NationStates Jolt Archive

Do discussion forums like this one foster understanding in the sharing of opinions and information by people from all over the globe and all walks of life? Or do they promote ignorance in allowing these same people to support and spread misconceptions and misinformation?

Is ignorance winning out over understanding? What do you think? :confused:

It allows public discussion of how people like Moore lie frequently, and you can talk with almost anyone in the world, so it's doing more good than bad.

"We are in great haste to construct a magnetic telegraph from Maine to Texas, but Maine and Texas, it may be, have nothing important to communicate."

Thoreau, Walden Pond

It's probably a mix of the two, depending on how easily influenced a poster is.

I think forums like this are important. It's impossible for an engine of knowledge to fuel ignorance. Stupidity, on the other hand, may come along. But I have to say that the internet in general has been a great medium for everyone.

Sometimes, on forums like this, it's hard to separate the two.

It allows public discussion of how people like Moore lie frequently, and you can talk with almost anyone in the world, so it's doing more good than bad.
Who is Moore?

It really depends on the people using it. Some people get a better understanding, som remain as stupid as they were or get worse.

Who is Moore?

Mandy. (http://www.mandymoore.com/)

Who is Moore?

Michael (http://www.moorewatch.com).

Who is Moore?
Sir Thomas (http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/phl302/philosophers/more.html)

I think it also depends on the forum. On other boards I visit it usually common practice for people to write sensible well thought out posts, that contribute to the discusion at least some of the time. These other boards are also much friendlier, since flaming posts usually result in bannings. So people who want to flame don't bother coming back. Here the signal to noise ratio seems pretty low. But I think that is because a fair amount of the discussion is political, and I have never seen anyone change their political views due to a debate on an internet message board. People also defend their political views pretty strongly.

Who is Moore?

Roger. (http://www.roger-moore.com/)

Gary (http://www.gary-moore.com/)

Who is Moore?

Thurston. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thurston_Moore)


But then, who is Lesse?

Yes. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platypus)

For those who truly want to expand their understanding of an issue, topic, or concept, the Internet is without a doubt the finest resource in the history of the world. (Although it should be backed up with a solid 'in-person' education, which it can never replace.)

On the other hand, for the aggressively ignorant people who have no interest in improving their understanding of the world, the Internet provides constant affirmation of their beliefs. How hard is it to find a million web sites, citing a thousand experts, that all agree with what you already believe? And, of course, so many fewer that disagree... but, who's looking for those?

Net effect? Probably it makes us more ignorant as a whole. Not only because I suspect there are more people of the latter type than the former, but also because the first group becomes more and more understanding... sees more sides of an issue... and altogether comes to regard the world through an academic (read "removed") lens. Meanwhile, everyone else becomes ever more convinced that he/she is absolutely right.

So it's harder to convince people they are wrong (or even, not entirely right)... and the people best equipped to do so are so removed that they just keep saying things like, "Well, you're both right..." (Has anyone ever noticed that no one responds here if you post something halfway reasonable and not completely polarized? Weird.)

For those who truly want to expand their understanding of an issue, topic, or concept, the Internet is without a doubt the finest resource in the history of the world.


I would argue that point, and suggest the written word on the printed page. Possibly the internet or some other form of electronic networked data retrieval system will grow to replace the hard-copy texts, but at present given the choice between a well-stocked university library and the internet, I know where I would head to gain an education.


Who is Moore?

Bobby (http://www.bobbymooreonline.co.uk/)

I would argue that point, and suggest the written word on the printed page. Possibly the internet or some other form of electronic networked data retrieval system will grow to replace the hard-copy texts, but at present given the choice between a well-stocked university library and the internet, I know where I would head to gain an education.

Sure... sure... I'll cede the point. Provided it's a library equipped with an online searchable catalog.


:D

I would say there is more useful information on the internet, but its harder to get to than in a library. A library is well organized and controlled, and I can get a heap of information in about ten minutes and that would be just about all there was to it, whereas with the internet, I could find the same amount of information in an hour, but could keep getting information after that.

Sorta like a line of ten needles, and 100,000 needles in a haystack of 100,000,000 strands of hay

Sorta like a line of ten needles, and 100,000 needles in a haystack of 100,000,000 strands of hay

That's what magnets are for...

That's what magnets are for...

except... some of the strands of hay are malicious and give themselves Iron cores

except... some of the strands of hay are malicious and give themselves Iron cores


If that turns out to be the case I think we can safely say that we have had a 'valuable learning experience' concerning the wonders of botany.



Who is Moore?

Alan. (http://www.alanmoorefansite.com/)

Who is Moore?

Jodie. Ashton.

Yes, I know I'm not linking those.

So it's harder to convince people they are wrong (or even, not entirely right)... and the people best equipped to do so are so removed that they just keep saying things like, "Well, you're both right..." (Has anyone ever noticed that no one responds here if you post something halfway reasonable and not completely polarized? Weird.)

Yes, I have noticed that.

From my experience on this forum, I have to say that the Internet breeds ignorance. Look no farther than the hundreds of "America Sucks!" threads and the handful of "Europe Sucks!" posts to see why I believe that.

From my experience on this forum, I have to say that the Internet breeds ignorance. Look no farther than the hundreds of "America Sucks!" threads and the handful of "Europe Sucks!" posts to see why I believe that.
Ignorance breeds ignorance, Laskin. The internet just makes it easier for any yahoo to deliver the finished product to the rest of the world.
Who is Moore?
Demi (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000193/)

I would say there is more useful information on the internet, but its harder to get to than in a library. A library is well organized and controlled, and I can get a heap of information in about ten minutes and that would be just about all there was to it, whereas with the internet, I could find the same amount of information in an hour, but could keep getting information after that.

Sorta like a line of ten needles, and 100,000 needles in a haystack of 100,000,000 strands of hay

Not sure about that. I suppose it depends on what you're looking for. Despite its global nature, the bulk of the information online is still very selective, and is mostly a reflection of its core demographic. There's far, far more on the internet about Star Trek than there is on 20th century Chinese history, for example.

Plus, the ability to cut-and-paste information between sites multiplies any errors exponentially, and the lack, in most cases, of any editorial oversight allows the most egregious nonsense to be replicated and regurgitated uncontrollably. Which is not to say this doesn't happen with the printed word: it's just much easier and much, much more common online.

From my experience on this forum, I have to say that the Internet breeds ignorance. Look no farther than the hundreds of "America Sucks!" threads and the handful of "Europe Sucks!" posts to see why I believe that.
So, it's only ignorance if they don't like you. ;-)