EDIT: post title changed to make more sense….
I’ve been reading some stuff during the past day that, while disturbing me, is provoking some thought.
I’m thinking a lot about poles, extremes, dichotomies, and dilemmas.
Things like:
- Digital (yes/no, 0/1, on/off) vs. analog
- Freedom of speech vs. communication within defined boundaries
- Prejudice vs. respect
- Anger vs. empathy
- Talking vs. listening
- Humor/satire vs. cruelty
- Love vs. hate
- Principles vs. situations
- Groups vs. individuals
- Trolls vs. patriots
- Laws vs. mores
- Inclusion vs. exclusion
- Logic vs. emotion
- Reality vs. illusion
- Surface vs. inside
- Taste vs. bluntness
- And, somewhere, common sense vs. human nature
Do all of the big questions only have two answers? Or are there other solutions?
There is one world and one main public Web that binds it. We all live, work, and play here.
Is there one right, appropriate solution when people publish content that other people find offensive?
I don’t know. But if we judge people solely by what we see, then some might think that I really do have blue skin and a green glowing, exposed brain. My avatar does, I don’t. But that’s what most people see.
I’m not the most community oriented person, but I worry when strong feelings work to separate its members.
Note: these are the writings that have prompted these thoughts:
Adding Fuel To The Fire of Racism
A FriendFeed thread related to the above
Loren Feldman, The New Yorker, and Social Media Evil
FriendFeed thread related to the above
Another FriendFeed thread about learning about real life society
The world is definitely analog but it is unfortunate that many feel that they should confirm to one position or the other rather than have their own opinion. We feel pressured by society to subscribe to the extreme opinions and herd behaviour also takes over. To be different is often to be ridiculed or abused and we often would rather go with the flow that put ourselves in this position.
It's not always a case of “If you're not with me, you're against me.”
Indeed, but we are often so polarised by opinion that this is the way it feels. There appears to be very little middle ground as issues become more and more emotive until we reach the point where it's 0 or 1 or abstaining from making a choice.
In response to one of your questions: there is definitely no “one solution” as every case must be taken on its merits – what works in one circumstance will cause additional friction in another.
[...] been thinking a lot about the topics of yesterday’s blog post, where I fretted about actions and reactions, and a whole bunch of other dichotemies. In the end, [...]