@KristyT as a writer, MLK was a huge influence, even in high school. Completely life altering. Anger, empathy, power, morality, persuasion.

@KristyT @eileentso it's also true that 140 chars is WOEFULLY inadequate for a topic this nuanced and complicated. Worst case scenario.

@KristyT @eileentso degree in this particular case is extreme. I find it personally very disturbing. Elaboration: http://t.co/UD1JflJFcX

@eileentso I am trying my best. If believing in civil discourse is wrong, I don't want to be right. http://t.co/TMnKkMotp3

@snoble I announced I'm trying to diversify. Those are the first words.

@snoble if believing in civil discourse is wrong, I don't want to be right. http://t.co/nNUEJhhlT6

@ChazDazzle it's not an excuse, though. I never said that.

@baddox @alxp I think they are quite *compatible* which is what my reference to MLK was about. Sailed over so many people's heads..

@jongalloway it is human language agnostic, e.g. English

@jfarmer I think we should take your previous advice: more white male voices (and so soon), from the same source, isn't going to help.

@maccullt you have seen his Moth preso right? Essential! http://t.co/5hkbAyFPq8

@jfarmer that only applies to minority voices that need amplifying, remember? Does my blog need more white male voices?

@jfarmer if you're afraid to blog it, believe me, I understand why ;)

@RobDrimmie angry != hateful http://t.co/Ns3g4Jagna

@RobDrimmie "riddled"? I count ~6 references in around 1,200 blog entries. https://t.co/PtdHhtnq1A

@starchy context http://t.co/C4dkeB104o

@marcgravell depends what the goal is, I guess

@waxpancake :(

@gordonguthrie fighting hate with more hate is not a strategy I can endorse. If you can, then I guess you can.

@klintron missing some context though http://t.co/C4dkeB104o

@jfarmer that's literally the most hate filled twitter stream I have ever seen. But to you it is "RTFM"? OK then.

@kartar I object to referencing those who intentionally spread hate. That said, article was updated a day ago.

@kartar anger is fine. Outright hatred is not. And attacking the way people look? Is that feminism?

@gordonguthrie You specifically referenced the twitter feed. Which is one of the most hateful things I have ever seen on twitter.

@kartar @the_mckern @zacharystern I disagree; objecting to promulgating hate is not "tone". This is not a subtle distinction.

@shanselman see http://t.co/C4dkeB104o

@jfarmer amplify what exactly? http://t.co/C4dkeB104o

@AdamTuttle oops. :p

@the_mckern @zacharystern @kartar I already edited the post? See the top. And http://t.co/C4dkeB104o

@gordonguthrie see http://t.co/C4dkeB104o

@MarshFactor @datagrok too nuanced for twitter. Take it here http://t.co/C4dkeB104o

@dinapomeranz who do you recommend?

@billba @ZachWeiner it is linked in the article, just click on it? Has been linked since publication date.

@markbao it is a minefield. Still, I hoped the positive message would convey.

@thegoldenmule I feel like it is part of the reality of this culture. Not an excuse in any way, just acknowledging it as a presence.

@tasneemraja my dad was an alcoholic, so I kind of see it as a cause. There's lots of ways to attack the problem of course.

@marsepan @ZachWeiner it's linked! Click it! Has been since publish time.

@FotoVerite @angelinamagnum @SaraJChipps @nrrrdcore no, to have a dialog that people can learn from?

@jacobian consider that the alternative to entering this minefield is to say nothing. Which is better?

@jacobian very good and reasonable article though. Thank you for that!

@jbu3 definitely not the intent. Excuse? No. Explain some of the interpretations? yes.

@ragekit @eldang plenty of positive voices out there to amplify. I've invited a few to guest post on my blog.

@jacobian when you say "I'm not linking to.. it doesn't need the signal" consider that's exactly what I might have been doing

@androidqueen @rossipedia @SaraJChipps @nrrrdcore well, I edited the post to clarify. Wasn't my intent to imply "co-author" at *all*

@jennschiffer wasn't intentional, have edited the post to clarify.

@jeffinitelyjeff will fix in the next few mins

@samn you and me both, brother

@jfarmer @PrintsCharming @jensechu fine, but I will not give negativity a microphone.

@jfarmer I take people's advice about ways to help (write a post! Don't just criticize!) and you know I guess you just try your best

@SaraJChipps @nrrrdcore did you want to write a follow up on my blog? Happy to host it. My intentions were to help, sorry if I failed.

