8/ So prediction: social media will eventually eliminate racism via ephemeralization, because on the social graph isolation is atrophy
Conversation
Replying to
9/ Which isn't to say humans will turn into saints overnight. We'll still be star-bellied sneetches.
2
4
Replying to
10/ But race as central part of social identity has been disrupted. Racists today seem *technologically* odd like people who use land-lines
2
2
7
Replying to
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
3
Replying to
12/ Which means ultimately, it's rather cruel to laugh at spelling bee racists: they are digitally isolated, technologically obsolete.
3
1
2
Replying to
13/ Where racism is threatened, such as urban areas, it might react violently, but this is more like taxicab drivers rioting against Uber
1
1
Replying to
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
1
1
Replying to
15/ There *is* such an outlet online as well: explosive reactionary fringe blogging. But closing ranks on social graph is death by isolation
2
1
Replying to
16/ In summary, racism, the cognitive technology equivalent of slide rules for interpersonal relationships, is headed for the museum.
6
1
1
Replying to
if anything, the capacity to adopt hip, unracist stances has a substitution effect on structures that get depoliticized.
2
1

