ABOUT THIS EPISODE
“Every book leaves a mark. This is where we talk about it.”
Why do ordinary people sometimes say things online that they would never say to someone sitting across the table? And what happens when thousands of people decide that they’re only adding one comment?
In this first episode of the Unkindness mini-series, I explore the questions that led me to spend more than six years writing my novel. We look at online cruelty, the psychology of pile-ons, and the uncomfortable relationship between human behaviour and the platforms that reward engagement.
In this episode, I talk about:
- Why distance, anonymity, and the absence of immediate human feedback can change how we behave online.
- How legitimate criticism can become collective punishment when thousands of people join in.
- The incentives that can make outrage and engagement difficult to separate.
- The central idea behind Unkindness, including a platform where debate and a leaderboard gradually become something far more toxic.
- One small change in perspective that might make us think twice before joining an online pile-on.
About the Unkindness Series
Over the coming months, I’ll be exploring the real-world questions behind Unkindness, my forthcoming novel about online cruelty, corporate incentives, and the people caught between them. Each episode stands alone, whether you intend to read the book or simply want to think more deeply about the subject.
The next episode asks: What Happens When Anger Becomes the Business Model?
✍️ Connect with Me
Newsletter → Offbeat Journeys by James
My Books → Wednesday’s Child
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/molloywrites
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/molloywrites
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-molloy-23a9b822b
TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@molloywrites
Bluesky → https://bsky.app/profile/molloywrites.bsky.social
🎵 Intro/Outro Music
The Beat of Nature by folk_acoustic on Pixabay
