[PREV - THE_QUEER_WAVE]    [TOP]

WORST_ARE_FILLED

                                             April 13, 2018

There's a phenomena of
internet discourse
that's often remarked
on, the tendency to
crawl off into opinion
reinforcing echo                Every faction has a
chambers, which have            voice, including the
a way of encouraging            most extreme--
polarization.
                                   The center drops out of the conversation,
                                   if only because no one wants to be
                                   confused with one of the extremes.

                                           (And if you don't even belong
For every voice, there's                   on the axis, it's even worse.)
an echo chamber of the
like-minded to provide a
sense of validation--            *Every one of us* is vulnerable to
                                 this effect.  Logically, "I am not
                                 alone" has little connection to "I
                                 am right", but who can shake the
                                 feeling that there is one?

                                    When you think the validation has
                                    been applied correctly, then you
                                    sing of the joys of finding ones own
                                    kind; when you think it incorrect,
                                    then it's a horrible example of
                                    group think and the mob bringing out
                                    the worst in us.


   It often seems to me that the
   weirdo "men's rights" groups,
   the defenders of misogyny, are
   an absolute god-send to the
   internet feminists.  Whatever
   gripes you might have about the
   feminist faction, who is going
   to want to speak up about them?
   You don't want to be confused            Well some people are
   with those *other* guys, do you?         willing to risk it, or are
                                            perhaps secretly gratified
                                            when they're lumped in with
                                            the villains-- then you get
                                            to posture indignantly about
                                            how unfair it all is.

                                                 Thankfully, I am never
                                                 accused of such things.




--------
[NEXT - WORDS_OVER_THE_CRACKS]