Hard Knox with Amanda Knox Old School: The Why of the Why (Dylan Marron)
Nov 14, 2025
Dylan Marron, creator and host of Conversations with People Who Hate Me, is known for his unique approach to conflict through conversation. He discusses the challenges of engaging with online critics and the importance of humanizing detractors. Dylan explains his mantra that 'empathy is not endorsement,' emphasizing how accountability can coexist with understanding. The conversation also touches on navigating the complexities of difficult dialogues amidst societal division and how even small changes can bridge gaps in communication.
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Calling Your Haters
- Dylan called people who had insulted him online and recorded the conversations for his podcast Conversations With People Who Hate Me.
- He used those calls to humanize detractors and cope with the avalanche of digital abuse he received.
Humanizing Through Biography
- Dylan made fictional backstories for online haters by clicking through their profiles, which helped him see them as human.
- Seeing them as human became a coping mechanism that reduced his fear and allowed outreach.
Dismantle The Troll Stereotype
- Most people who write hurtful online comments don't fit the 'lonely basement troll' stereotype and often have robust social lives.
- Simplistic labels like 'troll' obscure the complex realities of who creates online abuse.
