teddit

thought-provoking piece via @shantmm on how social media rewards performance over virtue, fueling a "crisis of masculinity".

the author posits that w/o physical presence, conflict loses its bonding potential and devolves into emotional posturing: gossip, exclusion, purity spirals (behavior more common to women vs men).

online, men are incentivized to escalate for engagement rather than resolve for respect. traditional masculine virtues of restraint, honor, and accountability don’t go viral; instead, men perform identities instead of building character and learning how to connect w/ each other (and w/ women).

he writes, "the capacity to cultivate virtues is part of what makes us human. online interactions disrupt those capacities."

they *can* disrupt, but not always: @keccers.eth and i (both women) squabble online all the time, but she is my ride-or-die. i'd go to war with her. our online tension has made our bond stronger, not weaker.

think this piece gives more credit to the algo than it deserves.