Kinder, Gentler Politics and social media

I have been involved in a particularly abusive argument on Twitter.  It seemed to involve the creation of fake accounts to harass the other, and it appears that one side has ‘won’ as the other has made their account private.

I use Twitter for several reasons and one of them is to learn about the views others hold and to debate.  Sadly, some engage in abuse.  It can be hard to remember who started what at times, but for those on the left, like me, I think it is important to remember the message from Michelle Obama and Jeremy Corbyn, which is in essence, not to descend into abuse.

Sadly many in the UK have not followed this, as seen with the abuse that people like Rachel Riley and Emma Barnett have experienced.

I do not justify any abuse, but I cannot recall many politicians on the right calling for civil behaviour.  One was John McCain, but after he turned on Trump, I am not sure that many on the right of US politics respect him any more.  But those on the left have called for civility.

Ultimately people are won over by being civil to them, not by being abusive.  And anyone who wishes to change views needs to remember that.