You Will Never Win an Argument On the Internet—Here's Why
www.joanwestenberg.com
The Internet promised us a renaissance of discourse. Armed with instant access to all human knowledge and the ability to connect with brilliant minds worldwide, we imagined our online debates would elevate human understanding to unprecedented heights.  But two decades later, we scroll through our choice of social poison, watching

Most online debate is actively harmful to our thinking. Every hour spent arguing on Twitter is an hour we could have spent reading a book, writing an essay, or having a genuine discussion in a better environment.

The Internet promised us a marketplace of ideas. Instead, we built a gladiatorial arena where ideas go to die—time to find better places to think.

  • chicken@lemmy.dbzer0.com
    8·
    5 days ago

    Every platform’s algorithm rewards conflict over clarity, dunks over discourse, and pithy dismissals over patient exploration of ideas. A thoughtful thread exploring the nuances of monetary policy might get a few polite likes. A savage quote-tweet demolishing a bad take? That’s engagement gold.

    It’s framed as that this is about the whole internet, but seems like they are mostly talking about Twitter culture.

    • Rimu@piefed.socialOPEnglish
      1·
      5 days ago

      Mostly, although I think it applies more broadly to varying degrees. Even to Mastodon (although without the Algorithmic amplification aspect).