The Milgram experiment teaches that we should not expect much when the choice is between one person and those who consider themselves part of the establishment or obeying the ideas of the establishment. I am sure few people are in touch enough with themselves to be able to say with any confidence whether or not they would electrocute someone when ordered to. I'm sure most people would say no automatically, and forget past experiences that show their willingness to give in to peer pressure.
How many readers stood up to a bully in school picking on someone? How many of you ran to that persons aid? I'd expect anyone who raised a hand for that would be less likely to electrocute someone because a person of authority told them to; much like I would expect them to form ranks after at least a modicum of thought. Those whose past experience involves being the bully, being part of the bullies posse, forming a taunt circle to keep the victim in a ring shouting "fight" or just keeping your head down and minding your business - those of you who have that history, you are going to electrocute someone. You are going to perpetrate the status quo simply because you were told to. You might have thought for a nanosecond about not going with the flow - but it's expected so you do.
Too many people choose to look the other way, walk the other way or join in and hold someone down. We don't think that is something we are going to do until it happens and then we learn something new about ourselves; whether it is something we will repress or savor as a victory, only time will tell.
Too often the peer pressure of the moment says to go with the flow and do what the majority is doing, even if it is wrong.
So what does electrocuting bullies have to do with DailyKos; the crazy amount of electronic bullying that's what! The peer pressure exerted in this community, whether real or imagined inspires some pretty nasty cyber-bullying to not only be perpetrated, but actively encouraged through uprating/reccing.
I think it's sad that DailyKos has so many close minded people on it. Human nature being what it is, it should be no surprise that regardless of the demographic there will be a lot of close minded individuals in the pool. Knowing that doesn't make it any less saddening when presented with the evidence.
When I first found DailyKos, I was a silent reader. I am sure there are lots of us out there, not logged in but viewing frequently. Devouring articles for political sustenance on our breaks, forming our own opinions and moving on to the next article. Yet sometimes we don't. Sometimes the silent readers are tempted to log in and comment.
Expressing an opinion online is always a dangerous act. Expressing a contrary opinion online makes internet anonymity a true curse and a blessing.
My disappointment with DailyKos comes when someone offers a counterpoint to an opinion that has been expressed by one of the main contributors - and the ranks close in tight and viciously in a full display of their close-mindedness.
"Go back to your rock troll!" "How dare you disagree with ! +50 recs" "Stupid Racist Republicans like you ruin America!"
On a recent article, I noticed the regular users beating down an individual after digging through the offending members prior posts to dredge examples of how they must obviously be a troll, and immediately commenting on how few past comments the individual may have left as proof to this claim. These comments were disgustingly uprated/rec'ced with frequency, though they were personal attacks and not about the substance of the message. The perpetrators even knew what they were doing was wrong, going so far as to make a comment suggesting that they "should be 'nice'" but were anything but.
All the while, the point the poor soul left is still hanging while the Kossacks beat upon the individual enmasse for having a different idea on how things should be.
You might think that chasing away the silent reader is "survival of the fittest" because they are obviously being too sensitive to words from a stranger. Yet the only real result of chasing people with alternative ideas away that I can see is a mass inbreeding of ideas, distilled into something equally as vile as the Tea-baggers. Something that has grown Stagnate and smelly and needs to be stirred up and freshened.
I can't help but think how much richer the dialogue could be if people could stop shouting down any thought that differs from the status quo idea they have already proscribed to. That can easily be distilled for what it is - the majority drowning out the minority. The majority using the same tactics - you are not one of us, you are other! You are disgusting and low! Here is every filthy thing I can think of to call you, to say to you, to dehumanize you and not have my account suspended in the process. You are not like me so you are nothing.
The willingness of some community members to immediately lash out to new ideas demonstrates their own similarity with those on the "Right" who do the same. Each side mocking the other while the world crumbles around them and they have another glass of kool-aid. I don't care if the Kool-Aid is Red or Blue, I just care if it's toxic. By lashing out at others for different ideas - that's saying "drink this Kool-Aid now or GFU!"
Those who automatically drink worry me. Those who don't want to at least know what's in it first, and what's in the other glasses on offer but drink it because someone said to. Those are the kind of people who will say "are his ears supposed to smoke?" after they turn on the voltage.
For the silent reader I say if you feel like commenting feel free! For those often drowned out on the pages when they try to express themselves; my apologies! Don't get chased away just because they are 'popular' and you are a "noob"! The boards and comments need you more than ever. There is nothing intellectually stimulating reading everyone express complete agreement with everyone else but there is when there is substance to mull over. So what if everyone is applauding the other idea - just remind yourself, when they get personal and start name calling and you have stuck to the facts and they are blindly defending their position that they will most likely fail the Milgram!