The Miracle Habits by Mitch Horowitz

Author:Mitch Horowitz
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: G&D Media
Published: 2020-07-14T16:00:00+00:00

I must concede that a lot of what is fleetingly popular online and on social media is steeped in the kinds of cheap language that I am discouraging. But with a price. It may seem harmless to post a snarky comment on social media; but a steady diet of such things numbs us to the anger-inducing properties of perpetual sarcasm and cynicism. Along with this anger comes an absence of empathy and, as alluded earlier, complexity of thought.

Human nature has not changed in the digital era. But the removal of sensory contact and the appearance of anonymity has disinhibited people to let fly their ugliest reactions. I know people personally who display radically different personas online. The online persona is sometimes shallow, curt, and even cruel while in person the individual can be accommodating. I don’t believe that leading that kind of double life is powerful; it leads to underdeveloped personas in both worlds.

The clash between tactile and online worlds can be shattering. If you use obnoxious or confrontational tones online it will eventually explode in your face. People lose jobs and reputations, sometimes unfairly, because of one impertinent or poorly timed comment. A TV host for a news network responded emotionally on Twitter during a political feud. This is common, since politics, like money, is highly emotional. The host used a mild profanity. The network fired him. They were probably looking for an excuse to cut him loose over ratings, and also to offer a sacrificial lamb in case they needed to fire someone from the opposite political polarity. He unintentionally handed it to them. Do not be that person. Many of us mix personal lives, business, and politics online. I do myself. It is a combustible mixture. Treat it with care.

I discourage anonymity online. In certain cases, such as for whistleblowers, anonymity is purposeful and necessary. But in many cases I think it’s a device for consequence-free cruelty. In an age in which online misinformation and trolling abounds, I think that online interlocutors should receive some kind of “blue check” if they use their real, verified names. I suggest that you not only use your real name but also interact only with people who do, at least in matters of politics or other heated issues. And bear in mind: anonymity is an illusion. If someone wants to find out who’s behind a social media account, and they want to badly enough, they usually can.

A good way to start strengthening your speech is to avoid superfluous or gratuitous remarks on social media. I actively use Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and I find them excellent tools for staying in touch with readers and announcing projects. I notice, however, that a lot of people comment or complain unnecessarily on social media about a movie, a political figure, or another person’s post. I am not suggesting that none of this occur. Sometimes it is funny and revealing. But taken past a certain point these things become blather. I sometimes post political comments, which polarize people even when judiciously worded.

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