Techno-Tribes
One topic of last week's "tribalism" conference was to ask how social-political communities ("tribes") are affected by technological change. One clearly dangerous trend is that technology has encouraged proliferation of the media such that we're more likely to get news solely from our own tribes. Some people watch Fox News and listen to Rush Limbaugh; others (such as me) read Molly Ivins on the Internet. Even in the heyday of "balanced" journalism, it may not have been all that balanced… but it sure is worse today. And the danger is that it's more difficult for us to make political compromises when we're unexposed to the other side.
On the other hand, technology can offer some hope as well. A few years ago I edited the Billings edition of www.streetmail.com, a weekly email newsletter that went out to all subscribers of an Internet service provider. We offered events listings and trivia contests, but most importantly an instant cross-tribal political discussion. I'd conduct a survey on a hot-button issue, and quote from people's responses. When it worked, which was more often than not, the result was a thoughtful, civil discussion in which we all learned a lot.
Unfortunately the dot-com that I was working for forget to get around to selling any ads. So after they burned through their venture capital, the thing went belly-up. Still an intriguing idea…
What do YOU think? (That's how we ended every article.) Does technology offer ways to enhance democracy by fostering civil discourse? Email info@johnclaytonbooks.com with your response.
To receive these posts via email, write to johnclaytonoutreach-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. (You need not put any text in the message.)
On the other hand, technology can offer some hope as well. A few years ago I edited the Billings edition of www.streetmail.com, a weekly email newsletter that went out to all subscribers of an Internet service provider. We offered events listings and trivia contests, but most importantly an instant cross-tribal political discussion. I'd conduct a survey on a hot-button issue, and quote from people's responses. When it worked, which was more often than not, the result was a thoughtful, civil discussion in which we all learned a lot.
Unfortunately the dot-com that I was working for forget to get around to selling any ads. So after they burned through their venture capital, the thing went belly-up. Still an intriguing idea…
What do YOU think? (That's how we ended every article.) Does technology offer ways to enhance democracy by fostering civil discourse? Email info@johnclaytonbooks.com with your response.
To receive these posts via email, write to johnclaytonoutreach-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. (You need not put any text in the message.)
