People have always sought out the like-minded and have tended to protect themselves from unwelcome opinions.
And there are psychological studies demonstrating with statistical precision the obvious fact that discussion among people of opposed views tends to encourage movement of opinion towards the centre, whereas discussion limited to people on one side of an issue tends to reinforce their distance from the other side.
This is called ‘group polarisation’, and it is evident in Internet discussion groups patronised by racists, gun fanatics, purveyors of bomb recipes and so forth. Certainly, the Internet has helped these people to find each other, just as it has helped collectors of antique toy soldiers and rare comic books.
And there are psychological studies demonstrating with statistical precision the obvious fact that discussion among people of opposed views tends to encourage movement of opinion towards the centre, whereas discussion limited to people on one side of an issue tends to reinforce their distance from the other side.
This is called ‘group polarisation’, and it is evident in Internet discussion groups patronised by racists, gun fanatics, purveyors of bomb recipes and so forth. Certainly, the Internet has helped these people to find each other, just as it has helped collectors of antique toy soldiers and rare comic books.
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