Without getting into politically sensitive specifics, I have a friend (offline and on) who for years believed that the attitudes offline were radically different from what they were, based on their experiences online. Then they'd run into the offline reality and become genuinely upset, thinking that they were just surrounded by awful people. In the end they moved to a place they believed would be more accepting, only to find pretty much identical attitudes.
All because they slowly, over years, curated their online experience to the point that they truly believed it reflected some real offline. I'm not a HUGE fan of stand up comedy, but the line, "Twitter isn't a real place" is something people need to fully internalize.
Interesting to consider, as I do think that is accurate. But I also think people are more accepting in person than they are anywhere else. There is an odd barrier that the "other" group is always disconnected. If you are there talking to them, you must not be truly the other group.
All because they slowly, over years, curated their online experience to the point that they truly believed it reflected some real offline. I'm not a HUGE fan of stand up comedy, but the line, "Twitter isn't a real place" is something people need to fully internalize.