Podcast Summary
Exploring Compassion and Open-Mindedness with Dylan Marron: Through engaging with Internet haters, Dylan Marron learned the importance of empathy and understanding, inspiring us to break free from negative online environments and contribute to a more compassionate digital world.
We have the power to break free from the negative and polarized online environment and choose compassion and open-mindedness instead. Dylan Marron, a modern-day Mister Rogers for the digital age, shares his experiences of engaging with Internet haters through his podcast, "Conversations with People Who Hate Me." In 2015, Marron gained international attention for his video series, "Every Single Word," which highlighted racial representation in films. With newfound fame came hate, and Marron found himself clicking on the profile pictures of his haters out of curiosity. Through these conversations, Marron learned valuable lessons about empathy and understanding. The Center for Humane Technology's Humane Innovation Lead role, currently open for applications, aims to support the emerging humane technology ecosystem and transform the online space into a more compassionate and open-minded environment. By stepping out of the game of outrage and hate, we can make a difference and rediscover our true selves in the digital world.
Unexpected human connection through online hate: Online negativity can lead to unexpected human connections, but the overwhelming nature of it requires better tools and resources to process and respond.
Social media platforms can often create a sense of distance between users, leading individuals to construct fictional backstories and seek human connection in unexpected ways. This was the experience of a content creator who, after receiving hate messages, found himself on the phone with one of his haters. Initially, he coped by making fun of the messages in his comedy routine, but when one of the haters reached out, he accepted the invitation for a conversation. This unexpected connection led him to question how many other people might be willing to engage in similar conversations, despite the initial negativity. The experience also highlighted the overwhelming nature of online negativity and the need for better tools and resources to help individuals process and respond to it.
Connecting with those who have caused harm can lead to understanding and transformation: Connecting with people who have caused harm or negativity can help reduce fear and transform them from distant others into reachable individuals through open and empathetic communication
Connecting with people, even those who have caused harm or negativity, can help reduce fear and transform them from distant others into reachable individuals. Dylan, in the podcast "Conversations with People Who Hate Me," shared an experience where he left a positive review for someone, Josh, who was believed to have threatened him. Josh, who had seen Dylan's videos making fun of his typos, reached out to Dylan for a call, and the conversation led to a deeper understanding of each other's experiences. Dylan shared that the conversation felt like a bridge that wasn't on any maps and felt hopeful, leading him to share it with a wider audience. Both Dylan and Josh had faced bullying in high school, and their conversation provided a flavor of their shared experiences. By connecting with Josh, Dylan was able to address the negativity and look the fear in the face, making the other person no longer a distant other but a reachable person.
The Internet as a mirror of society and the cycle of negativity: Recognize that online negativity isn't always caused by 'hurt people hurting people.' The gamification and ease of expression online can also contribute to the cycle. Seek understanding and empathy in digital interactions, expanding our definition of common ground.
The Internet can serve as a mirror of society, amplifying the hurt and negativity that exists offline. However, not all online negativity can be attributed to "hurt people hurting people." The gamification of online spaces and the ease of expression can also contribute to the cycle of negativity. It's essential to recognize that awareness brings the opportunity for choice and that common ground is not always necessary for connection. Instead, we need to expand our definition of common ground and strive to find understanding and empathy in our digital interactions.
Focusing on common ground and shared curiosity can lead to profound connections.: Emphasizing shared experiences and curiosity can bridge gaps and transform platforms into spaces for healthy interactions.
Curiosity and shared experiences can bridge the gaps between people, even without agreement on certain topics. The speaker believes that focusing on common ground and shared curiosity can lead to profound connections, rather than seeking out communities based on shared hate. The example of the compassion team at Facebook, which used nonviolent communication principles to help resolve conflicts, illustrates the potential for technology to facilitate positive interactions. The ultimate goal is to transform platforms like Twitter from "fault line for profit machines" into "bridge for profit machines," where common ground is highlighted and conflicts are resolved, making the platforms more conducive to healthy and meaningful interactions.
Limiting the spread of harmful content online: Awareness and limiting the number of engagements can prevent pile-ons and reduce the spread of harmful content online. Social media platforms could implement systems to show users how many others have engaged with a post or conversation, and creators should consider the potential impact of their work going viral.
