Does The Internet Strengthen or Weaken Our Social Fabric?

» David_Spencer - Internet communities

There is one difference between the virtual community and the geographic community: in the virtual community there is no need to expose yourself to opposing viewpoints. If the chat room you join does not share your views on the environment, there is probably one that does. This isn't completely new - people have been able to form communities of like-minded individuals across geographic barriers using the old media - but new technologies considerably facilitate the process. The problem is that tolerance is largely derived from exposure to differing viewpoints; an exposure many may prefer to avoid. I'm reminded of a study conducted in WWII on attitudes towards the racial integration of units. Those soldiers who had not served in integrated units were opposed to the idea, but those who had been assigned to one were far more tolerant. When we make it easier to avoid those with whom we do not agree, we make it that much easier to remove them from the conversation.

-- posted by David_Spencer

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