Internet Zealotry Is Not The Way Forward

One of the more puzzling things about social media is the need for folks to loudly pound the table about myriad things. Granted, I realize that me writing a piece like this is only contributing to the cacophonous noise that permeates those spaces. But it is an opportunity to consider something about an aspect of that table pounding.

As I have gotten older, I have come to realize that we each develop our own unique set of interests. Our likes and dislikes are formed by the things we consume (figuratively and literally) and we reach an idea of what is going to bring us pleasure.

It’s not really a radical notion as far as I am concerned; it seems like it should be common sense. We like what we like, and we don’t like what we don’t like. It doesn’t seem like it should be objectionable.

However, with the rise of asynchronous conversation spaces like Twitter, that has taken a turn.

All it takes is making a simple statement of a fact. For example, I might send a tweet that says, “I hate mayonnaise”. It is a basic declarative statement expressing a distaste for a condiment. Nothing more, nothing less.

Within, say, a matter of minutes, it can turn into an all-out assault.

“Have you considered aioli?”

“Have you ever, like, made mayonnaise yourself? The homemade stuff is SOOOO GOOOOOOOD!!!”

“A sandwich isn’t a sandwich without mayo. Fight me!”

The diatribes, the harangues, the rants, the dissertation length defenses of an emulsion of eggs and oil…your notifications go crazy and it becomes a bit overwhelming.

It’s not simply limited to food stuffs, though, as opinions on television shows, movies, music, books are met with a similar cascade of defense from those who feel you have maligned or slighted the thing/person they hold very dear.

(I am leaving sports teams out of this, because that level of fandom is its own circle of hell.)

But seeing it play out at least once a day when online makes me wonder if the very thing that enables these conversations is the very thing that is causing the fervent defenses.

In other words, I wonder if the isolation of social media is causing some of us to become more rabid fans.

As human beings, we have a need for a connection of some kind. As we spend more and more time looking at our devices, I think we shunt ourselves off from more meaningful engagement. One way to try to get some kind of engagement is to seek out those who are of a like mind.

It’s a working theory, obviously, and not fully formed, as it does not sufficiently explain why people become epic rage monsters when you state that you are not interested in something that they happen to like.

I know personally, when I see that someone doesn’t like a band I like, or is not a fan of a show I like, or really loves ranch dressing or mayonnaise or pineapple on pizza, my initial thought is, “If it works for you, great. It’s not my thing, but if it brings you pleasure, have at it.”

I don’t feel the need to fly into a rage or make a sarcastic joke. Now more than ever, given the horrible nature of the world, we need to find what makes us happy. And find others that enjoy the same things we enjoy.

Zealotry is not my game.  I’m not trying to convert atheists into believers.