Saturday, March 23, 2002

Transcript of our Message Forum with Cass Sunstein discussing Republic.com
Professor Sunstein, in _Republic.com_ you make the argument that in addition
to the obvious benefits of the Internet, there is a danger. Specifically,
we can so tailor what we see and read on the Internet that this opportunity
of direct communication with like-minded folk also threatens to isolate us.
If we hear only opinions that echo our own, we run the risk not only of
missing other sides of a debate, but we could actually run the risk of
developing extreme views.

My question is this: aren't you underestimating the majority of Internet
users? More than one third of Americans have Internet access--I believe
that we are now close to 40%. Isn't it safe to assume that the majority of
these aren't extremists and won't become so? And if it is true that we run
the risk of isolating ourselves through careful tailoring of what we see and
read, what would you propose?
http://www.pup.princeton.edu/sunstein/sun_forum.txt

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