Home Concepts  Internet habits Hegemony? Civil unrest Credits

 

Herd Instinct?

Once a website attracts sufficient followers, the followers may translate their hatred or common disgust into action. 

The speed with which the anti-globalisation protestors could gather themselves and disrupt the G8 summit in Genova and WTO meeting in Seattle suggests that the ability of the Internet to induce civil unrest. 

Kant’s hope that debates can blunt the antisocial edge in people is  unrealized by the fact that certain websites attract like-minded people who block out perspectives which are different from theirs. 

Their actions also do not have a high degree of accountability as their organisations might be low profile and escape the attention of the authorities. 

Another worry is that the followers do not know the real issue involved and merely follow the crowds. 

A caricature illustrates this point: Two anti-globalisation protestors are resting and enjoying their cups of tea (from China) and Stackbucks coffee (from Brazil),  ironically enjoying the fruits of globalisation.

See sites on anti-globalisation

http://www.oneworld.net/
http://www.j2000usa.org/
http://www.civsoc.com/

 

*Photo from Time Magazine