Letters | Is Hong Kong ready for reconciliation? The writing is on Facebook walls
- The ‘tribalism’ that results from the growing power of online technology companies is much in evidence in Hong Kong
In the past weeks, I have had the chance to talk to people from different walks of life. Much of the “news” and “facts” thrown across the room had never been heard of by the other side. Based on what they knew, every group I talked to tried to correct those with opposing views, guiding them back onto the “right track”.
The chapter on “tribalism” was exceptionally remarkable. He pointed out how the domination of online news media blinkers each persons’ world view, strengthens our perception of “reality” and diminishes our willingness to listen to opposite views.
We’ve seen tribalism throughout history and it’s nothing to fear. What is worrying is modern society’s thirst for speed, which has made us relinquish the need to digest information. We’ve forgotten there are ideas outside our comfort zone and the importance of listening to them. But that’s how our brains work.
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It seems to me that the world has been plunged into a kind of religious fanaticism. That’s nothing to fear either, if we live in a place where we get to choose what we read, and people are principled and virtuous.