Filtering Toxic Content: Is it helpful?
You don’t have to — and shouldn’t — listen to everything
You can cast this net pretty broadly and still filter out a ton of content. But, how do you know what might be helpful? Here are some points to consider.
The topic
If you can’t tell what the topic is from the headline, subtitle, excerpt, and graphic that’s a red flag. Most content will give you an idea what it’s about with those four indicators. Beyond that, you are likely dealing with bait, and you are the prey, feeding the ad-tracking angler hiding in the internet shadows.
Look for topics you need or want more information about. It doesn’t have to be justifiably important — you may enjoy murky science facts or movie trivia or the latest foodie wisdom, but if sports never cross your mental horizon, then why would you go down that rabbit trail? If there’s murder involved and you find crime interesting, that’s a different reason.
If something pops up out of the realm of your interest that you can’t seem to resist, restrain yourself and consider a few more factors.
The tone
Is it mocking? This attitude is so pervasive these days, especially in political discussions, that I wonder if we need remedial training in handling it. It’s toxic with a capital “T”. Using mockery is a high-school form of manipulation and if the content you are consuming is flavored with it, you could hit toxic levels really fast, especially if you are already overwhelmed by the same message from other sources.
Mockery does not increase the validity of the argument. It doesn’t provide supporting facts. It takes a posture where the writer is sneering down their nose at any reader who hesitates to shout “Hear! Hear!” to whatever is being touted. It makes the reader feel put down and discredited if they have a position that is even slightly different. It scorns even the idea that its views should be tested.
Mockery sees no need to support its opinions because it assumes it is already the most valid position on the field. Don’t fall into the mistake of reading mocking content you agree with and convincing yourself that the more you read, the more valid and supported the position — regardless of the topic.
Mockery is quicksand. You can’t build anything on it, and it isn’t helpful.
Other tones to watch for include condescension, where the writer talks down to the reader and makes them feel stupid; fluff, where there’s a frustrating lack of content and lots of buzz words; and confusion, where the contortions of words and sentences make it difficult to follow the idea. You can probably think of others.
The impact
This is probably the most important factor to consider, and once you’ve consumed a few unhelpful articles, podcasts, or shows that fall in this category, you should be able to recognize them before having to suffer the indigestion they cause.
The impact of the media you ingest could be helpful in a number of ways:
— If it is informative, equipping you in some way that you value
— If it encourages you in steps you are taking or plans you are making
— If it opens new avenues for you
— If it gives you hope when you’ve had some setbacks
You get the idea. Content of value has… value. Forgive me for that lame observation, but I am confident that you can tell and improve your skill at telling what has value to you.
Content that has a negative impact does things like:
— Fill you with discouragement
— Reinforce negative ideas that paralyze you
— Spread hopelessness not just about yourself but the world around you
— Make you doubt your own discernment
— Awaken pain or confusion about things you had already put to rest
And so on. I’m sure you could add to that list as well.
Content that defeats you, tears you down, discredits you in your own mind, mocks you, hurts you, confuses you — is NOT helpful. It doesn’t matter what it includes that may be true. Its impact is not true!
Why? Because you are an individual who matters and has value. You can learn and grow in the areas where you need it, and no one should make you feel otherwise.
When considering whether something is helpful or not, ask yourself:
1. Is this topic important or interesting to me in some way?
2. What tone does the author take and should I allow that into my head?
3. What impact does it have on me?
The world is filled with a cacophony of noisy voices yelling at us all the time.
Filter that mess and choose what you listen to.
Suzanne Hagelin
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