What an interesting and thoughtful article. However we will not restore good-faith communication in public spaces. It’s a 1-way process. This is why the future will be (I think) smaller and more selective communities where good-faith discourse can occur between a select sub-set of people. Probably the sort of people who do not feel threatened intellectually or otherwise in indulging in such an exchange. You are not going to educate or persuade “the mass” to change their approach now.
If you disagree with me then you are evil and on the wrong side of history and I will summon a mob against you. ;-)
No I think that’s the dangerous part. It used to be hard to hold radical fringe opinions. If you openly identified as a Klansman you would likely get shunned in most communities. Your exchange of social power for your idiotic beliefs was made open and clear.
Now it’s very easy to find a large safe space to discuss these beliefs and organize without social ridicule. And by doing so, it becomes easier for others to join in.
We have lost the power of the shun. Cancelling is the awkward and unwieldy big brother version. It’s not nearly as effective.
If you disagree with me then you are evil and on the wrong side of history and I will summon a mob against you. ;-)