Exposing Contempt in Social Media
Panel Decries the Contempt in Social Media Messages
UNITE, the non-profit founded by Tim Shriver to ease the country’s political divisions, today released its Dignity Index scores on messages from mid-range social media influencers. Passages came from social media accounts with 5,000 to 500,000 followers on posts that had high levels of likes, reposts, and comments.
“The scores this week are the strongest contempt scores yet registered by the National Citizens Panel,” said Shriver. “And they also have the highest bipartisan agreement on the scores themselves. It shows that people can recognize contempt even when it comes from their own side, and they see the damage it does.”
In one example (more below), @buffaloon wrote on X: "His lies have already killed many people. Trump is like a plague carrying flea, giving no thought about the deadly disease he spreads, he does the only thing he can, suck the blood of innocents."
Ninety-nine percent of the panelists agreed this was contempt. The most frequently chosen score was a TWO. And one moderate panelist commented, “This type of expression actually wears down the soul of those who listen.”
Steven Douglas wrote on X about Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas: "I want this openly treasonous sociopathic ghoul, along with ghoul Blinken, given due process as they are investigated, charged, tried, and executed for high treason." Ninety-nine percent of panelists agreed this was contempt. The most frequently chosen score was a ONE. And a moderate panelist said: “This is stretching the limits of the 1st Amendment. I would be afraid to be a politician or political appointee in this current climate.”
According to Dignity Index co-creator Tom Rosshirt, “Each media ‘ecosystem’ or audience has a zone of tolerance for contempt. Within that zone, contempt can serve the purpose of the user. But when contempt goes below that zone, it gets too dark for the audience and begins to backfire. That level of tolerance – in cable news or campaign advertising – can keep contempt from descending to ONE or TWO. But in certain cases on social media – either because users are anonymous or are in other ways not accountable – there is little social or political cost to the most withering contempt – which is why social media contempt is some of the most intense in our culture.”
THE LATEST SCORES
Panelists score by matching language from the speech passage with descriptions in the Dignity Index scoring guide, which is available here.
Tim Swain, on X sharing their opinion on Harris voters:
"Hi. This is me. And I think you’re a stupid and selfish asshole if you vote Harris."
100% of panelists agree that this was contempt
The most frequently chosen score was a THREE
The reasons given the most were “makes a personal attack on the other, targeting performance, competence, appearance, background, character or morals.” and “disdains the other side.”
96% of panelists scored within +1 or -1 of the score of THREE
The Conservative average score was 2.667, and the Liberal average score was 2.750
Roger Bernards, regarding a picture of Kamala Harris and Gavin Newsom:
"These right here, are Satans minions! America! We must reject Satan!! It is as simple as that!!"
99% of panelists agree that this was contempt
The most frequently chosen score was a TWO
The reasons given the most were “Those people are evil. They’re going to ruin our country if we let them. It’s us or them.” and ““They’re not just bad people; they’re promoting evil.”
96% of panelists scored within +1 or -1 of the score of TWO
The Conservative average score was 2.333, and the Liberal average score was 1.958
Stephen Wunderlich referring to Donald Trump:
"He’s evil. He’s pure hate. He’s the Antichrist."
99% of panelists agree that this was contempt
The most frequently chosen score was a TWO
The reasons given the most were ““Those people are evil. They’re going to ruin our country if we let them. It’s us or them” and “They’re not just bad people; they’re promoting evil.”
97% of panelists scored within +1 or -1 the score of TWO
The Conservative average score was 1.952, and the Liberal average score was 1.958
Joey Mannarino’s post on X:
"There is no specimen on this earth more disgusting than the white liberal woman. They are the cancer ruining this country."
99% of panelists agreed that this was contempt
The most frequently chosen score was a TWO
The reasons given the most were “believes the other side is an existential threat” and “Those people are a danger to everything we value.”
95% of panelists scored within +1 or -1 of the score of TWO
The Conservative average score was 2.333, and the Liberal average score was 1.875
@Tired_Nonsense_ talking about Trump and Vance:
"Vance is scarier than trump in my opinion because trump is an imbecile but vance is smart. They are both slimy liars who hate women and only care about themselves. But vance is more specific in his evil."
100% of panelists agree this was contempt
The most frequently chosen score was a TWO
The reasons given the most were “They’re not just bad people; they’re promoting evil” and “Those people are evil. They’re going to ruin our country if we let them. It’s us or them.”
91% of panelists scored within +1 or -1 the score of TWO
The Conservative average score was 2.381, and the Liberal average score was 2.250
@buffaloon on Trump:
"His lies have already killed many people. Trump is like a plague carrying flea, giving no thought about the deadly disease he spreads he does the only thing he can, suck the blood of innocents."
99% of panelists agree this was contempt
The most frequently chosen score was a TWO
The reasons most given were “Those people are evil. They’re going to ruin our country if we let them. It’s us or them” and “tells stories that ‘prove’ the evil of the other side.”
97% of panelists scored within +1 or -1 the score of a TWO
The Conservative average score was 1.952, and the Liberal average score was 2.292
Steven Douglas on X referring to Alejandro Mayorkas:
"I want this openly treasonous sociopathic ghoul, along with ghoul Blinken, given due process as they are investigated, charged, tried, and executed for high treason."
99% of panelists agree this was contempt
The most frequently chosen score was a ONE
The reason most given was “says that the other side is less than human, is “destroying us,” and should be attacked, killed, or eliminated.” and “They’re not even human. They don’t deserve to live.”
70% of panelists scored it within +1 of a ONE
The Conservative average score was 2.143, and the Liberal average score was 1.458
@MayoIsSpicyy with an opinion of Fox News:
"America would be so much better off without Fox News. It's a cancer on our society."
93% of panelists agree this was contempt
The most frequently chosen score was a THREE
The reason most given was “makes a personal attack on the other, targeting performance, competence, appearance, background, character or morals.” and “Those people hate us and want to hurt us.”
83% of panelists scored it within +1 or -1 of a THREE
The Conservative average score was 2.762, and the Liberal average score was 2.917
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