[grazhero99]

I could be wrong, but lately I've been taking the approach that as long as I state my beliefs with as much reasonability and clarity as I can possibly muster, and am willing to admit when I'm wrong, I'll ultimately be vindicated if a groupthinking hate mod were to target me.

The intense fervor that fuels those mobs can't last forever. I've seen this play out many times on the internet, and it seems a common thread is that the targeted person in these situations is often unable to keep it together while under the intense stress, and ends up making the situation way worse for themselves.

Learning how to stay level headed and when not to engage will take you a long way.

[welcome_dragon]

Sadly, I disagree about being ultimately vindicated. Or, more exactly, I would say "so what"?". As in, you say something that pushes someone's buttons and you get called out on it. Maybe you don't make the "news" but enough people hear about it. Your employer fires you because otherwise they are considered to be supporting you.

Eventually, you're vindicated but the damage has been done.

Personally, I think everyone needs to take a step back and have a conversation first. I mean people do learn from their past mistakes, people grow, people change. The idea that my life can be flipped upside down because of something I posted on a BBS when I was in high school (yes, I'm old) is insane.

[account42]

Sure, you can tell people who are being harrassed and bullied to just suck it up and turn the other cheek lest they want to be condemned for punching back. Some people might even be able to do that without permanent harm. That doesn't make the mob OK. It doesn't mean that living with the prospect of having to endure that won't have a chilling effect.

[grazhero99]

I'm not defending the mob. I'm just trying to make the best I can of this shitty situation we all have to deal with.