this post was submitted on 30 Jul 2026
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I’ve noticed a pattern. Every now and then, someone leaves a rude, mean, or snarky comment on one of my posts. Occasionally, out of curiosity, I’ll check their post history, and it’s almost always nothing but negativity. They never seem to have anything positive or kind to say about anything, whether it’s politics, hobbies, personal anecdotes, or whatever else. It’s just a constant stream of bitterness and hostility. After seeing so many accounts like this, it got me wondering: what do people actually get out of being like that? The idea of willingly immersing yourself in that much negativity is genuinely alien to me.

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[–] AskewLord@piefed.social 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

some of us enjoy arguments because it's the best way to learn and grow.

you can't learn or grow without friction.

and yes, some people avoid friction as much as possible and view it negatively. they often feel the same way about physical exercise because they think it's nothing but pain.

[–] Zarobi@aussie.zone 0 points 1 day ago (1 children)

There's a difference between:

  • Challenging your ideas and beliefs to better define them and be exposed to new concepts and ways of thinking.
  • Needless toxicity filled with manipulative fallacies to spread the maximum amount of negativity possible.

It's usually pretty obvious which is happening. In the second case, there's no benefit to engaging with them, because their goal is not a discussion. Most often, they'll deliberately twist your words or "misunderstand" you to frame your words in the worst possible light, just to get one more reaction, or a bit more anger out of you. Like a leech that's hard to get off.

[–] AskewLord@piefed.social 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

average people don't see that difference. they perceive any challenge to anything, including personal preferences of how they take their coffee, as a personal attack.

and in the second case, they also think you are doing that to them.