I blocked someone who was right
“What did they teach you in school?”
Ah, what a pleasure it is to share your ideas, to work on an article with sincerity for several hours, only to receive a comment like that. Thanks, LinkedIn—unless LinkedIn has nothing to do with it. Anyway. You share your understanding of a topic, honestly, in your own words, and then the “expert” pops up. The one who agrees with you on 97% of the topic but picks a fight over the remaining 3%.
The intention is rarely to build a little more knowledge together. No: it’s more about explaining to you just how little you’ve understood, just how much you’re missing the real point. In short, it’s a stance that’s rarely very open-minded, with plenty of pedantry—when it doesn’t descend into insults. And above all—above all—it’s about doing a little self-promotion by featuring one of their own articles; after all, one has to make a living, you might say.
You have to have a strong backbone to dare to take the plunge, to share your understanding of a topic or your opinion on LinkedIn—and yet, I’ve been doing it every week for nearly four years now. Of course, I bear my share of the responsibility: my opinions can be firm, even sharp. But strangely enough, it’s the technically detailed articles that tend to provoke the most acrimony.
You may disagree with me—in fact, that would be desirable, since a difference of opinion will enrich us both. This is all the more true given that doubt and self-reflection play a major role in my life. Doubt is sometimes uncomfortable, but it’s what drives me forward. In my personal life, the people I care about most are often the ones who have challenged me the most. This is to say that I’m open to hearing a wide range of perspectives, and that I even actively seek out these challenges.
But the tone must be appropriate, because tone reveals intent. When the tone is off—when it’s obvious the comment is meant to provoke rather than contribute to a shared understanding—I don’t mince words and block the author very quickly.
So, I’ve blocked quite a few trolls over the past few years. It was simply a matter of mental health. It was necessary, but I’m aware that it also carries the risk of shutting yourself off in your own bubble, of staying cozy within your own convictions.
And as for your many comments confirming that these posts are useful and enjoyable: a big thank you—that’s what keeps me going 😊
P.S.: That person who asked me what I’d learned in school actually brought up a useful nuance regarding hexagonal architecture. Clearly within that 3% margin. The troll was blocked, but the seed of doubt had been planted. A few months later, I realized he was right. Article updated.