[nothal]

I disagree that these conversations are inevitable and I disagree about your contention that the marketplace of ideas is no longer a foundational concept in our discourse.

People filtered in the past by what they cared about and who they spoke to. Now much of that filtering and indeed much of your friends are algorithmic suggestions. We're put into interactions on the internet with people you'd conceivably never meet offline. The fact that wasn't true in the past isn't white supremacy or the patriarchy or manufactured consent, it's logistic. It simply wasn't possible for the average person pre-phone, full-stop. Now people follow the people that they feel epitomize the precepts of the identity they agree with most which means naturally the popular people to follow must either become purer representations of the ideology or become less popular than those who are willing to adopt a more refined tankie, neo-nazi, athletic, techie, or what have you interests based persona.

And many many people still believe strongly in the marketplace of ideas. Just look at the Harper's letter from last week. I doubt the many intellectuals there don't represent a broad base of three population.

[luckylion]

> People filtered in the past by what they cared about and who they spoke to. Now much of that filtering and indeed much of your friends are algorithmic suggestions.

But the suggestions are based on what you like (or what the algorithm "thinks" you like), and I don't believe that we're converting communists into libertarians because Twitter says "other people you might like: ".

The process is very similar but has gotten gotten much more efficient, because you're not limited to the people in your immediate vicinity. You don't need to move to a big city to find other people who think like you. The world has become a village, and you can now connect with your ideological doppelgangers around the world from the comfort of your home.

[monadic2]

Yes, the harper’s letter is an excellent illustration of manufactured consent.