While it’s understandable to want to limit exposure to negativity online, labeling fellow community members as “idiots” for choosing a different approach undermines the shared goal of building spaces where people feel safe and heard.
Engaging with trolls isn’t always about giving them “oxygen” - sometimes, it's about correcting harmful misinformation, supporting vulnerable users, or modeling civil discourse. People have different thresholds for tolerance, and for some, silence feels like complicity. Their responses may be motivated by a desire to uphold community values rather than to entertain or provoke.
Additionally, blanket-muting those who respond can create an artificial sense of peace at the cost of missing vital context or turning a blind eye to important pushback. Not all engagement is equal; and lumping all responders into one category risks silencing the very voices that keep online spaces constructive and inclusive.
Reducing the number of posts one sees is a valid form of digital self-care. But fostering resilient and inclusive online environments often requires more than silence; it requires discernment, and sometimes the courage to speak up.
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