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Holly Elmore Just f**king block people online I drafted this in 2021 and just fucking blocking people has only worked better and better for me with time. I used to be really into not having an echo chamber, so I wouldn’t block anyone and I would spend a lot of (admittedly, fun, at the time) time investigating the beliefs of hostile people. But that strategy didn’t really work to create a balanced sample of views, backgrounds, and personalities. I think I had more thought diversity in my feed than if I had just picked people to conform to my biases, and I learned a lot about the fears and grievances of niche groups, but it also disproportionately increased my engagement with agitated people with fringe beliefs.

Just f**king block people

Holly Elmore

November 14, 2023

Abstract

I drafted this in 2021 and just fucking blocking people has only worked better and better for me with time. I used to be really into not having an echo chamber, so I wouldn’t block anyone and I would spend a lot of (admittedly, fun, at the time) time investigating the beliefs of hostile people. But that strategy didn’t really work to create a balanced sample of views, backgrounds, and personalities. I think I had more thought diversity in my feed than if I had just picked people to conform to my biases, and I learned a lot about the fears and grievances of niche groups, but it also disproportionately increased my engagement with agitated people with fringe beliefs.

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