[Lizard is a computer programer and writer living in the Bay area] Date: Thu, 10 May 2001 15:40:15 -0700 From: lizard <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Matthew Gaylor <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> CC: Cass Sunstein <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Download Sunstein's Echo Chambers of Republic.com As usual, Lizard is waaaaay ahead of the idea curve. I wrote http://www.mrlizard.com/fragments.html sometime in 1996 or so. It addresses most of Sunstein's points, but draws a different conclusion. Or, to summarize:"The Internet will destroy democracy, and that's a GOOD thing!" ### [Charles Platt is senior writer at WIRED Magazine] Date: Thu, 10 May 2001 19:05:46 -0400 (EDT) From: Charles Platt <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Matthew Gaylor <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: Download Sunstein's Echo Chambers of Republic.com This is really funny (and somewhat sad). Here we have the biggest information explosion in history, bringing every conceivable viewpoint to communities that used to be dominated by a couple of TV channels and one or (at most) two mediocre newspapers. The Net is notorious for being diverse, uncensored, and truly international. It has given minorities unprecedented exposure and power. And now a professor warns that we're in danger of only listening to views with which we already agree! My God, hasn't this guy ever been into a chat room? Does he know the word "Usenet"? Doesn't he realize that there's more argument online than you'll ever find in an Irish bar? It's no accident that the term "flame war" originated in electronic communication, which has a notorious tendency to encourage opinionated conflict. If people are only paying attention to opinions that they already share, why does anyone worry about "hate" sites? If porn is only viewed by people who already know and like porn, why does anyone worry about porn sites? I regret that so many academics must always find cause for a dire warning in any social innovation, no matter how benign it may be. ### [Steven D. Imparl, JD is an attorney in Chicago, and is author of "Internet Law: The Complete" and list owner of [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.imparl.net ] From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Delivered-To: mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Thu, 10 May 2001 19:23:37 EDT Subject: Re: [web-law] Download Sunstein's Echo Chambers of Republic.com Hello, Matt. I have downloaded the article and have read it. The thesis about group polarization is interesting, as an abstract discussion about political and social discourse. However, I am not persuaded that the Internet creates any unique risks of fragmentation. The risks that Professor Sunnstein identifies exist quite readily in the "bricks-and-mortar" world, perhaps more so than they exist in cyberspace. There are many online forums where one can experience an incredibly diverse range of viewpoints. These forums range from Usenet, to Web-based bulletin boards, to groups such as Web-Law. Perhaps we need the government to sponsor some "public places" on the Internet (assuming, arguendo, that there is a dearth of such places--a highly debatable notion), but I don't think that any individuals, businesses, or other private organizations should be forced to participate in discussions about which they have no interest. To force such interactions is a form of censorship and mind control--steps toward tyranny that are certainly not justified by any dubious and unproven speculation about the nature of "group polarization" in the legal and political areas of life. Finally, "Echo Chambers of Republic.com" assumes that the development of strong opinions about controversial issues is necessarily an evil. I do not see it that way. If one proceeds through life with a set of convictions that are lukewarm, one may not be motivated to work for any sort of social reform. I don't recall such tepid souls among the leaders of those who abolished slavery and ended racial segregation in the United States. > ps Professor, you can send the Swiss francs in the usual manner. Are you using PayPal? :-D Steve Imparl ### ************************************************************************** Subscribe to Freematt's Alerts: Pro-Individual Rights Issues Send a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the words subscribe FA on the subject line. List is private and moderated (7-30 messages per week) Matthew Gaylor, (614) 313-5722 ICQ: 106212065 Archived at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fa/ **************************************************************************
