Beware the Toxic Influencers
Having seen this cycle repeat in a few communities I've associated with, and now seeing it again rise to even higher levels here in the US, I feel I need to say something about it all and share some of the references to articles around the growing unashamed bullying we see in many communities today.
It’s so confusing what is going on sometimes these days.. There are parallel narratives of the world and everyone is just pointing fingers. Something to really try and be aware of though is: Toxic Influencers. They are the ones who find a need that gives them power over a community and then through growing control take the narrative and community commons for themselves. They are another type of Bully, but one that operates barely within community rules until they can get enough power to change the rules to their benefit. As they gain power they surround themselves with fans and supporters, they bully and force out those what don't agree. The community principles change from “For the gain and enjoyment of the community” to a much more corrupted “For the gain and enjoyment of myself (the toxic influencer)”
When a Toxic Influencer takes full control corruption increases tremendously along with exclusion. All the attention becomes centered around them. All plans made and actions taken must first consider how it will appease them. Things that they don’t directly care about can either be corrupted to the gain of another in power or just neglected. Because the point is only for the influencer's gain they just continue to hollow out the community with their own control and bullying tactics until all that remains is only what gives them personal gain. In the end, what used to be a communal effort is now their personal space and..
It’s so confusing what is going on sometimes these days.. There are parallel narratives of the world and everyone is just pointing fingers. Something to really try and be aware of though is: Toxic Influencers. They are the ones who find a need that gives them power over a community and then through growing control take the narrative and community commons for themselves. They are another type of Bully, but one that operates barely within community rules until they can get enough power to change the rules to their benefit. As they gain power they surround themselves with fans and supporters, they bully and force out those what don't agree. The community principles change from “For the gain and enjoyment of the community” to a much more corrupted “For the gain and enjoyment of myself (the toxic influencer)”
When a Toxic Influencer takes full control corruption increases tremendously along with exclusion. All the attention becomes centered around them. All plans made and actions taken must first consider how it will appease them. Things that they don’t directly care about can either be corrupted to the gain of another in power or just neglected. Because the point is only for the influencer's gain they just continue to hollow out the community with their own control and bullying tactics until all that remains is only what gives them personal gain. In the end, what used to be a communal effort is now their personal space and..
“Well maybe it just isn’t the right place for you anymore”.
Further reading
Further reading
- Erin 'Folletto' Casali (Intenseminimalism, 2020) "The Impact of Toxic Influencers on Communities"
- Dr M. Lamia (Theguardian, 2017) “The psychology of a workplace bully”.
- A. Bowen (Medium, 2016) “How to deal with intellectual bullies in online communities”.
- S. Cartwright, C. L. Cooper (British Psychological Society, 2007) “Hazards to health: The problem of workplace bullying”.
- J. E. Gebauer, C. Sedikides (2012 American Psychological Association. 2012) “Communal Narcissism”.
- R. Neogy (Fastcompany, 2020) “Exclusion and trauma are impacting the workforce”.
- Wikipedia, Missing Stair metaphor
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