I’m going to take a contrarian view for just a moment. There is value in addressing the trolls on social media. The reason there’s value is not because it will convince the troll or their followers of anything. The reason is rather because a lot of people view what’s said on social media, and when a hateful, dishonest, racists, xenophobic, sexist, nationalist remark is made and goes unchallenged, it gives the impression that the comment is acceptable, even correct. There is value in challenging lies and hatred publicly — because social media is not a private conversation, it is public discourse. Having said that, I also believe the value lies in challenging that troll with forceful reason rather than with ad hominem attacks. So challenging the troll is not to feed them but to let others know it’s not okay.
I’m going to take a contrarian view for just a moment. There is value in addressing the trolls on social media. The reason there’s value is not because it will convince the troll or their followers of anything. The reason is rather because a lot of people view what’s said on social media, and when a hateful, dishonest, racists, xenophobic, sexist, nationalist remark is made and goes unchallenged, it gives the impression that the comment is acceptable, even correct. There is value in challenging lies and hatred publicly — because social media is not a private conversation, it is public discourse. Having said that, I also believe the value lies in challenging that troll with forceful reason rather than with ad hominem attacks. So challenging the troll is not to feed them but to let others know it’s not okay.