Mastodawn

I moved to Mastodon.social

Hi, everyone:

No matter what I post, 90% of the comments are filled with rage and cynicism.

To respond, I wrote a series of blog posts here:

https://terikanefield.com/can-democracy-work-in-america-part-1-there-are-no-yankees-here/

The country (and democracy() can survive Trump.

I don't know if democracy can survive the degree of rage and cynicism I see.

I'm afraid that I really don't do much good with my squirt gun up against the firehose of destructiveness.

I am beginning to think . . .

1/

The Misinformation-Outrage Cycle, Part 1: "There are no Yankees here!" - Teri Kanefield

This is Part 1. It’s generally best to follow the advice given to Alice and the White Rabbit in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: “Begin at the beginning, go on to the end, and then stop.” But if you must read out of order, here are all the links: Part 1: There are no Yankees here. […]

Teri Kanefield

I moved to Mastodon.social Nov 17, 2023

. . . I waste my time and energy on social media.

Yes, I know, that there are people who I've been able to help, but I came back to read my comments, here and a few other sites, and really, I feel ill.

One option Is to stop reading my comments, which is too bad because I do like answering questions.

I am not looking for compliments or praise.

I need to figure whether this is worth it.

2/

🍃BluRae🍂🍄Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield I find your posts very interesting and informative. Not a compliment, just a fact.

ryk047 Nov 17, 2023

@BluRae @Teri_Kanefield You're the best legal analyst. It would be a pity if you stopped. That said, I'm not the trolls' target. It's sad you have to suffer from their malice.

pr9000 Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield It legitimately may not be worth it for you. It's definitely worth it for me and a whole bunch of other people ... but take care of yourself first.

🦫💧🐸 🌻🌹Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield to those like myself who follow you...it's worth it.

George Dinwiddie Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield
My advice is to skip the meaningless comments and take heart in the fact that your social media posts do attract people to your long-form posts. From my point of view, they really help.

The Boxing Kangaroo Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield keep posting..we learn from your posts and then we turn around and teach others...don't read the comments..genuine followers and learners will understand ...

Bernard Sheppard Nov 17, 2023

@platypusparent

Agreed - we learn from your posts every time. Please keep posting.

I know you continue to educate by responding to comments - which is why you do - so the only advice I can offer you @Teri_Kanefield is to be wary of engaging with commenters who may be sea-lioning.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sealioning

https://wondermark.com/c/1k62/

Sealioning - Wikipedia

Paul Chernoff Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield I appreciate your postings very much. As a non-lawyer I need to hear from lawyers who have court experience.

No One Special Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield I can tell you right now reading comments is NOT worth it. Especially if you feel ill after doing so. Take care of YOU Teri - you're too important to give up on social media. IMHO anyway. *hugs*

Caryn has moved Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield Please don't give up - I look forward to your posts. Sorry I don't always have the energy to comment, but I read every one and find them valuable.

Brownian_motion Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield Take care of yourself first. I hope that you are able to at least occassionaly help keep us better informed over here. I find your opinions and analysis very useful and informative

beverly_gardner Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield I totally get it. I often feel the same way about social media. I would truly miss your presence here, though, if you decided to leave. I appreciate your voice of sanity. In the meantime I will continue to follow your blog.

PrinceOfDenmark Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield Well, for what it is worth, a lot of us learned a lot from you. Your perspective and your ability to explain complex situations in small numbers of characters helped thousands of people take a breath and think about how to take meaningful action.

One of you is worth 10,000 trolls. We do, frankly, need more of you. There are a lot of trolls.

Shunra Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield
if I may, a quote from the Mishna:

לֹא עָלֶיךָ הַמְּלָאכָה לִגְמֹר,
וְלֹא אַתָּה בֶּן חוֹרִין לִבָּטֵל מִמֶּנָּה.

(Rough translation: it's not up to you to complete the labor, and you are not at liberty to be idle from it.)

The labor in question was studying the legal code of the time, and I think the point of the study was wide-scale implementation - your kind of scholarship, whichever platform you do it on.

A friend who died in February loved the quote, and I repeat it in his memory.

Alan Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield I am sorry to hear this. I have enjoyed reading your posts and have found them interesting and informative. I know that doesn’t help with the problem, but your efforts are appreciated.

@Teri_Kanefield Back when I participated on Twitter, I thought of it as a rage machine. The algorithm constantly pushed blood pressure raising outrages to the fore. Finding your content was a soothing balm to the noise, and I appreciate a non-hyped, fact-informed, *thoughtful* discussion of issues and legalities.

