Editor’s Note: Comment of the Week is our opportunity to identify an Inertia community member whose commentary pushes the site and our mission upward and forward.
Insightful and constructive commentary like this is the reason we at The Inertia are so stoked about what we do.
You know what is awesome? When the internet works, like really works. Not in the way of providing us with this super fast digital medium to look at uplifting or weird videos and time-consuming listicles (all of which are also admittedly cool), but by offering an open and positive platform in support of a global exchange of ideas and information. The general anonymity and seeming lack of real accountability on the internet has occasionally — or, if we’re being realistic, more than occasionally — made comment sections a cesspool of trolling: from annoying, provocative chides, to the most malicious, uninhibited prejudice and bigotry. But that doesn’t mean insightful and constructive commentary and the productive discussion that ensues is lost to a nearly forgotten past of actual face-to-face conversations. That’s why we’re applauding those in The Inertia community that push the site and our mission upward and forward.
The first Comment of the Week? coastalplayground in response (pictured above) to the article “Teenager Boyan Slat to Remove 7M Tons of Trash From Oceans” in which the commenter commended the environmentalist and designer’s innovative project, but took the opportunity to articulate how overall awareness of the problem might be even more important. Basically, they figured that taking preventative steps would put us in a less threatening position in the future. And we’d lying if we said we didn’t agree. Building a foundation of earth-conscious Boyan Slats through education rather than relying on an outlier would tip the odds greatly in our favor. However, as coastalplayground themself later adds, that doesn’t ultimately solve the issues at hand, and ignoring those isn’t an option, either.
An arguably better part of the comment was the back-and-forth that followed; Dmitri replied with their own insights, which expanded on coastalplayground’s foray into the conversation.
This is a moment when the internet really works positively.
There is something — in fact, there is a lot to be said about coming together.
See? Trolling isn’t the only option…
Since we’re not able to personally give these commenters high fives, this virtual version will have to do. Yew!
