Read on Twitter
For me to say nothing directly about what happened on film twitter yesterday isn't sitting well, so this is me, emptying my skull:
What I saw unfold was relational aggression, a form of psychological harassment. And all it stemmed from was one woman filmmaker defending other people's right not to enjoy old movies. That's it. Read that back. Seriously. That's all it was.
What it became, though? Personal attacks directed at the source, not the disagreement. Vicious, mocking, and targeted tweets and public high-fiving. And facing squarely at the writers and critics who fuelled it, it was a dogpile, unmistakably and inexcusably so.
Twitter has made us ruder and taught us to look for chances to target and dunk on people for likes. We all know this, and many of us have been down its rabbit hole at some point, myself included. But to get out of that hole, you have to realise you're in it.
Though unsurprised, I'm sad to learn that @mangiotto is taking a Twitter break in the fallout of this.
Amongst his last tweets are these, whose sentiment I share. Going back to my initial comment on relational aggression and why I made it, they're relevant:
Amongst his last tweets are these, whose sentiment I share. Going back to my initial comment on relational aggression and why I made it, they're relevant:
A study from the University of Minnesota showed that women are more likely to use relational aggression as a form of violence than men, who are usually more openly aggressive, physically too.
Relational aggression can look like gossip, ostracising, backstabbing, sabotaging, misrepresenting others, spreading rumours. And the intent is to damage the relationships and social status of others.
For those who become targets of relational aggression, there can be negative long-term effects on their relationships, identity and self-worth.
Offline, RA is often subtle, quiet, behind closed doors, goes undetected. On Twitter, though, there are no closed doors. So when there's relational aggression here, we can see the malice, the intent to humiliate. It's brutal.
In this instance, I even saw the target ridiculed for her use of a twitter blockchain, one of few ways, maybe the only way she can set a boundary for herself here and make it a usable experience, less she leaves the place for good. How is that right?
On or offline, bullying is what it is, and the bystander effect is real here too.
We can't single-handedly change our online communities, but we can be better aware of our individual contributions to them and our relationship with them.
So, the next time you see the start of a dogpile on film twitter - which will inevitably happen sometime, with a new target and aggressors - catch yourself a second, and remember there are healthier places to find dopamine and serotonin than likes and RTs on this site.
For those unfamiliar with @mangiotto, he is one of the greatest film critics of our time. Intelligent, empathetic, generous. To read his work and listen to him speak is a gift, an education. Should his break become permanent, we'll all be poorer for it.
