The lifeless life in echo chambers

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Given the want of people to possess a set of opinions that they catapult to establish their strong existence in the society, I get into a state of contemplation to trace the origin of the ideas or opinions they propagate. I come across a variety of people throwing opinions backed strongly by their ideological force. A slightly detailed observation reveals the fact that their opinion is not an instant reaction, rather it’s a manufactured commodity prepared by investing a substantial amount of time and energy in a group of like-minded people. This group of like-minded people can be formed on the basis of religion, race, ideology, similar thoughts, community, and other sectarian hypotheses. These groups are aimed at gratuitously reinforcing a particular thought or in some cases a classic figment of imagination to form a fait accompli, irrespective of the veracity of the facts. This very idea of framing a concocted theory is similar to the exercise performed inside an echo chamber. In doing so, the access to the counter-factual arguments and facts is blocked, and the group is left with an unfettered thought, which later masquerades as the absolute truth. The unforeseen repercussions that are engendered due to the exhaustive exchange of ideas travel a considerable distance, and frame a deep-seated version of preferences, resulting in the creation of hardwired and dogmatic people. The preferences differ these people from others, and over a period of time, a vacuum is created among the groups of different people, which results in a severe decline in bonhomie in the society. The attenuation of cordial disposition in the society adds to the possibility of clashes and conflicts among communities, which may create the never-ending acrimony among the people.

Image source: pixabay

In the aeon of technological outbursts, these groups have taken a new shape. They are beautifully structured on digital platforms, more precisely, on social media. In many cases, their formation is utterly desultory, but gradually an unintentional purpose is achieved in the form of emotional propaganda. The best part is, it’s not an occasional game, it happens regularly and relentlessly. If you consciously look at your social media, a divine revelation would come in the form of a set of information that you consume happens to be of almost the same nature. You get news, posts, information merely on the basis of your preferences. Those preferences are nothing but the result of amplifying your thoughts while reveling in the cozy echo chamber. This pattern is often witnessed in the process of polarization in the social realm. High on polarized thoughts, people conceitedly narrow the gap for a courteous and sensible discussion, resulting in the erosion of the principles of public discourse. Consequently, a civilized world is transformed into a world of hatred and verbal madness.

Image source: pixabay

In order to preserve and sustain the civilized culture, it’s indispensable to ensure the norms of civic discourse. Going by the present trend on the media, especially, the outlets high on jingoism, it appears to be a pipe dream. Nevertheless, there’s a ray of hope to rejuvenate a culture of giving space to counter-factual arguments, which in simple words implies to allow dissent. The culture of listening to the cries of dissensions has proven to be salubrious for the evolution of society over and over agian. In layman’s words, it can be understood as the characteristics of an open mind. An open mind is where you can hold two mutually opposing ideas at the same time. In a way, the sounds of disagreements offer you multiple perspectives. And in order to understand the mysteries of the material and scientific world, we have to have multiple perspectives. So, get out of the illusory and velvety echo chambers, and pave the way for a well-defined macrocosm for intellectual beings, humans.