> "Disagree (or there's nuance needed here) but declining to engage."
Unfortunately this is still engaging, and many people I've encountered online will not let things go after this. It's why people instead use downvotes for disagreement, I think. It lets them take a disagreeing action, but without anyone being able to single them out and rage at them all day for it (which is unfortunately common on social media)
I often find that if I disagree with someone and then don't want to engage further, I have to mute or block them entirely so they don't shit up my notifications for hours, each one a small little temptation to go re-engage.
I cant imagine having any kind of discussion without the other(s) disagreeing. I desire to completely understand how someone came to the opposite conclusion. I equate anger in the process with brainwashing: You convince the person of the nonsense then you finish the job by training them to not take in further information. Getting angry is the best kind of closed mind. (I get angry too of course! It's hilarious!) Communication takes [at least] 2 people, it takes effort. Ideally both parties make the effort but I don't mind compensating for other peoples shortcomings.
It also helps to know nearly all things people think they know are extreme simplifications. (great pun) There is enough fuzzy logic to be wrong about almost anything. 1000 years from now, things we consider fact will be a laughing stock. It will be as funny as Jesus landing his space ship on the white house lawn.
This is why I appreciate that HN doesn't do notifications. Sometimes I'm just looking to share my opinion without really being interested in argument or discussion. So it's nice to not be bugged by notifications.
Unfortunately this is still engaging, and many people I've encountered online will not let things go after this. It's why people instead use downvotes for disagreement, I think. It lets them take a disagreeing action, but without anyone being able to single them out and rage at them all day for it (which is unfortunately common on social media)
I often find that if I disagree with someone and then don't want to engage further, I have to mute or block them entirely so they don't shit up my notifications for hours, each one a small little temptation to go re-engage.