You can always tell when prolonged exposure to social media has critically damaged a portion of someone's soul by the fact that when they make any statement online there is also an addendum addressing what they know the inevitable misreading or crappy response to that statement will be

"I really like waffles. But if you don't that's fine! And also pancakes are good too - l, look, just JFC let me enjoy waffles, okay, what is morally wrong with that - wait, you know what, don't even tell me, I'm so sorry I asked, please forget I said anything and that I even exist. I'm so sorry. I don't even know why but I'm sorry. Fuck waffles. Or not. I don't even know any more."

- Anyone who gets a moderate amount of interaction with their posts online

@AbandonedAmerica That's completely justified.

I do wonder how much is due to terrifying lack of critical reading and interpretive skills: ppl are able to understand the written word but lack the ability to understand that anything isn't made either as a statement of fact or as a persona attack, and so interpret it and respond that way.

OTOH, some ppl are performative assholes, frequently b/c that's the only way they can get a response at all.

@AbandonedAmerica And I note that kind of thing is usually directed at other people on the same side of the cultural spectrum - I suspect b/c the other side simply ignores any opposition, so feeling like you can punch and *someone* will feel it is better than nothing.
@Hasufin excellent point. It hurts more if you attack someone who cares
@AbandonedAmerica Yes, that's it exactly. Much more succinct than I was expressing it.
@Hasufin ah, we worked on it together. I was just seeing what you said and understanding it 😊