December 14, 2007
Enclave extremism
Cass Sunstein examines the phenomenon of enclave extremism–the tendency of people to harden their political positions when they interact mainly with others of like mind. (Thanks to A&L.)
[O]n many issues, most of us are really not sure what we think. Our lack of certainty inclines us toward the middle. Outside of enclaves, moderation is the usual path. Now imagine that people find themselves in enclaves in which they exclusively hear from others who think as they do. As a result, their confidence typically grows, and they become more extreme in their beliefs. Corroboration, in short, reduces tentativeness, and an increase in confidence produces extremism. Enclave extremism is particularly likely to occur on the Internet because people can so easily find niches of like-minded types — and discover that their own tentative view is shared by others.
It would be foolish to say, from the mere fact of extreme movements, that people have moved in the wrong direction. After all, the more extreme tendency might be better rather than worse. Increased extremism, fed by discussions among like-minded people, has helped fuel many movements of great value — including, for example, the civil-rights movement, the antislavery movement, the antigenocide movement, the attack on communism in Eastern Europe, and the movement for gender equality. A special advantage of Internet enclaves is that they promote the development of positions that would otherwise be invisible, silenced, or squelched in general debate. Even if enclave extremism is at work — perhaps because enclave extremism is at work — discussions among like-minded people can provide a wide range of social benefits, not least because they greatly enrich the social "argument pool." The Internet can be extremely valuable here.
But there is also a serious danger, which is that people will move to positions that lack merit but are predictable consequences of the particular circumstances of their self-sorting. And it is impossible to say whether those who sort themselves into enclaves of like-minded people will move in a direction that is desirable for society at large, or even for the members of each enclave. It is easy to think of examples to the contrary — the rise of Nazism, terrorism, and cults of various sorts. There is a general risk that those who flock together, on the Internet or elsewhere, will end up both confident and wrong, simply because they have not been sufficiently exposed to counterarguments. They may even think of their fellow citizens as opponents or adversaries in some kind of "war."
Gosh. Could that really happen?
Extremism in of any sort occurs as a counterproductive stance against the opposing polarity of thought. Extreme measures for extreme circumstances. Extremism flourishes in the absence of strong leadership in power. Governments or societies impervious to the feelings of the collective masses, remiss of the ability to communicate to a certain sector why, at a particular juncture events are moving toward a specified direction. The populace are inclined to conform when enlightened as to why policies, situations and strategies have come into play or taken force. The application of a modicum of applied savvy and tactile diplomacy should allay the rise and occurence of extremism. However powers driven by partisan politics and self interest above the betterment of the greater good bereft of the gift of communication, find themselves confronted by groups who adopt a similar stance, and hence the constant bickering, debating and polls that rarely are conducive to the countries or societies advancement, but assuredly do give birth to further lobbies and discussion groups of a similar nature and equally as defunct. Such is the nature of the beast that is democracy.
Posted by: Ms D Bhuller | December 17th, 2007 at 10:37 am | Report this commentA Penny Saved is a Penny Spent –
by Someone Else! — Phil Linehan
When I was young and pocket money was doled out
my parents left me in not the slightest doubt
that the road to happiness was paved with the pennies I saved
instead of spending them on the goodies that I craved.
Dickens’ Mr. Micawber got many a mention
as time and again it was brought to my attention
that if I kept my pennies safe and sound
they would very quickly become a dollar and even a pound.
If only I learned to save my money
I would soon be having my tea with honey.
Could I put it in a pillow under my head?
or perhaps keep in a box stashed under my bed?
No, in a local bank I should put my dough
where I could watch it steadily grow and grow.
If I left it there for quite a while
I’d wake up one day to find it had become a pile.
It was on banks, they said, I could depend
because, if they were asked for money, including mine, to lend,
they would carefully check every single reference
and only to the safest borrowers would they give preference.
I was also told that instead of banks
I could always go and join the ranks
of those who placed their hard earned cash in trust
to companies that never could go bust.
They meant, of course, the mortgage lenders
who would be my savings best defenders.
They would refuse to give out any loan
to anyone who did not collateral own.
As the building societies would look after every single cent,
I was assured that I could rest content.
So, acting on the advice of those who knew
I deposited my humble savings without more ado.
Admit, I must, that I at times regretted
not having occasionally become indebted
to buy that very special treat
that would, I thought, have made my life complete.
But my feet on the ground were firmly set
and I was glad I had not got into debt.
I pitied those who kept on spending
on a spree that seemed to be never ending.
They wanted a house of their very own
to acquire which they would need a loan.
When they told the banker they hadn’t got a dime
he said not to worry, they are what are called sub-prime.
What does that mean, one might well inquire.
That those whose finances are in straits dire
can borrow like there is no tomorrow,
a practice that can only lead to sorrow.
The day came, as expected, when they could not repay
the cash with which they had been making hay.
What I did not know, I must recognize
is that I was among the duped fall guys.
The returns to which I believed I had a right
very soon began to fade from sight.
My bank was handing on a well polished plate
my savings to the profligate.
How could that happen, one can only query.
Did not those in charge become quite leery
when it was clear things were getting out of hand,
and decide that someone would have to take a stand?
No, not at all, said Fed Chairman Bernanke,
as the lenders kept on playing hanky-panky.
He could, like his predecessor, cut interest rates even more
as our savings kept flying out the door.
So the savers who can be called meticulous
are rewarded by interest rates that are ridiculous.
When they see how the dollar continues to get thrashed
they wonder if those at the helm are constantly smashed.
Thus, the lesson to be learned by all who save
as Mr. Micawber keeps spinning in his grave,
is that to those we entrusted our cash we should give no thanks,
as Greenspan is in Europe to count his euros, pounds and, of course, Swiss francs.
******
Posted by: Phil Linehan | December 20th, 2007 at 7:05 pm | Report this commentYou must excuse me now while I seize the chance
To buy a sturdy mattress made in France.