We will discuss Jon Ronson’s So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed at our meeting on Wednesday, November 2nd at 4:15p.m. in the GAHS library. Please post questions, comments, concerns, criticism, and the like on this blog prior to, during, or after our meeting (before November 4th if you want extra credit). All questions and responses should indicate an active reading of the text and function to move the conversation forward. (Note: surface-level or obvious questions and responses will not count as participation.)
Those of you unable to attend due to scheduling conflicts may participate in the discussion below by posting a discussion question and offering a detailed response, or by responding to two questions already posted. The note above applies here as well, so heed it!
Something that spurred my thought was Ronson’s idea of the relationship between humans and ideology. He hints at the idea that the two are hard to reconcile effectively, but I was wondering if humans more naturally change those whom they associate themselves with or develop and tweak their ideologies to reflect those they seek approval of. In other words, do people more easily change their ideologies, or their associates? Internet culture as a whole and the innumerable subcultures within would at first glance seem to suggest that people seek out others with similar ideas and tastes. However, looking closer at the dynamics of many forums and websites shows that a smaller number of vocal individuals often drive the broader strokes of discussions and arguments: the crowds of commenters likely follow the more esteemed and outspoken few. Granted, people who frequent sites will have certain predispositions and ideas that cause them to favor that site in the first place, but once inside that contained social ecosystem, the priority of person or idea changes.