I think someone who rage baits has two outcomes.
- good, they realize what they are doing is just overall dumb and grow out of it
- bad, they fall further into extremism and begin believe the views they are expressing due to support of others who hold those views or easy access to content that is supportive of those views
i’ll also entertain a third outcome which is they just like being an asshole online and don’t fall into extremism but also keep behaving negatively
both instances, hateful ideologies, and behavior that is disruptive to a community like rage baiting, need to be looked at through a lens of treatment and getting someone to understand what is leading them to behave or act this way
i feel strongly that both types of behavior if left unchecked or untreated can and has had real life consequences beyond a screen and keyboard that has cost innocent people their lives
i do not think the average person on the internet is equipped to reach a point of intervention with either types of these people. i will also not entertain the idea that sidestepping their negative behavior or outright hateful views to find common ground will solve anything as it allows that negative behavior, or hateful view to exist, still untreated
i want to see people get help, i want to see them get better and be better people. i just don’t think that is on the average internet user, be it social media or the personal web