Comment by codezero

That’s an idealized view - but since there’s not much any individual can do, it’s a decent one :) Though I think it’s fair to say technology has widened the gap between the rich and poor, not shrunk it. Yes, the poor are better off on paper in a lot of ways, but it’s lead to a massive consolidation of wealth that could be much better distributed.

I think my real point is: stop trying to make online discourse like in-person discourse, or, double down and expect the same “proof of work” that being physically present requires.

On top of that, there are limits to the extent and volume of any in-person communication that simply isn’t reproducible online without massive artificial constraints.

I think we need to revisit things we consider valid in person and not try to conflate them to be the same once we are online at a massive scale as a literal species. People forget that there were only millions of people online in the 90s, and there are billions now, this is a new era, and it requires new thinking and new unified action, but that’s really not possible when large swaths of humanity are tribal, nationalistic, scared, hungry, poor, angry, and manipulated.

I almost feel like arguing about free speech online is putting the cart before the horse.