Katharine Hayhoe: From the comments I receive (see below for just a small sample from last week), you can see how this could plausibly be the case - many of whom are then shocked and indignant to be blocked.

An essential read from the former research manager of Stanford’s Internet Observatory, on how spreaders of misinformation (people who have been deceived) and disinformation (people who know they’re lying) view even *labelling* a post as misinformation as censorship. More … 🧵

I feel seen. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...

My Encounter With the Fantasy-Industrial Complexwww.theatlantic.com Online conspiracy theorists turned me into “CIA Renee.”

Trolling + misinformation requires an audience: so when rather than responding, I simply block, they also perceive that as censorship. This latest accusation, for example, claims that, as a university professor, I am a public official and hence shouldn’t be allowed to block anyone on social media.

As @jonathanstea.bsky.social points out here, a strong predictor of trolling is the tendency to derive pleasure or enjoyment from being cruel or demeaning to others. By blocking, it deprives them of that pleasure.

The Psychology of Online Trollingmedium.com If you’ve ever been the recipient of persistent online trolling, then you know exactly how discombobulating it can feel. You might start…

From the comments I receive (see below for just a small sample from last week), you can see how this could plausibly be the case - many of whom are then shocked and indignant to be blocked.

This is not just one person’s or one research center’s problem. The World Economic Forum lists Misinfo as their #1 risk to global stability over the next 2 years … and climate-fueled weather extremes (a common misinfo target) as #2. This puts us ALL at risk. /🧵 www.weforum.org/publications...

Adding this relevant perspective on public scholarship: bsky.app/profile/brad...

This kind of argument about schools is a classic sign of authoritarianism. It’s the opposite of how officials who value individual rights and free society should speak about education.

And adding this recent @natureportfolio.bsky.social comment on the threats it poses to democracy worldwide and, importantly, proven steps that can mitigate it. As with climate change, we know what to do: we just aren’t doing it.

Misinformation poses a bigger threat to democracy than you might thinkwww.nature.com In today’s polarized political climate, researchers who combat mistruths have come under attack and been labelled as unelected arbiters of truth. But the fight against misinformation is valid, warrant...

Wow. Saying it out loud. Not even pretending to not be fascist.

This is how I see the heXhole now. It's just mountains of trash from these people, and I block and block, but their algorithm is a pile of racist garbage.

Yeah, you also cannot block from the timeline anymore, you have to go to the profile. It’s sex bots, crypto bros, animal videos, and right wing/russian propaganda on mine. It was fun tho to see how russians thought a submarine and a tugboat in Cuba super scared 🇺🇸

Why do you continue to go there?

Neckbeard Fucknuckle.

It’s the logical outcome of the Garcetti doctrine. Whether academic freedom will best this argument remains to be determined by the courts. All I know is on 1984 Orwell gave the example of the integrator forcing Winston Smith to say 2+2=5 as ultimate authoritarianism. We may get there soon.

Jesus.

Didn’t this guy go to Harvard?

🙄 Well, Ivy. It was Yale, IIRC. Sigh.

There was massive misinfo during the recent flooding in southern Brazil. The govt had to spend considerable resources responding to it in real time. bsky.app/profile/ians...

A study showed there were 4.3 million posts (resulting in 28 million engagements) involving lies and misinformation related to the flooding in southern Brazil. Most posts spread false info about govt rescue operations, climate denialism, & lies about foreign aid. apublica.org/nota/rio-gra...

RS: Inundação foi tema de mentiras 4,3 milhões de vezesapublica.org Estudo mostra que postagens sobre o Rio Grande do Sul tiveram mais de 71 milhões de engajamentos – a maior parte da extrema direita

Excellent and timely example. Thanks for adding.

why did we decide to teach kids stupid test taking strategies instead of reasoning? Uuuuugh I might have to roll up my sleeves and get back into education.

Indeed.

I pause my reading of this thread here to have a belly laugh and thank you for not cropping the first screenshot before the "nudes in bio" bot. *chef's kiss*

Thank you! I thought about cropping it, but decided no, we need the full experience 😂

Let them know the swamp they're wading through. (They won't, of course, but let's at least have our laugh at them not realizing)

Hang in there. You provide a model to all of us to follow.

Interesting that they perceive being blocked as equal to not being allowed to speak at all.

Part of it is because they require opposition to feel justified. The trolling article above is helpful!

Yep. You're taking away their toys, and effectively their raison d'être

it seems there are some that, upon being opposed, feel fear, but may not be aware of their fear, so they lash out with a classic fear response to attempt to regulate their fear, but they do not have your consent.. when you deny them that, you remove their tool for regulating their fear, maybe?

Agree

OK but Roxane seems friendly.

Yes, I sent her a DM and we have struck up a relationship. 😂

Hahahahahahaha

Just shocked! How dare you not even acknowledge their thoughtful comments, let alone block them from future insights. (Sarcasm)

This is horrendous. I m so sorry that you are dealing with this abuse. I have learned so much from your posts.

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