Love it or hate it, the thing is a way for us home sapiens to connect globally for the first time in history.
Of course it’s a messy mess — we always do that when big changes come along.
One worries that, to date, no one has succeeded in being an accomplished digital citizen and an accomplished real-life in person citizen. Plenty are crappy at both.
Similar to the TV screen, there is something about these little hand-held gizmos that somehow command one’s attention, and have an air of authority. If one reads it on screen, then it MUST be true! (21st century Pandora’s box)
@Thomas: Your distinction between a “digital” and “in-person” citizen is important. Digital “citizenry” often entails a disembodied commentary—-positive, negative, tolerant, intolerant, hateful, loving, false, truthful, etc. There exists a personal remove that allows a freedom of expression different from traditional face-to-face expression. We likely are more at ease to type opinions into a screen; opinions that we would be less inclined to express in someone’s face. That digital expression easily lends itself readily to wide distribution is a power lacking in in-person, one on one communication. We are still coming to terms with that awesome power to sway ourselves. Both good and bad actors wield it to their own advantage. We must sharpen our skills to discern who wishes to sway us. We must weigh their motive, authority, integrity, and adherence to “just the facts ma’am”. Digital citizens do not have a face we can look into to determine if they are lying or telling the truth.
brwydave Premium Member about 1 month ago
Are we using “social media” by commenting on these political cartoons?
• Thomas about 1 month ago
Love it or hate it, the thing is a way for us home sapiens to connect globally for the first time in history.
Of course it’s a messy mess — we always do that when big changes come along.
One worries that, to date, no one has succeeded in being an accomplished digital citizen and an accomplished real-life in person citizen. Plenty are crappy at both.
moosemin about 1 month ago
Similar to the TV screen, there is something about these little hand-held gizmos that somehow command one’s attention, and have an air of authority. If one reads it on screen, then it MUST be true! (21st century Pandora’s box)
MG about 1 month ago
@Thomas: Your distinction between a “digital” and “in-person” citizen is important. Digital “citizenry” often entails a disembodied commentary—-positive, negative, tolerant, intolerant, hateful, loving, false, truthful, etc. There exists a personal remove that allows a freedom of expression different from traditional face-to-face expression. We likely are more at ease to type opinions into a screen; opinions that we would be less inclined to express in someone’s face. That digital expression easily lends itself readily to wide distribution is a power lacking in in-person, one on one communication. We are still coming to terms with that awesome power to sway ourselves. Both good and bad actors wield it to their own advantage. We must sharpen our skills to discern who wishes to sway us. We must weigh their motive, authority, integrity, and adherence to “just the facts ma’am”. Digital citizens do not have a face we can look into to determine if they are lying or telling the truth.