I think its useful to remember that it’s simply logical to acknowledge that exaggeration and drama can draw more attention and engagement than more mature, nuanced, frequently longer-winded participation can. Particularly younger people are not going to be as interested in observing social mores when simply being more bombastic can seem to be more fun sometimes.
It’s mainly on us, in the userbase, to deal with these kinds of trollier styles of interaction in an appropriate way. Usually not feeding them is enough, though not always. Sometimes they need to be cleverly undermined or brusquely and efficiently slapped down, it just depends on the troll.
But either way, it is true that they will always be here, and so we do need to adapt ourselves around them in a variety of ways. Unfortunately, combatting trolling does not actually have any one-size-fits-all solution, and requires a diverse toolbox of approaches, from mods and admins through to users.
That said, positivity and gratitude has its place too, even if some find it distasteful. I think it does make a notable difference. Morale is not some immutable thing that can resist everything both real life and internet hobbies can throw at it, and showing appreciation is part of how societies maintain it more broadly. We are not robots, nor will we be any time soon. We are subject to morale, and it is helpful to maintain it in positive ways. It’s not combatting the bad thing, it’s buffing the good thing. Both can be necessary sometimes, and there’s nothing wrong with a person preferring one or the other. People do not all have to be the same, after all.
Another advantage of text, for me at least, is that I can read much faster than I can listen. This is why I prefer text articles to news videos, even though video can often offer extra visual information over what photographs can offer.
That said, I do somewhat agree with the article’s concern that live conversation is an independent skill and potentially has its own unique side-benefits that might be becoming rarer.