of controversial, but hear me out. Let me start off by saying I've been on a few reddit alternatives, as I've mentioned in different posts, and I've seen language that is very hateful. I was disgusted by the language, but after seeing it over and over again, I just got sad. These people only know fear and hatred. I'm not sure anyone's shown them kindness.

Should we be kind to those that we disagree with or that use hateful speech?

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 years ago (1 children)

don't engage them in public. engaging them in public gives them a platform to spread their vitriol and gives them visibility, which kind of defeats what you're trying to do. as for dms and other private settings, use your discretion. i believe nobody is beyond saving, but it's not your job to fix these people. don't expend too much energy on them.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 years ago (1 children)

Why not engage them in public? It doesn’t just mean that you platform them, they also platform you. Now obviously don’t be a strawman who misrepresents actually good positions, you actually have to do a good job at debate for it to be effective. Not everyone is qualified to debate every topic either. But silence is a kind of speech.

When I see comments telling people to disengage I can’t agree with that. I want places like Lemmy to be free of hate because that shit is obviously not welcome, not because we don’t engage with it. I do believe a tactical nuke (ban) is a useful thing, not arguing against that.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 years ago

Oh, don't worry we have plenty of hatred of the rich and the powerful available ;) ;)

More seriously, i'm always open to answer good-faith questions, even when they're framed from a very reactionary perspective. But many you have to draw the line because what appears to be good-faith questions is in fact a psyops led by an actual neofascist group trying to infiltrate public forums (entryism).