What makes this worse is the obvious disrespect from Cowbee of my request to disengage. I made it very clear I didn’t want to argue. These communities have absolutely no standards of behaviour for members of the in-group. Which is exactly why I don’t engage with them in these communities.
Well, also the fact that I hate being constantly called a liberal for not repeating Capitalist Putin’s latest botfarm talking point. Talking to these people is an exercise in keeping my calm while I am constantly insulted. No thank you.
Number 1 rule in online arguments: “Do not feed the trolls”
If you even suspect someone is a troll, block immediately.
There is absolutely nothing to be gained from a proper “Internet argument”, and against a troll you will not only not gain, but lose, your sanity. I don’t know who Cowbee is or what they stand for neither do I particularly care, but I can and will tell you, that for your own good, you must have a 0-tolerance policy towards trolls. Do not try to get the last word in, down that path lies madness and neverending pointless back and forth. Even in good faith.
Also, when in a situation such as the one this post (that this is a reply to) is in, please keep in mind that a large amount of even mild criticism coming from several different people can feel nasty and personal. Especially on forum like places, such as where we are currently. Please try to detach your sense of identity from whatever behaviour you exhibited before analysing it and criticism against it.