4/ Cities are less racist than the countryside imo. Even if neighborhoods are segregated, there is humanizing contact.
-
-
Replying to @vgr
5/ Social media is curious: it partly disrupts racism by hiding irrelevant context, partly amplifies via filter bubbles.
2 replies 2 retweets 5 likes -
Replying to @vgr
6/ So in terms of capacity to disrupt racism as cognitive technology, online = between town and country. BUT a lot more room, so net plus.
1 reply 0 retweets 1 like -
Replying to @vgr
7/ The reason spelling-bee racists seem so funny is that their very choice of target marks them as living in uncool part of online world
2 replies 1 retweet 3 likes -
Replying to @vgr
8/ So prediction: social media will eventually eliminate racism via ephemeralization, because on the social graph isolation is atrophy
2 replies 0 retweets 4 likes -
Replying to @vgr
9/ Which isn't to say humans will turn into saints overnight. We'll still be star-bellied sneetches.
2 replies 0 retweets 4 likes -
Replying to @vgr
10/ But race as central part of social identity has been disrupted. Racists today seem *technologically* odd like people who use land-lines
2 replies 2 retweets 7 likes -
Replying to @vgr
11/ Once you know 1 person of given race personally, even if only online, and enjoy relationship, it's basically impossible to be racist.
5 replies 0 retweets 3 likes -
Replying to @vgr
12/ Which means ultimately, it's rather cruel to laugh at spelling bee racists: they are digitally isolated, technologically obsolete.
3 replies 1 retweet 2 likes -
Replying to @vgr
13/ Where racism is threatened, such as urban areas, it might react violently, but this is more like taxicab drivers rioting against Uber
1 reply 0 retweets 1 like
14/ As LBJ found out in 60s, gains against racism results in pent-up violence being released as people sense detente failing, but net gain
-
-
Replying to @vgr
15/ There *is* such an outlet online as well: explosive reactionary fringe blogging. But closing ranks on social graph is death by isolation
2 replies 0 retweets 1 like -
Replying to @vgr
16/ In summary, racism, the cognitive technology equivalent of slide rules for interpersonal relationships, is headed for the museum.
6 replies 1 retweet 1 like - Show replies
New conversation -
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.