A counter-point for balance:

Millenials, and especially digital-native generations coming up, have micro-evolved remote empathy for online interactions.

They can identify, humanize, communicate — if they choose — in direct and personal ways, almost as if they were in-person, in the same physical space.

They get swept into formulas, yes, yet also have championed a new kind of self-empowered freedom. The struggle is to keep focused long enough to develop them into principles of community beyond trending hashtags and internet-famous triggers.

Many of the flame wars are led by generations (Gen X in particular) who adapted to different and preceding modes of human connection first. They find it hard to empathize, to offer the same and stronger compassion they bring offline in a digital space where facelessness and remote connection dominates.