I just saw this on the BBC site
https://apple.news/AaNQS6TTUSLSUuiceA-pt8A
Kudos to both of them for taking part, and interesting to watch. Helps to remind you that there is a person on the other side of that keyboard.
Very interesting, thanks for posting.
The fact that we now seem to discuss contentious issues 'remotely', combined with the fact that sadly we no longer seem to
debate, but merely oppose, has given keyboard warriors the confidence to move from disagreement to abuse.
Of course, as the video shows, to be able to truly abuse your opponent, they have to be 'de-personalised'. They are no longer a person who is as entitled to their opinion as you are to yours. There are the enemy.
Hitler, of course, knew this a long time ago. That's why he referred to Jews as 'race-tuberculosis'.
Today, clever politicians and campaigners are using the same tactics (though less overtly) to manipulate the frustrations of many and turn that into anger. The anger is then easily turned into hate, and then there is no limit to what abuse people may hurl.
Until we start to demand better of our politicians and our media, things will not improve. Alas, I don't think that will happen anytime soon. We now not only tolerate the lies of politicians, we vote them into office
because of their lies.
We seem to have developed very short term memories, and I suspect the promises that won victory for the lying politicians will be forgotten when they turn to ash. The politicians will simply tell more lies and get reelected and the peoples anger will redirected toward something and someone else, and so it will go on.
So, I don't see an end to this hateful trolling. There may be a post Brexit and Corona Virus induced lull, but ultimately, things will just get worse.
