>> Actual Libertarian Party members have informed me that you can’t be a Libertarians unless another Libertarian yells at you for “Doing it wrong.”
Yep. You're not a Real Libertarian (TM) until someone tells you you're not a Real Libertarian.
To address your larger point, I think that social media sites discovered what newspapers, et al have known for ages: conflict gets attention... and attention means sales (or ad views, in the case of online media). Back in the day, it was bad enough dealing with the amateur hour troll who did it for the love of being a jerk. With monetization on FB, X, etc. there are EXPLICIT, MONETARY REWARDS for being a professional asshole on the internet. When the overall tone is people being nasty to each other, you get, well. What we have today.
Well, I'm guilty. Started watching some youtube of an 'influencer' I'd stopped watching couple years back because I don't align with her political views. It's difficult for me to respect social democrats. But I pretty much agreed with everything her non-political vids were pointing out. I'm trying to feel guilty about not taking the high road, but gah, my IQ falls when a Bernie Sanders vote is cast. So, yeah, a part of me wants the torches and pitchforks to come out when the Left pushes an agenda, at the same time I think it's 'terrible' when Antifa is mobilized for their antics. Not happy being a hypocrite but there it is.
Also, any attempt to make a living online by offering value to paying customers is termed "grifting" and those customers and fans backing you are "paypigs."
>> Actual Libertarian Party members have informed me that you can’t be a Libertarians unless another Libertarian yells at you for “Doing it wrong.”
Yep. You're not a Real Libertarian (TM) until someone tells you you're not a Real Libertarian.
To address your larger point, I think that social media sites discovered what newspapers, et al have known for ages: conflict gets attention... and attention means sales (or ad views, in the case of online media). Back in the day, it was bad enough dealing with the amateur hour troll who did it for the love of being a jerk. With monetization on FB, X, etc. there are EXPLICIT, MONETARY REWARDS for being a professional asshole on the internet. When the overall tone is people being nasty to each other, you get, well. What we have today.
Well, I'm guilty. Started watching some youtube of an 'influencer' I'd stopped watching couple years back because I don't align with her political views. It's difficult for me to respect social democrats. But I pretty much agreed with everything her non-political vids were pointing out. I'm trying to feel guilty about not taking the high road, but gah, my IQ falls when a Bernie Sanders vote is cast. So, yeah, a part of me wants the torches and pitchforks to come out when the Left pushes an agenda, at the same time I think it's 'terrible' when Antifa is mobilized for their antics. Not happy being a hypocrite but there it is.
So very true! I never read them. The brain-death isn't worth my time. To hell with them.
Also, any attempt to make a living online by offering value to paying customers is termed "grifting" and those customers and fans backing you are "paypigs."