Thread by @AdamWagner1

I'm only halfway through but this podcast is already one where I'm metaphorically punching the air at most things @jiatolentino says. Very good on why social media amplifies corrosive human tendencies, how not to fall into that dynamic podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the…

@jiatolentino ... excellent on the role of performance on the internet, the importance of being able to go 'back stage' (think that was @ezraklein's point) and the damage it can do when you have no backstage to go to anymore as you on the internet is all of you.

@jiatolentino @ezraklein ... Just getting to a bit where @jiatolentino talking about making a conscious decision not to fire back in certain situations online, i.e. not to step into (very tempting) arguments which entertain spectators, increase attention to you and your opponent but generally are BAD

@jiatolentino @ezraklein ... This is something I have thought a *lot* about. There is such a temptation to step into arguments, to not 'lose face' when someone is being rude about you, and (let's be honest) a tantalising reward on offer of attention and new followers if you entertain a big audience

... and yet. It comes down to what your overall aim is, and how much you're willing to sacrafice to become the person online that the most vocal people seem to want you to be. For me, the long game is more important. How will I look back at my conduct in 5/10/50 years?

... How will my children feel about it when they're old enough to see what I've been up to? It's such a difficult line to draw. I think about this a lot but I'm not much closer to knowing on a situation by situation basis what the right answer is.

... The best I can say is that increasingly I'm aware of the lines I'm absolutely not willing to cross, who I will not promote at any cost, even if it means not responding to things they say about me. Work in progress! Hoping to follow up my @prospect_uk article at some point

prospectmagazine.co.uk/magazine/how-t…