if the person is an actual a**hole, critique probably won‘t help. if the person just got something wrong (based on your point of view), critique might help. expressing your opinion (not necessarily as a direct response) imo always is a good attitude as it creates a counterweight

Agreed. Amplification is one of the main problems with social media. But non-involvement only works up to a point and we're still working out what that point is.

many people who are regularly attacked by such assholes state that ignoring doesn't help - it skews the attitude of the mob towards the opinion of the asshole. Voices are always needed to stand up and show that the asshole isn't telling the (whole) truth.

Say something! What works better though? Playing ball or player?

I'm torn between telling them they're assholes and ignoring. I try to ignore them at this stage.

That’s the healthier attitude for sure.

For me it’s what you wrote plus I was not raised like that by my mom, attacking ppl. and all that stuff.

Criticize vs give your opinion vs explain the facts. Very different. I usually go for the last one when responding to someone. The second one I do as a standalone tweet, open to everybody and stating that's my opinion. The first one, not much.

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”― Edmund Burke

True for those with a small follower count. But I'd say it's important to speak up against those who could be seen as speaking for the rest of us.