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Parent Category: Lower-Intermediate News Lessons

Category: Science and Technology

Written by Chris Cotter

People share opposite opinions and ideas less and less because of the Internet. It's easy to find websites, online newspapers and magazines, blogs, and forums which agree with your viewpoints. For example, if you believe global warming is a hoax, then there are more than one million websites. If you believe that the US government planned the 9/11 terrorist attacks, then there are more than seven million websites.

Without debate and discussion, imbalanced views are the result. People who have the same opinion have one-sided discussions and never hear opposite opinions. In other words, if a group of people discussed the benefits of the Kyoto Protocol, then almost everyone would support the treaty. Almost no one would talk about possible negatives. In addition, a person's confidence grows when other people don't disagree, and this leads to extreme views.

Discussions by large groups of people who agree with one another have the potential for good in the world, though. The Civil Rights Movement in the US is only one example. However, people could get together, become overconfident in their opinions, and yet be wrong.

Sociologists worry about less debate. Anyone who disagrees could be seen as the enemy in a future war of ideals and beliefs.