Social Media a Hotbed of Political Debate, Engagement - For the Good? On the presidential debates and "daul-screeners": The article was long, so I'll post some excepts of different co-authors and contributors: Draw what conclusions you like about the demographic statistics at the beginning of the article, I think this is very interesting and give s a unique perspective from which to view social media and the US election, especially with regards to this site. I posted this because I wanted to know what all of you thought of this? Do you like the influence of social media on political elections and world events? Do you think it provides an exciting new outlet for genuine intelligent discussion of the issues or do you think it is responsible for sound bite politics and the dumbing down of and semaniticization (sp?) of political discourse? Personally, I can really see both sides, but I think that ultimately we can use it to our advantage if we do our best to ensure it gives people access to information and gets them more engaged with the issues which will lead to a more well educated and concerned electorate. However, with this comes the danger that people will only read the side of the argument they agree with which will lead to greater polarization and possibly a delusional electorate because of their lack of will to see the whole picture. This is why I hate news networks like MSNBC and FOX News. Political views completely aside, when reporting ceases to become neutral it makes it so that people can stop thinking for themselves and that is one of the most dangerous things to the health of a democracy. I don't like to think that people would be willing to brainwash themselves with their own propaganda, that people are so proud of their political views they're unwilling to listen to others and try to improve their knowledge even if it means admitting that they are sometimes wrong, ill-informed, or illogical, or that maybe there is a better way they haven't thought of. I understand that you may be a liberal or a conservative and you have a good reason to think that way as opposed to someway else, but that doesn't mean that you should be close-minded to having a discussion with people that disagree with you and write them off before you give them a chance. Anyway, I would love to hear what all of you think of this. I think there are some genuinely intelligent people on this site, but in many cases we're so busy being nasty to each other and making offensive partisan posts that we are putting that intelligence to waste. I fully support freedom of speech, that's how knowledge is best spread in my opinion, and while freedom of speech does cover the "right to be rude" I don't think its very productive and I think this forum evidences how it can even be detrimentally polarizing. Discuss
Social media has almost no effect in shaping or changing political views. Its a medium people use to express the views they currently hold therefore its irrelevant to politics as a factor that would impact anything.
As long as all the baby boomers are voting you are probably correct. When they start dieing, its a whole new ball game!
I like Social media when it comes to debates. I can be myself, without fear of letting people know who I actually am. With no fear of people judging, I can say what I want to say, knowing no one can touch me. At the same time, we have to be wary of people using that obsecuirty to be pricks to the people who want to have a good discussion.
By the same token, that's also why people say ridiculous, horrible, bigoted (*)(*)(*)(*), and with the sound bite phenomenon it detracts from the issues. I like it though because when I see those who tend to make more intelligent posts agreeing with me it feels good.
But the question then becomes, what makes it intelligent? Even someone who insults, can still make an intelligent post.
It didn't seem to start out that way. It seems that the Bush/Gore election and the fiasco in Florida polorized the networks. I use to watch MSNBC and liked Hardball. Then it seems Chris Matthews changed and really showed his bias and his real hate of Republicans. Then I found Fox and started watching O'Reily but after awhile you get tired of watching the same people with the same views. Now I watch Cramer on Mad Money and Larry Kudlow. I must admit that Kudlow is getting boring. Yet all three stations are better than ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, and PBS. All your main stations take their cue from The NY Times. ( A liberal rag if there ever was one). It is interesting to come on forums like this and read what others are saying even if you don't agree with them. At least it makes you think and sometimes even do some research. Thank you for the article.