Awareness and limiting the spread of information can help prevent pile-ons and reduce the spread of harmful content online. The example given was the Chelsea Piers golf range in New York City, where golfers are isolated in their own pods and unaware of how many others are golfing around them. Similarly, on social media, people often join pile-ons without realizing the extent of the conversation or the harm it may cause. A potential solution could be implementing a system to show users how many others have engaged with a post or conversation, helping to prevent pile-ons and promote more thoughtful engagement. Another example given was the discovery by Facebook's integrity team that limiting the number of reshares to two could significantly reduce the spread of disinformation and hateful content. For creators, this means considering the potential impact of their work going viral and the importance of promoting thoughtful engagement and limiting the spread of harmful content.
The danger of oversimplifying complex stories: Social media can lead to misunderstandings and shaming, often due to the overwhelming amount of information and pressure to belong. It's important to take the time to understand the full context before engaging in shaming cultures and to practice empathy towards those targeted.
The sharing of information, especially in the age of social media, can lead to misunderstandings, hate, and shaming, often without a full understanding of the situation. This can result in people being piled on for not being the "right" version of a like-minded person, which can be more threatening than hate based on differences. It's important to remember that the people engaging in these behaviors may not be doing so out of malice, but rather due to the overwhelming amount of information and the pressure to belong. However, this can lead to a dangerous loss of nuance and complexity in the stories we engage with, and it's crucial to take the time to understand the full context before jumping to conclusions or participating in shaming cultures. Empathy towards those who may be the targets of these cultures is essential, as the stories are often much more complicated than they appear at first glance.
Trauma Inflation and Empathy Deflation: Constant exposure to online traumatic content leads to sensitivity to certain triggers and less empathy for others, causing a fragmented global psychosis. Bridging the divide requires bringing people into conversations and understanding/validating each other's experiences.
The constant exposure to traumatic content online, unique to each individual, leads to a phenomenon known as "trauma inflation" and "empathy deflation." This means that society is becoming more sensitive to certain triggers while having less empathy for those who have experienced different traumas. As a result, we end up in a fragmented global psychosis where different realities clash, leading to further offense and mistrust. To combat this, it's crucial to bring people into conversations with each other, as empathy is a natural byproduct of such interactions. The only way to scale this up is through more conversations and creating opportunities for diverse perspectives to come together. This may seem like a simple solution, but it's essential to recognize the importance of understanding and validating each other's experiences to bridge the divide and build a more empathetic society.
The Importance of Empathy in Online Interactions: Empathy is crucial in online interactions, creating interfaces that deepen connections, allowing people to define themselves, and practicing empathy even when challenging.
Technology can sometimes create a disconnect between people, but it's essential to remember that there's a human on the other side of the screen. Empathy is crucial in online interactions, even when we disagree. The more opportunities we have to connect with each other through technology, the better. However, there's a need for more choices on the menu, such as a "why" option when responding to messages. Designers and technologists should focus on creating interfaces that deepen connections and empower users to engage in meaningful conversations. Additionally, allowing people to define themselves on their own terms can be a powerful tool for disarming potential conflicts. Empathy is not endorsement, and it's essential to practice it in our online interactions, even when it's challenging. By fostering human connections through technology, we can create a more empathetic and understanding world.
Empathy as a tool for connecting with people: Empathy acknowledges humanity, doesn't endorse harmful ideologies, focuses on listening and understanding, requires patience and persistence, and can lead to less intimidating conversations.
Learning from Dylan Marron's conversation is that empathy is a powerful tool for connecting with people, even those who hold opposing views. Empathy does not mean endorsing harmful ideologies, but rather acknowledging someone's humanity. Marron encourages avoiding debate and instead focusing on listening and understanding. He also emphasizes that change is a slow process and requires patience and persistence. Additionally, Marron shares his observation that many people are hesitant to engage in conversation due to fear and discomfort, but the experience can be less intimidating than expected. Overall, Marron's message is one of hope and the importance of human connection, even in the face of disagreement and difference.
Lead donors' support: Generous contributions from Omidyar Network, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, and the Evolve Foundation have enabled significant impact and progress towards goals.
The success of our project would not have been possible without the generous support of our lead donors, such as the Omidyar Network, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, and the Evolve Foundation, and the unwavering attention of our audience. These contributions have enabled us to make a significant impact and move closer to achieving our goals. We are deeply grateful for their belief in our mission and their commitment to our cause. Additionally, we would like to express our gratitude to everyone who has taken the time to learn about our project and engage with us. Your support, whether through donations or attention, is essential to our continued progress. Together, we can make a difference.
