I think that's confusing the catalyst with the problem. Many people write hollow, snide, mean and cynical things that aren't clever. Many people write clever things that aren't hollow, snide, mean and cynical. I'm not so sure the connection is direct. I think people tend to remember and repeat clever things and that means clever negativity gets shared more than non-clever negativity. I think the bigger problem is that Twitter has long been a contest of people trying to make those who disagree feel shitty using remarks that are almost required by the platform to be glib.
