I read some for entertainment (think InsanePeopleFacebook). I find that kind of shit fascinating. Others I read because I like to get out ahead of their stupidity. It doesn't make a difference to them but I like to know what's going on in context.
I replied to someone's post on another forum last week and they replied "whomp whomp, I'm not reading that essay"... My entire reply was 2 very short sentences lol
That is part of the focused effort (that started in earnest with reagan) to villify intellectuals and make people even more stupid. Just think about how many nickelodean/disney tv shows were about how cool the protagonist is because they care less than the evil teacher or nerd. And how the epitome of wit was "Ha, you said 'doody'" or "Actually, that quote was said by Voltaire so I am smarter"?
People think "Ha, I care less than you" makes them smarter.
Ya, remember some number of them are bots or underpaid people who's job is to spread frustration and essentially commit information warfare.
Since I moved to Lemmy I've gotten into the habit of blocking the bad actors after it was clear they are incurable and unsaveable. The ones who seem to live for pro-russian messaging or refuse to have a dialogue like these TLDR people.
Can't understand the concept of e.g. vaccination I can understand, and quite frankly won't I understand too (okay not really but whatever:-D), but "prevents you from using it anyway" is the line that needs to not be crossed.
Insert cool quote here about fighting fascism and stuff and junk.
I loved the sidequest in Assault on Dragon Keep when they were gatekeeping him because he has muscles and therefore couldn't be a real nerd. "What, I can't like geek stuff just because I take care of my body?! Discriminatioooooooon!"
