Friday, November 19, 2010

Free Internet and totalitarianism

This whole internet revolution was lauded on the premise that the technology will reduce the transmission cost of information. Everyone will posses same access to information and there will be minimal arbitrage in access. One of the expectation was that there will be a single fact. You cant lie and get away with that. Internet is supposed to make totalitarian regime difficult to manage as people will have access to other sources of information. 1984 will be only a fiction. People will be able to cross-check statements and will not be hoodwinked by lying statesman.

But has that worked. When I see these groups of ill-informed media analysts, pundits who distort fact to prove their agenda and get away with that. When I see people believe those lies and persuaded to be led by them. Even though checking facts is a mouse click away, people believe outright lies.

That forces me to believe that facts are as good as source. We human do have a need of trusting someone and being led by them. Thats why anyone can distort facts and if he/she has an convincing argument to make or he/she can harness the infallibility present in human nature, that person will be able to carry his/her word. So 1984 is not a fiction, there can easily be another hitler.

"Opinion matters and not truth because we human minimize the usage of rational capacity"

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