Dissense

The great evil of the Internet, if the dissents are to be believed, lies in its opportunity for anonymity (York: “Hotgrrl81 unreservedly proclaims what real-world Jennifer Smith dares not whisper”; Benavides: “[E]xtremists can foster pernicious ideologies when not checked by . . . socially regulating ‘etiquette.’”). When we are not held personally accountable for ours …

The previous discussions conflate two separate but related concerns implicated by the echo-chamber phenomenon: first, that it calcifies political opinions; and second, that it fosters political extremism. I agree with Mr. Goodwin that modern media augment, rather than discourage, engagement with alternative ideas. However, this tale of optimism ignores the protective shroud the Web affords …

It’s reasonable to some extent to say that there is nothing wrong, as Bill states, with the Pope reading about Catholicism. But I would be troubled by a Pope who only reads pre-Council of Trent theology (Catholic though it may be). The Pope is, as many of us are, subject to the institution to which …

If there’s one thing that aging newspapermen, self-righteous politicians, and “civic-minded” pundits love to decry, it’s the pernicious effects on modern man of the internet echo chamber. To hear the neo-Nostradamus types tell it, the partisan love of dialogue ranks just below Pig-pen’s ablutomania, but with far less entertaining effects. We apparently are but days …