badgenome said:
I guess that's one way of looking at it. But it's kind of like people complaining about biased cable news: it's annoying in its own way, sure, but it also beats the much-romanticized alternative of old Uncle Walter giving you one side of the story and then signing off with an authoritative, "And that's the way it is!" In that kind of an environment, everyone was just inhabiting the same big bubble, but in reality they were no less given to false ideas than are people today with their multitude of smaller bubbles. Worse, they didn't even know the bubble existed. At least today anyone with one iota of self-awareness has to concede the fact that there is actually no "reality-based community" and it's not only everyone who disagrees with you who is wearing blinkers; we all do it to varying degrees. |
Maybe could classify this as a different issue that is somewhat connected, but would join the rant list. Yes, with the Internet today, we end up being far more blinded to biases going on. People can create their own info bubble and live in it. End result now is that which used to be more marginalized, for good reason, has a place to air itself, and get a following. And, with this, you have a lost of common manners and etiquette, and way to be called back you might be nuts. What I saw in the Giffords shooting aftermath, and also the directly contacting individuals in the Connecticut shooting area and calling them stooges on the government payroll as paid actors, is disgraceful.
What happens then when the bubbles meet with the blinders is NOT that people adjust. What happens is they end up yelling at each other larger, and usually reach a conclusion not to engage.
I think I need to read more of "Too Big to Know" to see more on what is going on. Early read makes it a recommended read at this point.
