Power Play

Don’t quote me

The Travelling Quack (detail), by Tom Merry, 1889 (Wellcome Collection - CC BY 4.0)

“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” — Robert Ingersoll, 1883

I’ve noticed a tendency, particularly among those with large followings online, to turn what should be a conversation into performative abuse.

Let me explain.

One of the characteristics of social media — whether you’re on Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, discussion forums, or even YouTube (the comments there are rarely worth engaging with) — is the ability to leave a comment as part of the flow of conversation.

In other words, you can reply.

And in leaving replies, those beget more replies. Lather, rinse, repeat. And on we go.

But there’s this tendency I’ve noticed that irks me.

When I reply to a tweet (yes, this happens mainly on Twitter, and no, I will not be calling it ‘X’) and the person decides not to reply directly to me below my tweet, but instead quote-tweets me.

This Twitter quote-twee…