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by stcredzero 3264 days ago
Outrage is a form of cultural pollution?

On the 21st century internet, an alarmingly large portion of it is. Some outrage is justified, clearly. However, the incentive structures online are so extremely skewed in favor of producing outrage, we need a new form of skepticism. I was once outraged by the notion, "Pics, or it didn't happen!" But on reflection, I realized that the new incentive structures made the rewarding of internet fakery far too likely. Young people, realizing this, reacted in a rational way!

As with "pics or it didn't happen" this is going to be hard for many to hear, but there needs to be a more rational approach online. As it is, the lowered bar for producing online commentary and media has meant a general drop in quality, and this extends to commentary and media produced for activism and activism itself.