A new study links partisan activity on the Internet to widespread online toxicity, revealing that politically-engaged users exhibit uncivil behavior even in non-political discussions. The findings are based on an analysis of hundreds of millions of comments from over 6.3 million Reddit users.

Politically-engaged Redditors tend to be more toxic – even in non-political subreddits::A new study links partisan activity on the Internet to widespread online toxicity, revealing that politically-engaged users exhibit uncivil behavior even in non-political discussions. The findings are based on an analysis of hundreds of millions of comments from over 6.3 million Reddit users.

  • Alpha71@lemmy.worldEnglish
    159·
    11 months ago

    I will sometimes call out aberrant opinions or counterfactual assumptions when I see them

    But why though? You’re not going to change anybody mind online.

    • Kichae@lemmy.caEnglish
      163·
      11 months ago

      Leaving harmful public opinions unchallenged presents the illusion of widespread agreement.

    • webadict@lemmy.worldEnglish
      121·
      11 months ago

      Because people other than the two arguing read that and learn things. If someone states factually wrong or hurtful information about, say, trans people, I would rather they be corrected than someone think that trans people are anything other than human beings being human beings from that prior comment.

      • Alpha71@lemmy.worldEnglish
        12·
        11 months ago

        OK this to me is the perfect example. You say trans people are human. (a sentiment which i agree with BTW). How has you arguing with someone online changed ANY off the current anti trans bills out there?

        Instead of arguing online and accomplishing nothing maybe instead you should be doing real work in the real work to stop that from happening.

        But no, people will bitch and complain online, and then throw there hands up in the air and say “well at least I tried.” when nothing changes.

        • webadict@lemmy.worldEnglish
          3·
          11 months ago

          So, are you suggesting that people aren’t allowed to complain about things, are you suggesting that complaining about things cannot be done in tandom with works that better the lives of trans, or are you suggesting that people that actually want trans people to have better lives don’t get to complain about things? Because every one of those implications are dumb as shit, especially if you have any historical knowledge of civil rights movements.

          No, instead you’ve taken a stance historically used to oppress civil rights movements, using a false dilemma to essentially proport that one cannot talk about the issue because that is wasting time not doing some unknown thing about it.

          And by virtue of your own post, why are you arguing with people about people arguing instead of helping trans people get the rights they deserve?

          • Alpha71@lemmy.worldEnglish
            12·
            11 months ago

            why are you arguing with people about people arguing instead of helping trans people get the rights they deserve?

            I’m not arguing. I’m responding.

    • nadir@lemmy.worldEnglish
      112·
      11 months ago

      You never changed your mind because of something you read online?

      • Alpha71@lemmy.worldEnglish
        33·
        11 months ago

        I’ve never had someone who is arguing with me on the internet change my mind.

    • Surreal@programming.devEnglish
      51·
      11 months ago

      Open-minded people learn and change their opinion when presented with facts and discussions