Withholding attention from a scoundrel: Noticeable? Measurable?

December 14, 2020 9:01 AM

Politico ran a story this morning about a certain person (let’s call him 45) who is trying various tactics to “stay in the conversation” (his words) to continue to garner as much attention as possible. If I make a point never to click on a news story where 45 is named, will that non-action take down his “attention” numbers a speck? Yes yes yes, I know my efforts are a spit in the ocean, but I do what I can. What I want to know is: will it help, no matter how minuscule-y?
posted by BostonTerrier to Media & Arts (8 answers total)

The Algorithms are definitely watching. Sure, an individual person's actions mean almost nothing, but you can't get to a million people's actions without a million individual people's actions, you know?

Every click you deny them is better than a click you give them.
posted by Lyn Never at 9:14 AM on December 14, 2020 [13 favorites]

I have made a point never to click on anything about him, I even added a plug-in to my browser to filter out anything with his photo. But he certainly hasn't shut up in the last 5 years, so I'm thinking no. I did it for self-preservation though, not to take away his attention.

Like boycotting or protesting, it's collective action that makes a noticeable difference.
posted by greta simone at 9:23 AM on December 14, 2020 [1 favorite]

Maybe it’s not a big impact politically but there might be a bigger impact on your mental health that makes it worthwhile. I know there are some kinda of stories and articles that aren’t providing any new valuable information, they’re just going to rile me up. So I don’t click because I know it’s not helpful, and I can also pretend it’s a little protest against click bait journalism.
posted by vanitas at 9:36 AM on December 14, 2020 [8 favorites]

It will have exactly the amount of effect you withhold (one fewer view, five fewer views, etc.) That's all measured. Additionally, if you really stay away from the news instead of just reading links and not clicking, you'll withhold your attention.

Unfortunately, asking this question has put him into the brain of thousands of people one more time. :(
posted by michaelh at 10:37 AM on December 14, 2020 [2 favorites]

It's hard to know, because the algorithm is proprietary and complex, and also because there's likely special cases for certain VIPs.

I use the mute/block features quite often for people that traffic purely in bad faith. Twitter supposedly uses # of blocks as a input into an account's visibility score, so win/win.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 10:47 AM on December 14, 2020 [2 favorites]

There's a good-sized industry creating and promoting BS. The people who need to ignore it don't. I recommend actively spreading truth.
posted by theora55 at 2:44 PM on December 14, 2020 [1 favorite]

He's a narcissist. Perhaps you don't know any in real life, but... they don't shut up. Like, ever. They'll yammer on just to hear them talk about themselves.

The only thing that will shut that one up is death. And then we'll still have to listen to his underlings, syncophants, and outright worshippers... who I suspect will martyr him into an industry.

Prison or exile might quiet him... but again, it'd boost the noise from his believers. I think my granddaughter might get lucky and by the time she's my age (currently 2) he might be down to Hitler level of infamy... maybe.
posted by stormyteal at 7:00 PM on December 14, 2020 [2 favorites]

I've made a point about not forwarding his image on my social media....even if it accompanies an article which supports my views or if it's a meme/cartoon that mocks him.
posted by brujita at 9:10 PM on December 14, 2020 [2 favorites]