Edit: My own solution: when it happens, get off the computer and pet the dog.

So let’s say I make a point on a post. I put forward my argument and I support it with evidence.

Now let’s say the first comment is from someone who disagrees with me, but seems to fundamentally misunderstand what I am saying, probably because they read the title of the post and immediately posted the first thing that came to mind.

But my fear, acquired from Reddit, is that people are going to read this guy’s totally inaccurate presentation of my argument and then every comment in the rest of the discussion will proceed as if that’s what I said.

And since, as we all know, fear leads to hate, my first instinct is just to berate this person for being a stupid moron.

This is a bad strategy. Not only is probably against Lemmy rules, it automatically makes me the bad guy.

So: question: how do I handle this person without tediously restating my position again, which is extremely irritating because I already wrote it once and they didn’t read it the first time. What I want is to say something that quickly quarantines the misreading comment in people’s minds so the misreading doesn’t infect the entire thread.

  • Rivalarrival@lemmy.todayEnglish
    1·
    1 minute ago

    Respond with a couple of emojis. No actual text. Doesn’t particularly matter what emojis you choose, just pick a couple at random. The more obscure the better.

    If they aren’t going to bother reading what you wrote, let them try to find meaning in 🥔🗑️.

  • JigglySackles@lemmy.world
    1·
    4 hours ago

    I try to give them one chance. Sometimes I get pulled in deeper if I’ve got nothing better to do. But on the whole, respond with curiosity first. Then determine of they are worth your time. If not, ignore them and move on, interacting with those more worth your while while eye rolling the idiots.

    Guess the best way is to not care much about what others think of you. Then, eventually, down votes and bad arguments made by morons really just don’t even bother you. Engage with better people, ignore the rest and chuck a down vote.

  • someguy3@lemmy.world
    7·
    7 hours ago

    Realize that what they say about whatever % of people being functionally illiterate is true.

    my fear, acquired from Reddit, is that people are going to read this guy’s totally inaccurate presentation of my argument and then every comment in the rest of the discussion will proceed as if that’s what I said.

    If you really feel the need to, just say “that’s not what I meant, please re-read it. I think it was clear enough that I’m not going to repeat it”. But I doubt the fear that others will agree with him is too real.

  • cRazi_man@europe.pub
    13·
    9 hours ago

    My rule to live by: never engage with comments online. I’ll post a comment, but >99% of the time there is no reason to reply. I’ve said what I wanted. There’s hardly anything to gain from trying to change anyone else’s mind or elaborating further. Someone has to make it abundantly clear that they are responding in good faith to warrant a response. My life has been much better since I started doing this and I would strongly recommend everyone try it out.

  • pelespirit@sh.itjust.works
    31·
    11 hours ago

    Make one clarifying point comment and then move on.

    An example of how to do it:

    You: EVs are better for the environment

    Comment: Why are you saying that China should rule the world?

    You: I’m saying that EV’s are better for the environment no matter who makes them. Last comment.

    An example on how not to do it:

    You: EVs are better for the environment

    Comment: Why are you saying that China should rule the world?

    You: I never said that you asshole. Why are you sticking up for China, you fucking tankie. You’re a troll piece of shit, etc., etc.,

    Comment: You said China is amazing, you obviously want to go down on them

    You: Why are you saying this shit? Etc., etc., etc. blah, blah, blah

          • pelespirit@sh.itjust.works
            6·
            11 hours ago

            It took awhile to get rid of that for me too. I can spot the trolls pretty easily here though, there are about 10 accounts maybe? I sometimes fall for the trap, but it’s getting rarer and rarer. I have found their patterns, but sometimes it takes me a few comments to see that it’s bad faith.

            I think Lemmy/Piefed is so much less addicting, that it doesn’t really matter as much. I guess because the anger is the part that’s addicting and I never realized I was in it until I got away. It’s really strange though, I just quit cold turkey. Which is great, but strange. I’m so glad I did.

  • LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    272·
    11 hours ago

    Step 1. Remember the points don’t matter

    Step 2. Remember it doesn’t matter if these people agree with you.

    Step 3: Why should we even care if they mistook what we were saying

    Step 4. If they agree feel ever so warm inside and justified in thinking what you thought… (Ignore all previous steps)

    • JohnnyEnzyme@piefed.socialEnglish
      2·
      8 hours ago

      In PF one can also add a note to their acct.

      This is useful when a person seems pretty reasonable overall, but has some hangup upon particular issues. Actually it’s incredibly common IMO, starting with myself. 😅

  • Jessica@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
    2·
    8 hours ago

    Everyone at one point is going to get triggered about something that they feel passionate about, and waste time writing paragraphs in replies. Once you recognize you are in that mode, move on. Find some silly cat videos, or fascists getting beat up.

    This is the internet, where the positions are made up, and vote counts literally do not matter, at all.