Holy shit... what if #mastodon's so-called "reply guy" problem is actually caused by the lack of quote toots?
If I want to disagree with someone who is an expert in a related field, I would be much better off quote tooting. That's a way to register my informed disagreement for my own followers and branch the conversation to a place where the original author has far less of an obligation to reply; whereas a direct, public reply would be seen more as egging on the OP or (if they're a woman) even "mansplaining".
@freemo I agree, but rather than a binary, I see it as more of a spectrum. I largely fall into the former camp, but there are still some behaviours that I consider to be unacceptable "reply guy" behaviours. Some examples would be (a) replying in a condescending tone to a subject matter expert on the subject they're an expert of; (b) replying to pedantically obsess about a tiny detail of the OP while missing the larger point; (c) replying dismissively of the OP's perspectives and personal experiences just because they conflict with the replier's. Most of these things are just basic manners in any conversational context, but I get why they can, for example, be especially problematic for women online.
But then there's the other side of the coin, the people who complain about easily-solvable problems and then get mad when people suggest those obvious solutions.
We've just got to find the line for ourselves, I suppose.
@freemo Yeah, and the spectrum I described also seems to come with a corresponding sliding definition of what comprises a “reply guy”. 😁
@LouisIngenthron hahah indeed :) Language is weird.
@LouisIngenthron
While there is no doubt a spectrum that can exist, and a few people may exist along the spectrum. I do find the distribution is highly uneven with a strong favoring of either end of the spectrum and with significantly less concentration in the middle.
These, at least to me, have little to do with the “reply guy” behavior… that sjust generally being an asshat and has little to do with you replying and giving an unwelcome opinion… Its like if i give an unwelcome opinion while punching you in the face… For example a, its not that they disagree with an expert, its that they are condescending, which is rude regardless if someone is an expert. (b) isnt because your pedantic in your reply so much as the fact that you are completely missing the point. A small detail that may not address the point but also doesnt miss it would be perfectly find (c) has less to do with dismissing a persons conclusion and more to do with the casual illogical way in which it is done only due to disagreeing, etc
To me reply guy isnt “A person replying who is genuinely and objectively rude by any measure”.. a reply guy is someone who “there is nothing wrong with your reply, but it is not the narrative I want told on my feed”