I’m sorry the replies are so disheartening.

Martin Vermeer FCD Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield There are a number of techniques to neutralize the negativity, which is not at all representative of the value proposition of your posts. Blocking being the obvious one. There are more advanced ones... perhaps time to read up.

Julie stitchyMc Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield
The fire hose of rage is designed specifically to silence those that have impact with their insights and are bringing insight to others. You're posts are very valuable.

Elizabeth Loves DEI Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield , I do appreciate your responses to my comments, but I value your posts more. Do what you need to do to protect yourself.

JJHP3 Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield Keep at it. Those of us who greatly appreciate your insight and efforts far out number the dipshits... I just don't write my thanks. I should more often!

Elizabeth Loves DEI Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield, P.S. The choir needs to be preached to. It helps keep us going.

Guitarsophist Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield I like what you are doing. Is this rage on Twitter or Mastodon? I don't see it here.

Mighty Orbot Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield I, for one, enjoy reading your analysis and insights from a legal point of view. It’s something I rarely see in the news or on television anymore.

I don’t blame you if you need to give it up, but I wanted you to know your thoughts were appreciated and respected.

McDyer Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield
Can't speak to whether it's worth it for you, but your knowledge and insight has been very valuable for me. I don't just look forward to your posts, I hope for them.

(Anyone who serves me an order of despair I didn't ask for gets blocked. But that's just me.)

Sharonbw stands with Minnesota Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield
I find your posts very educational. They help me see
+ appreciate all the nuances of what is going on. BUT you need to decide for yourself what is best for you. I don't think any one of us would think less of you for stepping away, but you'd be sorely missed.

twenty3 Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield just want you to know I appreciate the great effort you make. It has helped me tons.

notthatkaren Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield There is a “teacher” in you that is undeniable. Your ability to take convoluted law and break it down to teachable and understandable facts is amazing. It is something this world (and journalism) needs. It’s unfortunate that with social media the loudest voices are the negative ones. I hope you will continue lending your expertise- but it is understandable if it becomes too much. Either way… thank you- you are a powerful sane voice amongst all the insanity.

Esslar2 Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield First comes your own sanity and well-being. But you have been a beacon of calm and thoughtfulness the likes of which rarely appear on anti-social media. I lived with people who went through the Great Depression and World War II (as in they were in combat in that war.) They never lost faith in this country and its ability to rise above the sort of thing we're seeing now. So, I won't either. But we do have to fight, there's no way around that.

Neil Wahab Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield keep at it! I appreciate your thoughts. We share the journey through the horrors around us!

birdpoof Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield

Maybe the negative churn comes from people who don't actually follow you? I hope you will stay, though I don't comment much. I don't know if there are better ways for you to filter the comments left on your threads, though (whatever tools are available on Mastodon/Fediverse).

Tracy Thomas Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield I’m sorry. I enjoy your posts, but never comment.

tjcs Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield please don’t stop posting! You are one of the main reasons why I read Mastodon, and I’ve learned a lot from your posts. When I’ve been tempted by cynicism, your reasoning and explanations are one of the main reasons I resist. Of course, if it’s too much, please take care of yourself first.

zenkat Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield Comments are a horrible medium. It's like trying to debate philosophy in newspeak. Even trying mangles the message.

Have you thought about aggressively blocking anyone who gives you a troll vibe?

ie, If you're here to have a good-faith discussion, you are welcome. If you are coming in bad faith, goodbye.

And you get to be the judge.

I moved to Mastodon.social Nov 17, 2023

@zenkat These are not trolls. They're good people who are caught up in the misinformation-rage cycle.

See: https://terikanefield.com/can-democracy-work-in-america-part-1-there-are-no-yankees-here/

The Misinformation-Outrage Cycle, Part 1: "There are no Yankees here!" - Teri Kanefield

This is Part 1. It’s generally best to follow the advice given to Alice and the White Rabbit in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: “Begin at the beginning, go on to the end, and then stop.” But if you must read out of order, here are all the links: Part 1: There are no Yankees here. […]

Teri Kanefield

Berkubernetus Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield I'm sorry for not making more positive comments! I think one thing you're up against is that your loyal readers mostly just star your posts if we don't have a specific question. Whereas the crazies always have something to say.

I don't know a specific solution to this. Maintaining blocklists (or allowlists) is pretty labor-intensive.

I think, however, you are experiencing exactly how "those who don't play by the rules punch above their weight"

Havyhh2 Nov 17, 2023

@fuzzychef @Teri_Kanefield ...I also think this is the case, in a very big way.

