Comments on: Three Paradoxes of the Internet Age http://www.opposableplanets.com/insight/2009/11/three-paradoxes-of-the-internet-age/ Social Tools Follow Social Rules Sat, 21 Jan 2012 16:16:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: joshuamross http://www.opposableplanets.com/insight/2009/11/three-paradoxes-of-the-internet-age/comment-page-1/#comment-541 joshuamross Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:49:30 +0000 http://www.opposableplanets.com/?p=920#comment-541 Thanks for the comment and link:<br>I have only read the summary but I think the concept of Group Polarization I mention in my post could easiy co-exist with the findings in these studies that show that people are not as socially isolated as previously thought. Group Polarization doesn't mean that you are isolated per se - but that you cluster around like minded people and in the process become more ideologically extreme.<br>Lastly - if it wasn't clear (and this is a point that Radar commenters made to the original post) I am lobbying for a balanced consideration of the consequences of a networked society. I am not making the claim that the Internet is all one thing (freedom, diversity etc.) or another (isolating, panoptical etc.). I am making the point that as a powerful communications technology it holds the potential for both. Generally I think we are exposed to the positive side far more often than being asked to consider how we build in structural protections for privacy, anonymous civic action and the right to control our personal data. Thanks for the comment and link:
I have only read the summary but I think the concept of Group Polarization I mention in my post could easiy co-exist with the findings in these studies that show that people are not as socially isolated as previously thought. Group Polarization doesn't mean that you are isolated per se – but that you cluster around like minded people and in the process become more ideologically extreme.
Lastly – if it wasn't clear (and this is a point that Radar commenters made to the original post) I am lobbying for a balanced consideration of the consequences of a networked society. I am not making the claim that the Internet is all one thing (freedom, diversity etc.) or another (isolating, panoptical etc.). I am making the point that as a powerful communications technology it holds the potential for both. Generally I think we are exposed to the positive side far more often than being asked to consider how we build in structural protections for privacy, anonymous civic action and the right to control our personal data.

]]> By: joshuamross http://www.opposableplanets.com/insight/2009/11/three-paradoxes-of-the-internet-age/comment-page-1/#comment-485 joshuamross Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:49:30 +0000 http://www.opposableplanets.com/?p=920#comment-485 Thanks for the comment and link:<br>I have only read the summary but I think the concept of Group Polarization I mention in my post could easiy co-exist with the findings in these studies that show that people are not as socially isolated as previously thought. Group Polarization doesn't mean that you are isolated per se - but that you cluster around like minded people and in the process become more ideologically extreme.<br>Lastly - if it wasn't clear (and this is a point that Radar commenters made to the original post) I am lobbying for a balanced consideration of the consequences of a networked society. I am not making the claim that the Internet is all one thing (freedom, diversity etc.) or another (isolating, panoptical etc.). I am making the point that as a powerful communications technology it holds the potential for both. Generally I think we are exposed to the positive side far more often than being asked to consider how we build in structural protections for privacy, anonymous civic action and the right to control our personal data. Thanks for the comment and link:
I have only read the summary but I think the concept of Group Polarization I mention in my post could easiy co-exist with the findings in these studies that show that people are not as socially isolated as previously thought. Group Polarization doesn't mean that you are isolated per se – but that you cluster around like minded people and in the process become more ideologically extreme.
Lastly – if it wasn't clear (and this is a point that Radar commenters made to the original post) I am lobbying for a balanced consideration of the consequences of a networked society. I am not making the claim that the Internet is all one thing (freedom, diversity etc.) or another (isolating, panoptical etc.). I am making the point that as a powerful communications technology it holds the potential for both. Generally I think we are exposed to the positive side far more often than being asked to consider how we build in structural protections for privacy, anonymous civic action and the right to control our personal data.

]]> By: A Kemp http://www.opposableplanets.com/insight/2009/11/three-paradoxes-of-the-internet-age/comment-page-1/#comment-484 A Kemp Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:42:23 +0000 http://www.opposableplanets.com/?p=920#comment-484 The recently released Pew Center study on Internet seems to contradict your point number one: <a href="http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2009/18--Social-Isolation-and-New-Technology.aspx" rel="nofollow">http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2009/18--Soc...</a><br><br>The bottom line is that the Internet is "This Pew Internet Personal Networks and Community survey finds that Americans are not as isolated as has been previously reported. People’s use of the mobile phone and the internet is associated with larger and more diverse discussion networks. And, when we examine people’s full personal network – their strong and weak ties – internet use in general and use of social networking services such as Facebook in particular are associated with more diverse social networks." The recently released Pew Center study on Internet seems to contradict your point number one: http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2009/18–Soc...

The bottom line is that the Internet is “This Pew Internet Personal Networks and Community survey finds that Americans are not as isolated as has been previously reported. People’s use of the mobile phone and the internet is associated with larger and more diverse discussion networks. And, when we examine people’s full personal network – their strong and weak ties – internet use in general and use of social networking services such as Facebook in particular are associated with more diverse social networks.”

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