On this ride, your hosts Steve and Mal hurtle from Point A to Point B as Mal educates Steve on how to wrangle a troll, the new Internet etiquette, and the perils of late-night doomscrolling.
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Show notes:
As Wikipedia will remind you, “Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (née Godwin; 30 August 1797 – 1 February 1851) was an English novelist who wrote the Gothic novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus (1818), which is considered an early example of science fiction…. [H]er mother was the philosopher and women’s rights advocate Mary Wollstonecraft.
“Mary’s mother died 11 days after giving birth to her.”
It is largely but not necessarily entirely coincidental that the name of Mal’s imaginary and recently downsized (as in terminated) assistant in their quasi-imaginary therapy practice is also Mary Wollstonecraft.
Small world.
Steve appears to be hankering lately to develop the ability to avoid getting angry, or, as he might put it, “blowing a gasket.” However, as to that, he might do well to consider these nuanced observations from the Dalai Lama (which can be found in an article at https://www.alwayswellwithin.com/blog/dalai-lama-quotes-compassionate-anger): “[E]ven anger is not always destructive. For example, in some situations strong compassion may give rise to an equally strong sense of outrage—that is anger about an injustice. Again, feeling angry can, in the short term, make our minds more focused and give us an extra burst of energy and determination. In these ways, anger can, in certain situations, make us more effective in getting things done and in obtaining what we rightly seek. However, when anger extends beyond this practical function, most of the energy it brings us is not helpful at all. Since all of us have probably at one time or another, been on the receiving end of other people’s anger, we all have experience of its unpleasant consequences.”
One wonders whether the Dalai Lama has ever uttered the phrase “Don’t @ me.” Seems unlikely, but not impossible, especially if the words were used, as they often are, ironically or tongue-in-cheek. Then sure, why not?
Enjoy this list of fun facts from an article at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trolling on trolling: “The English noun “troll” in the standard sense of ugly dwarf or giant dates to 1610 and originates from the Old Norse word “troll” meaning giant or demon. The word evokes the trolls of Scandinavian folklore and children’s tales: antisocial, quarrelsome and slow-witted creatures which make life difficult for travelers. Trolls have existed in folklore and fantasy literature for centuries, and online trolling has been around for as long as the Internet has existed.”