Well said! I thought that with the increase in communication the Internet provided, that many positive things would result. They did. And, a lot of negatives.
If I had a strong hatred of, say, kids with Downs, I probably felt I was the only one, felt ashamed, and did not dare say in public how I felt.
I think this was, in general, a good thing.
However, for all the good the Internet has done, the Internet allowed people with previously “shameful” feelings to discover others with similar feelings and to form groups “normalizing” their feelings and even, with the reinforce of their fellows, to come to believe that their feelings are OK, not something they should seek help for.
It used to be that Joe might have a wacky conspiracy theory, but he knew if he told the people around him, they would think he was crazy. So, crazy ideas did not get a platform. They did not easily spread.
Mainly, the platforms were controlled by educated, experienced professionals (whether on the left or right) … no huge conspiracy, just that is who got promoted.
The Internet gave everyone a platform, which is good and bad.
