How the Internet Divides Us

[audreyh1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobbieB Interesting. The city where I live has a max of 4, no "farm animals", but people here have chickens, I can hear the roosters. Go figure. Whenever I hear of gated communities I think of rich and/or paranoid. Exclusive. Go away, we don't want you.

I think there are a lot of assumptions by people who don't live in gated communities. That we all think alike is a common one.

You certainly don't have to be rich to live in ours, or in most in our area. You do need to be able to buy or rent property. Most communities here are filled with snowbirds from all over the US and Canada, and full of RVs and/or manufactured housing.

We don't have any children living in our community. That's probably the biggest difference, and some folks disagree with that philosophically, although personally I like that feature. Plenty of grandchildren visit, so we aren't totally bereft. Some residents still work, as there are tons of folks 55+ who still work.

[DrRoy]

It seems to me that the Internet fosters more communication between people, but less actual contact face to face.

[ls99]

There is no substitute for in person conversation. No emoticon or written words can ever convey the twinkle in the eye, the smile or frown, tilt of head, raising of eyebrow. Troves of information is presented by gestures, posture, dress and style.

The inernet does provide a very wide range of opinions and (mis)information not obtainable otherwise.

I say internet is a good thing, but can not sunstitute for personal interaction.

[Lsbcal]

I think we divide us.

It's simply people problems and the solution is ...
I'm not sure but we'll get through all this together as a nation.

[Midpack]

As the article noted, there are tons of positives that have come from the internet, it's not all bad news by any means.

But from what I've seen, noticeably more people, not everyone, have gravitated to like minded people - and away from others. The internet and social media have played a substantial role. It manifests in many aspects of our lives.

[RobbieB]

I take it as a positive. I just learned that people who live in gated communities are not all rich and paranoid.

[marko]

Just thinking out loud--and with not much thought to it--I do that, I wonder if the telephone did the same thing. It allowed family members to move further away but still keep in touch.

It divided and connected us at the same time, but we'll never know how many people felt better about moving 1000 miles from family who would've otherwise not moved. The train and airplanes provided the same shrinkage of space.

Having said that it's true that there is a confirmation bias (right word?) where you end up finding like minded individuals sharing even the most obscure positions.

Personally, I think the internet is the best thing to come along since electricity.

[easysurfer]

I've believed in the past, and still do that the internet is an accurate reflection of society. Guess that's the chicken or the egg question. Does the internet bring about the divide or was the divide already there and the internet just shines the spotlight?

[ERD50]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuckanut I believe it was ERD50 who said "You are entitled to your own opinion, but not to your own facts". Very wise. Diversity of thought is the one form of diversity that is often not mentioned and not wanted. Very sad.

Quote:

Originally Posted by travelover Yea, I think Moynihan heard it from ERD50. Quote by Daniel Patrick Moynihan: “Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but no...�

I'm sure I've said it here on this forum, but I hope no one thought I was laying claim to originating it!

I actually seem to remember it from Ronald Reagan, but my memory may be faulty on that. But there is this:

There Are Opinions, And Then There Are Facts - Freakonomics Freakonomics

Quote:

This is often attributed to Moynihan. However the forthcoming Yale Book of Modern Proverbs has as its earliest citation for this saying the Deming (New Mexico) Headlight, Jan. 6, 1950, which printed “Every man has a right to his own opinion, but no man has a right to be wrong in his facts.” The New Mexico newspaper attributed it to Bernard M. Baruch. Since 1950 was long before Moynihan came into prominence, Baruch seems to have the strongest claim to priority.

-ERD50