CaseyL Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield

I enjoy, and am informed/educated by, your toots and blogposts.

But if you want to take a break, or even stop posting, in order to preserve your own sanity and joy, then please do so.

It's easy for us to say "Don't let them win!" when we're not the ones being subjected to the abuse and rage.

Just... please let us know what you decide.

Social media is not life.

DcircleF Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield As part of the 10%, please know I consider your posts a voice of reason, education, and intelligence in the sea of bullshit you speak of. So please don’t stop!

Jonathan Barcus Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield Full understand. I'd miss your insight, for sure, but more and more I feel like we'd be better off without social media and we as a species we're better off when EVERYTHING that happens needs a "hot take". So, people are just rewarded for saying outlandish things over and over and no matter how much they get wrong or just blatantly lie about, they just need to manufacture outrage to distract or wait until the next opportunity to say something that'll get them attention.

Jonathan Barcus Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield People that actively engage on social media are penalized or outright punished (I think there's a difference) if they don't respond right away the narrative gets set without them.

I wish more people would ask for context before making judgements about an event.

Spacewizard! (Ed H)Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield Glad you're here, Teri.

Patrick Townsend Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield

You know the old saying, "No good deed goes unpunished!" I would just add my appreciation to that of others. I've learned from you and am changed because of it. Best wishes, whatever you decide.

mask-wearing, socially distant entity Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield I greatly appreciate your insight, but I also understand the need to prioritize your mental health.

If you like the interaction of comments, the only thing I could recommend is copious use of the block button. 💜

Ande Jacobson Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield: It is worth it. Please, don't get discouraged from the naysayers. You provide sane, reasoned information that people need to see to help them understand what's going on.

Charles Herold Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield Maybe you've just got a squirt gun in an inferno, but you do inspire people like me to get out our own squirt guns as well, and if we ever get enough squirt guns going, who knows what would happen?

But is it "worth it?" Damned if I know. But I do believe fighters for reason have a positive effect on the world.

Chris Turnbow Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield

Please be aware that you and a few others - for example, @GottaLaff - are helping me to stay sane.

I absolutely have come to depend on your insights.

Laffy Nov 17, 2023

@cturnbow Many thanks, from both of us. @Teri_Kanefield

ThomasC Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield You are the best. Therefore, I want you to take care of yourself. That said we the people who appreciate you can do more to respond to the rage merchants. By explaining things to them in your calm instructive way, of course. I'm going to try it out and see how long I can last.

June BlueSpruce Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield I can understand your discouragement. And I hope that if you give up on social media, you will still write your blog posts, so we will still have access to your insights. I do want you to know that, first on Twitter & then here, your voice has been really important to my ability to keep my balance amidst the firehose of disinformation and rage-posting. It may not be worth it to you. But your posts are worth a lot to many people. Thank you, and all best to you whatever you decide.

Havyhh2 Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield ...this is pure speculation....but I believe that your posts and blogs and answers to questions have reached and touched far, far more people than you may imagine. I hope you will keep at it, frustrating as it is, because the more wise, informed voices trying to keep reality front and center, the better. Imho.

Tawtovo (ܬܘܬܒܐ)Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield
Your comments have helped me see that US democracy has been in a bad state before, and that the solution is not "good authoritarianism" (or any such oxymoron) but defending the institutions, even if those institutions work slowly (because they work slowly for good reasons). I find your posts so helpful at countering my rage and cynicism that I get a notification every time you post.

Thank you for your educating us!

Some of the infuriating accounts are probably Russian bots.

Ann Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield
I selfishly hope you decide it is worth it, or find a way to make it worth it.
If you don't, I'll be sad and significantly less well informed, but I'll understand and support your decision.

@Teri_Kanefield Please don't stop doing what you are doing. You are making a difference. I read and appreciate and share your blog posts as a beacon of intelligence and sanity.

Kyle Anderson Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield Worth remembering: 90% of any audience will never comment

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1%25_rule

1% rule - Wikipedia

I moved to Mastodon.social Nov 17, 2023

Interesting.

Kyle Anderson Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield Just read the series.

Deep thanks, Teri, for these pieces. They speak so well to the strife (not outrage!) I've been having since 2020, especially as a former mainstream media employee who was engrossed in the cycle for years.

Highly informative and insightful. ❤️

AI6YR Ben Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield Your posts are very much appreciated. Please continue!

WheresWillow Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield your replies are cherished

hannahshouse2 🇺🇸 California Nov 17, 2023

@Teri_Kanefield
I value your input so much! You and @GottaLaff are keeping me sane through all of this