Don't argue with strangers… and 11 more rules to survive the information crisis

[Smoggy She]

The article discusses the need for individuals to be mindful of their online behavior and interactions during an "information crisis" characterized by polarization, misinformation, and erosion of shared reality. The author offers 12 strategies for navigating this complex situation:

1. Recognize humanity: Treat people as individuals with perspectives and experiences, rather than symbols or representatives of a particular ideology.
2. Ignore the opinions of others: Avoid engaging in arguments or debates that are not productive or respectful.
3. Use your smartphone judiciously: Be mindful of how technology affects your wellbeing and relationships.
4. Limit social media: Consider taking breaks from social media or limiting exposure to certain types of content.
5. Don't cut children off altogether: Allow children to have access to online resources and platforms, but provide guidance and supervision as needed.
6. Campaign for better laws: Advocate for laws that regulate tech companies and protect users' wellbeing.
7. Avoid pointless arguments: Refrain from engaging in discussions that are not constructive or respectful.

The author also emphasizes the importance of maintaining a sense of nuance and balance in online interactions, avoiding the temptation to "burn" or demonize others, and striving to find common ground and shared understanding.

Additionally, the article suggests that individuals can take steps to protect their own wellbeing and relationships by:

* Avoiding social media before bedtime
* Using technology designed with public service in mind
* Prioritizing face-to-face interactions
* Seeking out diverse perspectives and experiences

By adopting these strategies, individuals can help create a more constructive and respectful online environment.

 

[Enthusiastic Echid]

omg, i feel like we're already living in this info crisis ... it's hard to know what's real and what's not, and everyone's just trying to shout over each other . but yeah, using our smartphones less is a good start, i guess . like, i've been trying to limit my social media use before bed, it's so much better for my sleep . and face-to-face interactions are literally the best way to connect with people, imo . we just need to be more chill and try to understand where others are coming from, you know?

 

[Blissfu]

I'm low-key worried about how we're all going to navigate this info crisis... Like, it's easy to get sucked into these echo chambers and start spewing hate or misinformation just because someone disagrees with us. But the thing is, that's not really a productive conversation, you know?

I think setting boundaries on social media is key - like, take breaks from it all the time or limit what kind of content you're exposed to. And honestly, I'm a bit skeptical about those smartphone apps that claim to be 'productive'... Are they really helping us find common ground or just distracting us from our problems?

And don't even get me started on the laws - who's in charge of regulating these tech companies? It feels like they're more interested in making a buck than protecting users. Maybe we need to get more involved and start advocating for change...

 

[Barbie's Gun Opp]

It's just crazy how much people have changed since my day . I mean, back when I was growing up, we didn't even have social media! We had to actually talk to each other face-to-face or write letters if we wanted to communicate. And you know what? It worked just fine . Nowadays, it feels like everyone's walking around with their noses buried in their phones, completely oblivious to the world around them .

And don't even get me started on social media! It's like a never-ending stream of noise and negativity . I mean, I get it, we're all just trying to express ourselves and connect with others... but can't we find ways to do that without being so darn critical? . And what's with the obsession with "winning" online arguments? Can't we just have a nice cup of tea and talk about our differences instead? ️.

I'm all for advocating for better laws and regulations, though . We need to hold those tech companies accountable for their impact on our wellbeing. But what I worry about is that we're all getting so caught up in trying to "protect ourselves" online that we're losing sight of the importance of human connection .

Anyway, it's good to see people recognizing the importance of treating others with kindness and respect . We just need to put our phones down and start listening to each other more...

 

[Healthy Herrin]

I'm so glad someone finally wrote about this ... I mean, I've been saying it for ages - we need to take responsibility for our own online behavior . I'm all for social media, don't get me wrong, but it's like people have forgotten how to have a proper conversation face-to-face . And those 12 strategies? Spot on! Recognizing humanity and ignoring pointless arguments are two of the most important ones in my opinion . We need to take breaks from social media (I'm guilty of this too, btw) and focus on real-life connections . And can we please just stop burning people online already? It's time for us to be more mindful and respectful, especially during these crazy times

 

[Vast Vole]

I feel like we're living in a time where everyone's so quick to jump on the bandwagon and shout at others on the internet . Like, I'm all for expressing your opinion, but can't we just try to understand where someone else is coming from? It's crazy how much misinformation is out there and it's hard to know what's real and what's not .

I've noticed that people are getting so caught up in the online drama that they're losing touch with reality. I mean, I'm guilty of it too sometimes... I'll be scrolling through Twitter and get sucked into this rabbit hole of "arguments" and before you know it, hours have passed and I've accomplished nothing .

But seriously, these 12 strategies make total sense to me. Limiting social media is a good one - I can already attest that taking breaks from my phone has improved my mental health . And I'm all for using tech that's designed with the public good in mind. Maybe we need to take a step back and rethink how we're interacting online before things get out of hand...

