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a 16yo former MAGA kid actually DM'd me after that thread and we are having quite a wholesome time TIL I am a dinosaur 🦕 https://t.co/aUjBzWg1KQ
here's a thing that I believe to be true, and has worked pretty consistently well in my experience if you want to talk someone down from being an asshole, don't say "stop being an asshole you fucking asshole" instead, show them how to be a nourishing kindperson works better
ofc not always, and it's definitely not always easy, especially if you're the one on the receiving end of the torment. not fair to demand that ppl being abused be kind to their abusers. but if you have the time & headspace, and you can suss out whether the person is receptive...
notice that when they said "what should I do", I didn't say "time to get woke, kid!!! educate yourself!!!", I asked them what *they* are into I call this the Marilyn Manson method IMO it's consistently the more interesting approach people will surprise you, you'll learn stuff https://t.co/L4hQmOE6p3
actually, generally, *whenever* someone asks you "what should I do", or "what do you think" – the most hilariously effective trick is "I have some thoughts, but first, what do YOU think?" ~80% of the time they already know the answer they're hoping to hear (break up with him sis)
Ben Horowitz, on Andy Grove never waste a learning opportunity https://t.co/bbZkZ8VMAp
(feeling a bit self-conscious for talking so much about how I'm talking — but I know that I'm objectively good at this, and have learned a whole bunch of things from extremely painful and intense trial-and-error over the years. this should be helpful to at least one other person)
I feel like that’s kind of what seems to be happening here. Most people won’t make a dramatic turn-around on the spot. The kid’s probably still wearing his MAGA hat and hanging out with his idiot MAGA friends. But I don’t think he’ll be forgeting the protester anytime soon
(I personally believe I should) never waste a teaching opportunity https://t.co/vC4JImXCBG
This thread has a general theme of “talk to people and always make space for them and be kind” etc Counterpoint: sometimes you can’t. Sometimes people will abuse this. I’ve blocked people before, usually for making my mentions hostile. It’s complicated https://t.co/d6BdLXYfZe
I’ve blocked about 12 followers out of 8,000+ in 10 years on Twitter. Not counting bots or comically malicious people, but real people who were following me and even said nice and supportive things to/about me. It’s never a pleasant or fun thing to do and I think about it *a lot* https://t.co/MlQRpXIGJ4
“Belonging is an essential human need. (Fascists understand this basic fact; neoliberals don’t.)” https://t.co/1NvyKPgoXd