Self-Righteous Echo Chambers
Over the past few months, I’ve made it a point to comment on a variety of Medium posts. I did it as a test of the community. I’ve commented on posts with which I agree, on posts where I had a bit to add, and on posts where I disagreed and had a separate point to make. I have never trolled any writer, nor have I made any remarks that could be considered disparaging to a particular individual. I have found that, while comments in which I agree with a poster are always published, comments in which I challenge a poster’s point of view with my own are almost never published. If Medium is just a place to find one’s own echo-chamber … what’s the point? I’m not asking for antagonistic protests of posts and counter-posts, but intelligent discussion by intelligent people who may see things differently from each other.
When I put my thoughts and opinions online, it is because I want to share and discuss them. While I do not welcome trolls or personal insults, I absolutely want to hear from individuals who have contrary points of view. I want to learn from them. It’s not that my opinion will change as a result, but it might and the least that will happen is that I will end up with a greater understanding and broader perspective on the issue.
This post is short, but it is a promise that if you comment on any post I have I will publish that comment regardless of whether or not I agree with it. The only comments I will not publish are spam, trolling, and personal insults. Everything else be a part of our discussion and viewable to everyone. I hope that others will do the same.