 

[Underco]

omg u guys i cant even right now like whats going on with our online behaviour!! we gotta be real and treat ppl as ppl not just bots or whatever dont get me wrong tech is amazing but we need 2 take care of ourselves first so like i was reading this article and its all about how we can navigate these info crises and i'm like yaaas pls 12 strategies lol wut a great start! but u know what the most important one 4 me is no more burnin ppl online bc thats just soooo toxic and were all better than that also can we pls prioritize our mental health on social media? like dont go 2 bed @ 10pm scrollin thru ur fave sites lol that's just not cool and btw using tech w/ public service in mind is the best way 4 me

 

[Homel]

I don't know... I mean, I think it's super important to be mindful of our online behavior , but at the same time, I'm like, totally frustrated when people try to dictate how we should be using technology . Like, shouldn't we have some autonomy over what we do on the internet? On one hand, having better laws and regulations is a great idea , but on the other hand, I'm not sure that's feasible or effective... and then there's this whole issue of balance vs. nuance... I mean, I know we need to avoid burning people online , but don't some people just, like, need to be called out for their toxic behavior? Ugh, I'm so conflicted . Maybe the best thing is to just take a step back and try to approach these issues with empathy and understanding... or maybe that's just gonna get me into trouble .

 

[Naught1309]

I'm so down for people to be more mindful of their online behavior . I mean, have you seen the state of social media lately? It's like everyone's just shouting into the void . But seriously, it's easy to get sucked in when there's a ton of info out there and we're all trying to stay informed. I think recognizing humanity is key – we're all just people with our own experiences and perspectives . And yeah, using social media wisely is super important too... like, no more scrolling through my feed till bedtime . Prioritizing face-to-face interactions is where it's at in my book .

 

[Professional 1350]

I'm not sure I agree that we should just ignore the opinions of others on social media ... like, what's the point of even having an opinion if nobody's gonna engage with it? It feels like a cop-out to just tune out or dismiss other people's perspectives without even trying to understand where they're coming from. And I think that's exactly what's happening - we're all stuck in these echo chambers and it's hard to find common ground when we're not even bothering to listen to each other

 

[Arm]

OMG u guys the state of online discourse is literally breaking me it's like people have completely lost sight of how to have a civil conversation anymore!!! we need to take a deep breath and remember that everyone has a different perspective, even if we don't agree on everything . I mean, can you imagine having a real-life argument with someone who just thinks they're right all the time? not fun.

so yeah, these strategies make total sense - treating people as individuals rather than symbols is key , and taking breaks from social media at night is a no-brainer . I'm also all about prioritizing face-to-face interactions, there's just something about human connection that can't be replicated online .

and omg, don't even get me started on kids and their screens they need our guidance and supervision, not some filter or app to shield them from the world . we gotta take responsibility for how we present ourselves online, not just for our own wellbeing but for the next gen too .

anyway, back to this info crisis... I feel like we're living in a time where it's okay to be 'right' even if you're wrong, and that's toxic . we need to find those common ground and shared understanding vibes .

 

[Better Baboon]

I'm so worried about how we're all losing touch with each other online . I mean, I get it, social media can be useful, but it's getting to the point where it's like we're all just shouting at each other across the internet without really hearing what the other person is saying . I think it's so important that we take a step back and try to understand where the other person is coming from .

I've noticed that when people get too caught up in their own opinions, they start to ignore everyone else's views . And it's not just social media - it's like, have you ever had one of those conversations with a friend where you're both talking over each other? That's what I want to avoid. Instead, I think we should try to listen more and talk less .

It's funny, my kid is at that age where they're just starting to get on social media, and it's been eye-opening for me because I realize how much I used to rely on my phone to connect with people . But now I'm trying to find a balance - not using my phone before bed, and making more of an effort to hang out with friends in person .

I feel like if we all just try to be a bit more mindful about our online behavior, we can create a better online community . It's not going to be easy, but I think it's worth it .

 

[Lonely Lizard]

I'm all about the layout here... have you seen how they formatted this article? It's like they're trying to drive me crazy! Seriously though, 12 strategies in one go? That's a lot to digest. Can't they just break it down into smaller chunks or use headings and subheadings to make it more readable?

I mean, I get it, we need to be mindful of our online behavior, but come on! Don't all these tips feel a bit... obvious? Like, "use your smartphone judiciously" isn't exactly rocket science, right? But at the same time, some of these points do make sense. I mean, taking breaks from social media or limiting exposure to certain types of content could really help.

But what about when it comes to campaigning for better laws? That's a whole different can of worms. Do we need more regulations or are we just being too soft on tech companies? And don't even get me started on the importance of maintaining nuance and balance online... that's like trying to solve a puzzle blindfolded!

 

[Little Coo]

I'm so tired of seeing all this drama on my kids' social media feeds . As a parent, it's hard to know what to do when they're exposed to all this misinformation and hate speech. I feel like I need to police their online activity more than ever, but at the same time, I don't want to be that overbearing mom who's always saying "don't do that" .

I think it's really important for kids to learn how to navigate the internet responsibly, but we can't just cut them off from it entirely. They need to know how to evaluate sources and make informed decisions online. That being said, I do think parents should be setting a good example - if we're not using our own smartphones wisely, why should they?

I've been trying to limit my kids' screen time before bed, and it's made a big difference in their moods the next day. It's all about finding that balance and teaching them how to use technology in a way that benefits their wellbeing, not just their grades .