Rantz: Ironic that some #EnoughSeattle activists are trolls themselves

Several active Twitters users got together last week to complain about how they get bullied online; unfortunately, too many of the folks complaining of bad treatment are the ones who engage in some of the most destructive and uncivil tweets.

The Seattle Women’s Commission hosted a panel discussion that tackled sexism and online harassment. It was called “Enough” and was accompanied on Twitter with #EnoughSeattle.

Rantz: Seattle council member smacks down colleague’s anti-cop position

Many of the stories are pretty deplorable. I’ve seen disturbing sexist tweets. I’m a weekly recipient of virulently anti-Semitic tweets. It can be hurtful and frightening. I’m glad they hosted the panel and I hope we can all take part in future conversations about online rhetoric.

But I watched on my Twitter feed as some folks pushed #EnoughSeattle and felt little sympathy for some of the purported victims. I noticed they are the ones who tweet out some nasty, vulgar personal insults to their perceived political enemies. Many of the complainers tweet mean-spirited insults, then they get hit with equally mean-spirited comments. But only they’re the victims? The only difference is the respondents go after them for being women. Some of the attacks are incredibly nasty and sexist; they should absolutely stop. But some of the people pushing the #EnoughSeattle message are trolls who attack people personally and almost daily. How are they any better?

I suppose the difference is those women complaining don’t go after people for their gender or race; they go after them because they think about things differently. But they’re just as insulting and mean. Does that make it any better? They could engage with people who disagree in a civil way. Instead, too many will lob vulgar names insults at their opposition, but I guess that’s OK because they think they’re in the right?

I get hit with anti-Semitic stuff all the time. Something tells me the #EnoughSeattle folks aren’t going to come to my defense because they don’t like my politics. And that’s what this is really about – politics.

They’ve all poisoned the well of conversation so I find it difficult to care that some of these trolls get hit with insults because they are doing the exact same thing.

If you want to help foster an online community of civil, healthy dialogue, well, you’ve got to actually be part of that. You can’t call someone vulgarities or demean people simply because they disagree with you, then complain someone went after you with a sexist taunt.

If you’re part of the problem, you don’t get to claim innocent victimhood. Sorry.

Follow @https://twitter.com/jasonrantz