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"Anonymity on the internet. People can say whatever they want without attaching their name, face and self-pride. This creates extremely unproductive conversations without consequences. Platforms such as Twitter propel this behavior to new heights. When it was local, you'd lose friends for being unpleasant, you'd lose credibility in your community for being inflammatory." [0]

100% agree with the author.

[0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23656750

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The problem is that for most of us, we find some actual truths unpleasant and inflammatory. It's unfortunate that we're not all adept at accepting opposing ideas with more equanimity. But sometimes hearing difficult or poorly conveyed ideas can be helpful and healthy.

Think of how many racists didn't want to hear about social justice and would have gladly used any means possible to ostracize those challenging the status-quo. Some civil-rights activists lives might have been saved had they been able to work anonymously.

We should all be talking about how we can better manage our emotions in the face of trolls and opposing ideas -- rather than how to make all such discomfort disappear from view.

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