I wanted to write a thread about Twitter… about how despite being (in many ways) a great space to discuss and share ideas, sometimes it can make us volatile, aggressive and hateful towards each other. 1/

This isn’t about a singular incident, and it isn’t about me. It’s been inspired by a few things I have observed recently, but I want this to be a general reflection on the dark side of the platform. 2/

Also this isn’t another thinkpiece about ‘cancel culture’. It’s not entirely unrelated, but it’s more about how Twitter plugs into some of our drives and unconscious responses, that result in cruelty and pile-ons. 3/

I also want it to be clear that I have been a twitter bully; I have taken part in many many pile-ons, I have subtweeted people who pissed me off. I am part of the problem, but I’m trying to put together experiences from both sides of the fence to see what we can learn. 4/

So let’s start with the danger of the ‘Quote Tweet’ function. It’s definitely a handy way to take someone’s message and re-contextualise it with your own text. It also leads to some very funny comedic moments! 5/

BUT the danger is when you take a single tweet, and then repackage it with your own opinion (particularly a scathing one) and invite others to respond to your anger, NOT the original tweet.
I know I've done this more than I'd like to admit... 6/

The number of times I have seen a Twitter friend quote tweet something in rage, and before fully reading the message I have decided to take their word and jump in. Or at least give it a thumbs up. 7/

The issue is by supporting our friends and not reading the source material we forget that our rage is really being directed at the original person… who may (the operative word being MAY) not always deserve it. 8/

Our ingroup desire to high five our mates over ‘some eejit’’ seems harmless, until you multiply that by a thousand: A thousand little needle pricks delivered directly into a stranger's day via their phone or laptop... 9/

The next thing is the way we can use Twitter to express hugely emotive statements but without any real stakes or investment. Twitter is full of melodramatic hyperbole and it feels so good. 10/

I can write ‘What the actual FUCK?! I can’t believe this! I am FURIOUS!!’ but am I actually angry, or am I performing an emotion that I am not fully feeling?

Do I write things like this and step away to make myself a sandwich whilst whistling the Super Mario theme?

Yes...11/

Sometimes I know I indulge in ‘outrage’ because it makes me feel correct and valid in my ideas. But when others read my emotions as legitimate, and respond with the same level of passion, or worse, escalate it. Well it starts getting kind of crazy! 12/

So let’s ask, are we REALLY angry at the ‘wrong-tweet that is wrong’, has it hurt us, is it damaging, or are we just toasting a marshmallow over someone else’s dumpster fire?

(Not that this is always a bad thing mind you!) 13/

We’re all busy, we don’t have time to fact check everything that comes our way. For that reason I really am going to try and use the quote tweet function and my own melodramatic proclivities more carefully. With great power blah blah blah 14/

Next. Can you think of a time someone has come to you and said ‘You’re wrong’. How did it feel?

Even in moments when you are clearly and objectively wrong, it will take a minute for most humans to cool off, stop being defensive and respond objectively. 15/

Going into a discussion and understanding this will make you less combative. Particularly if the discussion is of a sensitive personal nature. Also, it’s much more likely to help the other person come over to your side. 16/

I can think of a few times I have been super effing wrong on Twitter but I’ve been corrected by someone in a kind and patient manner. Which has allowed me the space to push my ego to one side and admit my mistake. 17/

Now nothing I’ve said here is new. But all of us need to remember that Twitter is designed to make us attack each other; It's algorithm feeds off our interactions good AND bad. So let's not let Twitter think for us. 18/