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 can social media platforms balance between allowing free speech and preventing the spread of misinformation?
**Interview on Internet Censorship and Social Media Responsiveness**
**Date:** November 16, 2024
**Interviewer:** Emily Foster
**Alex Reed:** Dr. Lucas Martinez, Media Studies Professor and Author
**Emily Foster:** Good morning, Dr. Martinez. Thank you for joining us to discuss the concerning landscape of internet censorship and the implications of social media for public discourse.
**Dr. Lucas Martinez:** Good morning, Emily. It’s a pleasure to be here.
**Emily Foster:** There has been some alarming data released recently, indicating that about 27% of internet users live in countries where authorities have made arrests over social media content. What does this tell us about the state of freedom of expression globally?
**Dr. Lucas Martinez:** It underscores a profound crisis for freedom of speech. The fact that 38 countries have taken such drastic measures signals a trend that prioritizes control over public opinion rather than fostering democratic debate. When people are afraid to express their thoughts for fear of punishment, it stifles discourse and innovation.
**Emily Foster:** You mentioned control over public opinion. How does this interplay with the rise of emotional responses on platforms like Twitter and Facebook, as you’ve noted in your writings?
**Dr. Lucas Martinez:** Social media has undoubtedly created a platform where personal opinions often eclipse reasoned arguments. However, when people live under censorship, expressing even an opinion can become an act of defiance. This risky blend of emotion and fear leads to a society where rational debate is overshadowed by sensationalism and personal sentiments.
**Emily Foster:** That’s an important point. In your view, has social media become a space for meaningful discussion or more so a “marketplace of ideas” that often favors the loudest voices?
**Dr. Lucas Martinez:** It’s a double-edged sword. Social media can amplify marginalized voices that traditional media often overlook. However, it also allows misinformation and sensationalism to flourish. This marketplace of ideas reflects the extremes of human thought, but we have to question how much quality discourse truly emerges from it.
**Emily Foster:** Umberto Eco criticized this phenomenon years ago, stating that people now express their opinions publicly in a way that wasn’t possible before. How has this shift changed public conversations and political landscapes?
**Dr. Lucas Martinez:** Eco’s observation remains relevant. The internet has shifted the dynamic from private discourse to a public spectacle. Nowadays, anyone can share their thoughts widely, regardless of their knowledge or expertise. This creates an environment where inflammatory rhetoric can gain traction over informed debate, leading to a fragmented public sphere.
**Emily Foster:** With the rising emotionality online, how can we reclaim rational discourse?
**Dr. Lucas Martinez:** Education is crucial. Promoting media literacy helps individuals discern credible information from noise. We must cultivate spaces—both online and offline—that prioritize critical thinking and informed discussions. Encourage discourse that values evidence over emotion, and prioritize platforms that foster constructive dialogue.
**Emily Foster:** Thank you, Dr. Martinez. Your insights are invaluable as we navigate the complex interplay of censorship, social media, and public discourse in today’s world.
**Dr. Lucas Martinez:** Thank you, Emily. It’s essential that we continue these conversations moving forward.
