this post was submitted on 14 Jan 2025
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submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
 

show transcriptagnesmontague posts:
devastating news for the discourse poster: “media literacy” in the modern age includes the ability to identify which posts are bait

agnesmontague replies:
before you go on lamenting the death of media literacy on the post of some guy who may, perhaps, have a financial incentive to get as many eyes on their slop as humanly possible, take a second to assess whether this "literacy" you speak of could apply to you in this very moment, because otherwise, brother, i bear some bad news

agnesmontague replies:
(quoted tumblr tag)
#anybody got pointers for those who don't know the signs of bait? (end quote)
i'm glad someone asked, though unfortunately i don't think there is any set of rules or pointers to abide by; my principle is that if a take is "too hot" (worded in an inflammatory way, way overbroad or generalized, reads offensively) on a platform that rewards engagement (twitter, tiktok, or youtube, mostly, though not confined to those), it's likely bait for the sake of baiting, although to be honest i have never once found it a loss to simply ignore/block any take online that pisses me off regardless of whether i think it is sincere or in good faith. so my rule of thumb is to just not engage, generally

link to the original post:
https://www.tumblr.com/agnesmontague/772674603403345921

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[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 week ago (1 children)

We used to call it flamebait and it has existed for decades.

[–] can 4 points 1 week ago
[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 week ago

90% of news is just entertainment.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Even if something is clearly bait, it still might be worth pushing back against. All internet arguments, bait or not, are principly about the audience, not the person you're responding to. I honestly don't care what someone's motivation is. If someone says bad shit uncontested, people start believing it.

This even applies to someone saying something to troll. If they tell a lie often enough, they tend to internalize it. If you actually want to influence a troll, make them not want to troll there. Give pushback that isn't fun for them to respond to.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 week ago (1 children)

agreed, not falling for bait ≠ not responding. it's still important to recognize it as such however

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

I've found that my best responses both take them at face value, AND make them not want to troll anymore

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 week ago

This one person SHREDS another in an argument

[–] ArbitraryValue 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

My own rule is simple: I should only interact with another person online for as long as I enjoy doing so. Often I have a hard time letting someone else have the last word, especially when I feel insulted, but I'm getting good at it.

It helps to remember that many arguments are actually performances: the other guy isn't really trying to learn anything or even to change your mind. He's acting for an audience of people who already agree with him. When he repeats the things they want to hear, they praise him for owning the libs or something along those lines. There is never anything to be gained by being the patsy for that circle-jerk.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

The bait at the end is truly a masterclass lesson

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

I r8 it 8/8

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

If Tony Zaret has taught me anything, everything is bait and I'm triggered