Pod Save America Offline: Roxane Gay on Why People Are So Awful Online
Feb 6, 2022
Roxane Gay, a New York Times bestselling author and cultural critic, joins for a thought-provoking discussion on the dark side of online interactions. She shares her decision to step back from Twitter, exploring how accountability has morphed into a toxic landscape. The conversation dives into the roots of online nastiness and the role of political figures in fueling negativity. Gay reflects on collective trauma from COVID-19 and the importance of empathy, while advocating for more positive, nuanced dialogues amid the chaos of social media.
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Early Twitter Days
- Roxane Gay joined Twitter in 2007 while in graduate school.
- It provided a sense of community and connection with writers she admired.
2016 Turning Point
- Roxane Gay believes the 2016 election changed Twitter's atmosphere.
- The election's aftermath eroded civility and unleashed unrestrained behavior.
Negative Twitter Experience
- Roxane Gay's Twitter experience became negative due to constant harassment and pettiness.
- She found herself getting drawn into toxic arguments and needing the last word.