2024-11-16 03:30:00
I remember good philosophy, literature, or Latin teachers in high school teaching us to distinguish between knowledge based on reason, acquired through study and debate, on the one hand, and personal opinion on the other. fragment. I know that younger generations have not been fortunate enough to receive the classical education that I did. In and out of the classroom, we all live in an emotional realm: between the deadly challenge of Tik Tok and the machete provided by artificial intelligence for answering questions.
Today, a personal opinion (“I feel this way”) is more valuable than the best-founded scientific argument.
The current privilege of emotion over rationality is due to the popularity of social networks. Fifteen years ago, watching this process—which was just beginning—I wrote this tweet: “Twitter is a place where people who know nothing about physics discuss the theory of relativity with Einstein.”
Human stupidity shows no limits
Twitter does not produce the widespread stupidity we see when reading much of what politicians and their fans post on Twitter, especially when they get into fights. Twitter just gives everyone a chance to show their true self. It turns out that most of them are fools. Expressed with some degree of kindness.
Umberto Eco already warned of this more than ten years ago when he said: “Before, the idiot in the village would go to a bar, have a few drinks and start talking stupid things until he fell asleep. Everyone already knew it It’s a sad sight but no one cares but now they say the same crap on twitter and if anyone contradicts them they get reprimanded for wanting to contribute ideas or knowledge which is considered a crime there.
timewitter is the current marketplace. There you can read everything humans say. Much of the rhetoric is stupid, aggressive, unfounded and reflects a huge lack of knowledge. Completely devoid of moral and intellectual aspirations. Always, even in the exquisite Greek Agora of Classical times or the best Roman Forum of Caesar’s time, The conversations and “debates” that took place there were more like crazy gladiator fights in the Roman Colosseum. Those intellectual debates that took place simultaneously in private banquets (like the two we have survived: the banquet written by Plato and Xenophon) or in philosophical schools (such as the Lyceum or Academy) which were conducted by a very small number of very enlightened people accessed.
In the public space of the past two or three thousand years, it was not the doctrines of Plato or Seneca that shone brightly, but the voices of the masses supporting or vilifying the orators. They appealed to emotion and tried to fool their fans back then, just as politicians of all parties do now on the campaign trail.
Twitter works like those historical public spaces, albeit in an expanded way (in that anyone there can read hundreds or thousands of messages from different people). Twitter is the Greek anabolic bazaar.
The network that serves Trump
Since Elon Musk bought Twitter, he has made the social network work for the return of Donald Trump (who not only won the North American presidential election but appointed Musk to his cabinet).
Trump’s combative behavior on Twitter has further tainted public debate on the social network. Increased violence against those who do not support Trump (or Milley in Argentina, or Bolsonaro in Brazil). This makes any civilized dialogue almost impossible. Several international media outlets (most notably the UK’s Guardian and Spain’s La Vanguardia so far) have quit Twitter because they believe civilized dialogue cannot be held on Twitter.
I don’t think leaving the market is a positive thing, even if it is as wild as it is now. If you’re interested in knowing what the world is thinking – even if it’s a brain-dulling moment – there’s nothing better than Twitter. Everything is there. That’s why the most human things abound, namely stupidity and violence.
I’ll say it again: Twitter did not invent stupidity. Stupidity is a characteristic of most people. “Ask someone to say something and they’re almost guaranteed to say something stupid.”
I don’t know what a media outlet or a thinker has to gain by quitting Twitter, But I know what Twitter would lose if many of its brightest creators left.
I believe many people who have left (or threatened to leave, such as author Stephen King) will read Twitter incognito and not tweet. In the long run, they will come back. Because Twitter speaks to the world. Cruel and dirty, this is what this world is like.
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#emotional #realm
How has social media changed the way we perceive and engage with public discourse compared to traditional platforms?
**Interview with Dr. Emily Carter, Media Sociologist and Author of “The Digital Agora: Navigating Public Discourse in the Age of Social Media”**
**Interviewer:** Dr. Carter, thank you for joining us today. You recently spoke about the impact of social media on public discourse, particularly regarding knowledge versus personal opinion. Can you elaborate on that?
**Dr. Carter:** Thank you for having me! Yes, the shift towards valuing personal opinion over well-founded scientific arguments is alarming. In the past, education emphasized rational discourse, but now, platforms like Twitter have created a space where emotional reactions often take precedence. We’re witnessing a democratization of discussion, but it’s often led by those least informed rather than the experts.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned that social media acts like a modern-day agora where anyone can voice their opinions. How does that affect the quality of public discourse?
**Dr. Carter:** Exactly. While ancient agoras were places of rich intellectual debate, today’s digital spaces often resemble chaotic gladiatorial contests rather than thoughtful discussions. People share ideas without the necessary grounding, leading to misinformation and an emotional rather than rational discourse.
**Interviewer:** In your view, what role do media platforms play in this landscape? How could they leverage their power for positive societal impact, as per the World Economic Forum’s initiative?
**Dr. Carter:** Media platforms have a unique responsibility. With access to billions, they can elevate informed voices and curate content that encourages critical thinking rather than sheer emotional appeal. Initiatives like the World Economic Forum’s “Power of Media” can help harness this potential by promoting educational content and fostering a collaborative space for constructive dialogue.
**Interviewer:** Is it possible to restore a balance between emotion and reason in public discourse?
**Dr. Carter:** It’s challenging, but not impossible. We need to prioritize media literacy in education and encourage individuals to engage with reasoned arguments. Media platforms can implement features that promote critical engagement and fact-checking. It’s about creating a culture that values informed debate over sensationalism.
**Interviewer:** This sounds like a necessary evolution for our society. What would be your final message to our audience regarding their role in this?
**Dr. Carter:** I urge everyone to be mindful consumers and producers of information. Engage critically, question sources, and contribute thoughtfully to discussions. Remember, every interaction contributes to the broader narrative of our society. We must advocate for reasoned discourse, both online and offline.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Carter, for your insights. It’s clear that the future of public discourse relies on our collective commitment to knowledge and understanding.
**Dr. Carter:** Thank you for having me! It’s conversations like these that can lead to change.
