On another note, I haven’t been commenting on some of the people taking cheap shots at colleagues. They do it for attention and smart and decent people know it. the trash people in our industry identify themselves. Just one tip: DON’T EVER CLICK on their garbage. Starve them.

Even if you really want to read some of it, just to verify to yourself that they are indeed, sad, desperate people with nonsensical takes and needless personal attacks, DON’T EVER CLICK on it. You already can predict what’s there.

If you just HAVE to know what racist, sexist or misogynistic theme they advanced, just read the comments. Other sad people telling them they “owned” or “dunked on” someone will give you the gist of what was in the article. But DON’T EVER CLICK on them. You’ll be glad you didn’t.

Disagreeing with them, or arguing with them, or insulting them does not help. INTERACTION, positive OR negative is CURRENCY online. And negativity prompts greater viral reaction. THAT’S WHY THEY DO IT. You can peruse the feeds, but DON’T EVER CLICK on articles or ads.

I will be honest: it took me a while to learn to discipline myself in this way. I see something terrible here and think “I must respond. This is terrible.” But interactions are MEASURABLE, and that means more than the best clapback. So always remember: DON’T EVER CLICK on trash.

The shock factor comes into play as people get more desperate. They want you to click because you can’t believe anyone would write or say such trash things. How could anyone be so shameless? Just trust and believe they are shameless, mostly for effect. So DON’T EVER CLICK. Fin.