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Oft times we see accusations of "group think" here on SoylentNews. Now there is some actual science on the formation and function of "echo chambers", as reported by SESYNC:
A new study from researchers at the University of Maryland (UMD) and the National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC) demonstrates that the highly contentious debate on climate change is fueled in part by how information flows throughout policy networks.
...
"Our research shows how the echo chamber can block progress toward a political resolution on climate change. Individuals who get their information from the same sources with the same perspective may be under the impression that theirs is the dominant perspective, regardless of what the science says," said Dr. Dana R. Fisher, a professor of sociology at UMD and corresponding author who led the research.
I would guess, based on this study abstract (actual paper unfortunately behind paywall), that SoylentNews is in no danger of becoming an echo chamber, but we seem to have some refugees who are still stuck in particular bubbles.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by dyingtolive on Thursday May 28 2015, @06:44AM
I think we've seen a lot of these echo chambers at work, and we informally scream about them often. See FoxNews, Slashdot, tumblr, ad nauseum for real world examples we're all likely too familiar with. The scariest thing to me is the groups that are forming and the continual levels of extremism that they appear to stretch toward. I'm glad someone is looking at it, if even in a very limited scope.
I'd like to believe there's the mental Harrison Bergeron among us who are genuinely capable of truly existing beyond that. I have no evidence of such a thing and I'm not claiming to be any such person; I'm neither that bright nor open minded, but it's a particular form of optimism that I desperately hold on to.
Don't blame me, I voted for moose wang!
(Score: 2) by sjames on Thursday May 28 2015, @10:04AM
That ability can be cultivated. Cultivate it in yourself, then pass it on to others.
Some people ossify when they get old. Others broaden their perspective through experience.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 28 2015, @10:44PM
You mention those sites and you leave off this one?
NSA is bad! (NSA is bad!. . . NSA is bad!. . nsa is bad!. . .)
Snowden is infallible! (Snowden is infallible! . . . Snowden is infallible! . . . snowden is infallible! . . .)
All police are evil! (All police are evil! . . . All police are evil! . . . all police are evil! . . .)
Some oversimplified "libertarian" rant! (Some oversimplified "libertarian" rant! . . . Some oversimplified "libertarian" rant! . . . some oversimplified "libertarian" rant! . . .)
Assange is not a douche! (Assange is not a douche! . . . Assange is not a douche! . . . assange is not a douche! . . .)
Can't you just hear the echos?? Echo chambers define the sacred cows of a site, and boy is there a lot of mooing here.
(Score: 2) by dyingtolive on Thursday May 28 2015, @11:05PM
The comment in the summary covered SN. Didn't think it was necessary to mention, but yes, you're generally right.
Don't blame me, I voted for moose wang!