A friend of mine on the WELL made a comment that prompted a thought.
I recall from my history classes some discussion about the American frontier and its effect on the development of the country. How it was often attracted people who, for one reason or another, couldn’t function very well in established society. I wonder if there is a sort of memetic frontier dynamic. People who, for whatever reason, don’t thrive under mainstream ideologies, religions, common wisdom, or other narrative structures (not sure if that’s the right phrase) are attracted to worldviews where they have more mental freedom of motion. Where they have a better chance of rising in whatever power structure is involved.
The Internet kind of opened up a new memetic frontier into which people are rushing in great numbers away from the received wisdom and existing narrative structures. Just an idle thought on a Saturday morning.
I had a neighbor (before the internet) that listened to some nut job stating how the world was going to hell and anarchy would reign. He heard this wacko on the radio and then purchased his VHS tapes which only enforced his paranoia .He sold his house and moved to some out of the way place in southern Indiana and built a bomb shelter.
Now we have the internet so that anyone can sell any outlandish idea to the gullible
public. Thus the rise of the way right and way left Republicans and Democrats.
To think when the internet was in it’s infancy the talk was it would bring us all
together across the globe. It would be used to quash misinformation and open eyes to
the corruption of politicians and businesses. It does some of that, the builders of it never
would of thought people and politicians would use it for lies, conspiracy theories., crazy same minded lunatics social media, websites and course cat pictures.
I thought this article belonged here instead of on Facebook:
Republicans are terrified of educated, curious, open minds. You know, people who can think Opinion
https://www.yahoo.com/news/republicans-terrified-educated-curious-open-210147838.html