Christoph MergersonBlack people have built communities on Twitter that are unlike any other in the technological world. Those communities are not easily replicated elsewhere. An analogy is when people criticized New Orleanians who rebuilt in the city after the devastation of Katrina, even though it was palpably risky to do so. But none of the critics sufficiently explained how those people should transfer their social capital and communities to unfamiliar places that may not even want them. 1/2
Twitter, for many people, is not an addiction per se, any more than your desire to wake up, go out into your community, and see friendly faces who support you in a difficult world is an addiction. I understand why some people stay, move slowly, or keep a presence in both worlds. It’s not a character defect. 2/2
“I question people who exist in suboptimal tech spaces for complicated reasons they don’t even fully control” feels a little too punk rock for me this morning. Let’s put on some albums that increase the peace.
Chanders@mergerson this is the problem with the chronological timeline Christoph, it’s already after 3pm here and I’m ready to unfairly judge the shit out of everyone 😉
@Chanders Insert friendly but firm 9 a.m. Eastern slander here.
@mergerson I can fairly say that everyone on the I-95 corridor feels this way about everything.
Mike Miller, PhD@Chanders @mergerson I mean, minus the friendly part.
@mlmillerphd @Chanders Do you not feel loved in the City of Brotherly Love?
@mergerson @Chanders I had in mind the NYC to Boston section of the Northeast Corridor. I do actually feel that Philly people are quite friendly...unless you put them in a sporting venue.
Nisa (she/her) 
@mlmillerphd @mergerson @Chanders As a Mets fan who’s gone to game against the Phillies. Can confirm 😆
anlomedad@Chanders @mergerson @mlmillerphd @nisadani
people in general are kind or at least, telling themselves they're trying to be kind.
It's the competitiveness that kills kindness.
And which software platforms and algorithms foster competitveness?
Maybe c. can't be removed from the species. But one should be wary of any process or venue that feeds on this destructive character trait.