Rewrite the Internet
The internet gives us plenty of examples of what disagreement sounds like when contempt takes over. In Rewrite the Internet, participants look at real or fictionalized social media comments that communicate a legitimate opinion using contemptuous language.
The challenge? Rewrite the message without weakening the point. The goal isn't to make everything "polite." Strong disagreement is welcome, but contempt is not allowed.
- Printed or projected sample posts/comments
- Paper or sticky notes
- Pens or markers
- Copies of the Dignity Index for reference
- Optional: projector or screen
One misconception about dignity is that it means always being nice or watering down what you believe. Rewrite the Internet practices something harder: holding others accountable and saying exactly what you mean without attacking another person's worth.
- Choose your posts — select fictionalized or anonymized comments containing contemptuous language (1–4 on the Dignity Index), using realistic but unconnected topics.
- Read the original — give participants a minute to read the comment and decide where it falls on the Dignity Index.
- Find the point underneath the contempt — what is this person actually trying to say? What are they frustrated about?
- Spot the contempt — identify words or phrases that attack character, intelligence, motives, or worth rather than the issue.
- Rewrite it — challenge participants to preserve the original argument while moving the language higher on the Dignity Index.
- Compare versions — share rewrites; there's no single correct answer.
- Test the rewrite — did we remove the contempt, or did we accidentally remove the disagreement too?
Challenge event organizers to find their own examples of posts, headlines, or short clips where a real point is buried beneath contempt. Here are some examples:
Original: "Anyone who thinks this new phone policy is a good idea has to be a complete idiot."
The Point: I strongly disagree with the new phone policy.
Rewrite: "I understand the school wants fewer distractions, but I think this policy goes too far and creates problems it doesn't need to."
Original: "Our team is trash. Ever since we lost [player name], nobody knows how to play defense."
The Point: I'm frustrated about how our team played defensively.
Rewrite: "That was a rough game. Our defense has to be better if we want to compete against teams like this."
Original: "Imagine being the type of person who leaves their trash all over the lunchroom. Seriously, grow up."
The Point: People should clean up after themselves.
Rewrite: "Come on, guys. The people who work in our cafeteria shouldn't have to clean up garbage we can easily throw away ourselves."
Original: "Of course they cancelled it. The people running this school are just in it for the money. They don't really care what students want."
The Point: I'm frustrated the event was cancelled and don't feel students were included in the decision.
Rewrite: "I'm really frustrated and disappointed that this was cancelled. I wish students had been included in the decision or at least given more information about why it happened."
You don't have to search very far to find dignity and contempt. Look at shows you're watching, movies you quote, music you listen to, sports you follow, brands you know, creators in your feed, or posts that keep showing up on your FYP.
TV + Movies: Modern Family, Gilmore Girls, Stranger Things, Spider-Man, The Princess Diaries, or whatever your group is currently watching.
Social Media + Creators: TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Twitch, podcasts, interviews, influencer content, or viral moments.
Music + Pop Culture: Songs, music videos, celebrity interviews, concerts, award shows, sports, and entertainment news.
Brands: Look at how brands like Duolingo, Chipotle, Nike, Spotify, Crocs, or others communicate online.
Bring Rewrite the Internet into an advisory, homeroom, or classroom during Dignity Week. Give small groups different posts to analyze and rewrite, then have each group share its original post, where they scored it on the Dignity Index, and their revised version. For added challenge, give multiple groups the same post without letting them see each other's work. Compare the rewrites afterward and notice how many different ways there are to communicate the same strong message without contempt.
You could also create a simple Before & After Gallery around the classroom showing the original posts alongside participants' rewrites. Keep this activity in a setting where participants have time to discuss why they made their language choices. The conversation and reasoning are more important than producing a large number of rewrites.
Choose three social media posts, display them one at a time during an S4D meeting. For each one, discuss where it lands on the Dignity Index, what the actual point is, where contempt shows up, and how you could say the same thing at 5 or above. Participants can rewrite the comments individually, in pairs, or together as a group.
Full designed PDF with all four rewrite examples — see the download button above.