@jennschiffer @jfarmer following the advice I probably should have taken myself. Still. Big fan. Offer stands.

@voretaq7 well, I strongly disagree on that tone statement. Very, very strongly.

@jfarmer ok that's a good idea. 10 is a lot though. I am a big @jennschiffer fan. Are you up for a guest post to follow that one?

@jfarmer you know, I tried. I'll think on it and see if I can do better after a few years' perspective.

@jfarmer "you gotta own this and be responsible" "by that we mean let someone else do it"

@jfarmer @jensechu it was the "men trying to take ownership of their part of the problem" show. There are plenty of other parts, too

@jennschiffer I'll clarify the post to indicate it is just a quote of her blog post. We have emailed before many times in the past.

@palendae @jennschiffer her blog post is linked right in the article, along with her name

@jfarmer @jensechu the whole point was that men need to take ownership and do things on their own, too

@jennschiffer I really struggled with "why does any occupation *have* to have perfect gender balance?" Hers was best explanation I'd seen

@angelaharms it is part of putting a public message out there. Topic is controversial, requires empathy.

@jensechu well, I really was trying to help reach men and give them ways to change their behavior for the better.

@jennschiffer other people told me to try to help, not just criticize. So I tried to help reach men with things they can do.

@jennschiffer sorry. I really tried to say what I thought would help in reaching other men. That was my only intention.

@migueldeicaza I think there is an error here the correct link is https://t.co/ugwDxzik9H

@migueldeicaza that is for my children and when it comes to their happiness PRICE IS NO OBJECT SIR

@siracusa so you're saying $100 for 16GB of flash is a GOOD deal.

@SG ICE COLD

@eviltrout your real job is your real job in that case! GET CRACKIN' SLACKER

@scottwasson ouch, 13.5w??

@jdriscoll no, it's not ALL price. But gouging is super lame.

@urbanautomaton I'm not saying wait at all. I'm saying, when you call people a "piece of s**t", that undermines your message. A lot.

@urbanautomaton "I am gravely disappointed", does not equal, "you are a piece of s**t". I don't think this is a subtle point.

@wilshipley LOLGRAMMING

@theevocater tone matters! Particularly when it is interfering with the goals.

@arnabbiswas1 tell her I said hello!

@marcoarment @siracusa looks about right

@BigMeeple well, the author posted a public Twitter message calling me a "piece of s**t", so that's the level of discourse there

@zacechola @tesseractiv even worse, rhetoric and expletives and namecalling turns the topic into a dangerous toxic superfund cleanup site

@kendall I'd love to see a citation where MLK directly insulted his audience. Can you point me to it?

@morb_au @kendall I really, really like effective writing. I really dislike writing that sabotages itself -- and the topic!

@kendall Can you point me to the place where MLK called people a "piece of s**t" on the public record? Otherwise, false comparison.

@kendall not disputing content, just that the delivery interferes with the message. Calling people a "piece of s**t" isn't effective.

@kendall some people are angry for reasons that have nothing to do with the topic. Some people like to watch the world burn.

@aliciatweet fascinating, let me read/hear that one

@kendall everyone

@mac_pestle everything

@kendall no. I meant that MLK would express empathy for his intended audience, not disdain.

@textfiles I can feel you and I drifting apart already.. so long buddy..

@textfiles I dunno, there's like 4-5 study references in there!

@nitashatiku I'll think about it.

@nitashatiku I do appreciate THIS conversation though. It was nice.

@nitashatiku so people can scream more obscenities at me? Why would I choose that topic based on this experience?

@nitashatiku not talking about moderation. I'm talking about the effectiveness of calling people "pieces of s**t" while making your points.

@nitashatiku it is very possible to push for change without going negative. Aggressively, even (MLK). Do you think it's not possible?

@nitashatiku I was called a "piece of s**t" by the article author in a direct reply. Is that an effective conversation?

@nitashatiku I've never seen negatively toned messages do well on Stack Exchange, or blog entries, for example. Just in my experience.

@nitashatiku tone actually matters; the wrong tone interferes with the message. Do you want to be *effective*, or make pointed jabs?

@nitashatiku true, but yelling expletives is not the way either. Mutual empathy requires respect.

@rabite I feel sorry for you.