On the problem with Millenials, Trolls, and Online Activism Of All Shades.

[gonzo21]

I was reading the other day some reviews of the X-Files finale, and most of the reviewers were extremely negative about it. But in the comment sections, there was a split. But many (most?) of the people who enjoyed it followed the same basic response pattern

Comments

[howlin_wolf_66]

I hate this mindset, and I think you might be right about where it stems from. *sigh*

[gonzo21]

Yeah, it's exhausting. I mean I have no problem with people telling me if they think I'm wrong about something. That's how we learn. But increasingly these conversations with People On The Internet (tm) follow the pattern of:

'Ugh! You're wrong!'

'Can you tell me why I'm wrong?'

'FUCK YOU! YOU MONSTER!'

Like yesterday I was trying to have a conversation with a couple of guys about Europe, and they were quoting a bunch of Daily Fail bullshit, and I was like well okay, but here's why this perspective is just flat-out misleading, here's some links. And they were like, no, fuck you, we're right and you're wrong.

[gonzo21]

Aye, maths is one of those rare things where you can actually deliver a proof.

And it's obviously not something that just stupid people do, I'm sure your former room-mate was quite a smart person. My father is not a stupid person, but there have been times I've had an argument with him, and put books in front of him that demonstrate my point, and he'll declare oh well, the books are just wrong then. Which was pretty funny, but omg frustrating at the time.

It's also astonishingly unhelpful when one disagrees with somebody, to open ones rebuttal with some insults. And that seems pretty common too. Which is just... starting out with an insult just instantly puts somebody on the defensive.

[wantedonvoyage]

We have seen this in the church as well.. Denominations who suggest that the nature of God might not be an old Caucasian man who can dispatch lightning from his fingers and grants wishes based on favor and/or merit (at least not for everybody, at least not today) are losing ground to at a faster rate than churches with names like "Liquid" who claim all your dreams will come true if you just say this prayer daily, send me a fiver and forward to ten of your friends

[gonzo21]

I suppose, in a sense, we could see this as an inevitable evolution of capitalism, this idea that you can buy a one-size-fits-all prayer off the shelf that will solve all your woes for a small donation. (So long as you forward it to all your friends

[wantedonvoyage]

Truth... remember Sting's song about "if the Russians love their children, too"? You would hope that if someone saw their Shiite toddler playing with a Jewish (or Christian or Sunni) toddler, because they were too innocent to see one another as enemies, that their hearts would be touched. But I think we're programming all the children the same way, hunkered down in our bunkers.

[gonzo21]

One of the most poignant things I ever saw regarding the Iraq war, was quite early on when the British squaddies were occupying Basra, there was footage of them out playing football with some local kids.

This was early on in the occupation when the British army was actively trying to blend in and be friendly, wearing soft hats instead of helmets, and generally being on a 'we're here to help you' offensive. Things changed obviously.

But there they were playing football with these kids, and the kids all wanted to know about Manchester United, and were talking to the squaddies about who their favourite players were and Wayne Rooney and all that jazz.

And it was just this wonderful moment of hey look, kids there are just exactly the same as kids here.

It didn't last of course. But. Yeah.

[gonzo21]

I can certainly understand the comfort of black and white thinking. It provides a very good security blanket in an uncertain world. And I know I'm guilty of doing the same myself at times. (Usually with regards my internal self-beliefs.) But yeah, I'm not sure what it will take...

I think the Great War and the Second World War did a lot to bring home to Europeans just how shades-of-gray the world was. The shocks those left on the psyche. But America had the Civil War, and that was a truly terrible thing. So I don't know.

Remember to check under your bed too though. I hear those Commies like to hang out down there.

[wantedonvoyage]

But the American Civil War occurred in the magical distant past of back-in-the-day and so therefore doesn't count.

Yes and the brand of history we learn increasingly gives a particular narrative which suits the status quo.

[daria234]

Aw so sweet. Thinking we will grow out of it. Surely you've seen who's running for president here.... *is cynically doubtful that American exceptionalism will ever go away*

Very interesting theory on being outraged by any debate/disagreement coming from the Bush doctrine. That actually makes a lot of sense.

[gonzo21]

Aye, yeah, it is hard not to feel despair that Trump is front-runner. The King Of The Elitist Entitled Billionaire Man Babies. (Which is not to say that I don't also think Sanders and Clinton have some pretty serious problems too.) I mean I totally understand why so many American voters feel completely disenfranchised by their political system, and why there might be appeal to an anti-establishment figure ~like~ Trump. But for it to be Trump himself? Just. Yeah. If folks think Trump is gonna listen to the common man in the streets and improve things for anybody who isn't already a millionaire, they're gonna be fair disappointed I suspect.

I mean it's hard to compare, because the internet pre-2001 was a much smaller world. The mass ranks of the general public were not online the same way they are now. But, yeah, Bush Doctrine.

[mlknchz]

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Romans 8:31

[gonzo21]

That quote always makes me think about the Cather heresy and the seige of Beziers.

And I'll have to google the exact quote here....

Caedite eos. Novit enim Dominus qui sunt eius. "Kill them (all). For the Lord knows those that are His own."

[mlknchz]

Yup..everything old is new again :)

[gonzo21]

Truly, everything is cyclical eh.