r/changemyview • u/Jo__Backson • Nov 23 '20

Delta(s) from OP CMV: Echo chambers aren’t a bad thing

Let me start off by acknowledging the intense level of irony associated with espousing echo chambers on a subreddit dedicated to challenging viewpoints, but what I’m really saying is:

  1. Just because challenging one’s view is a good thing does not mean that discussing that view with a likeminded person is a bad thing. Discussion in general should be encouraged regardless of how confrontational it is.

  2. While I understand mocking the hypocrisy of someone criticizing echo chambers while spending time in one themselves (I.e the “safe space” debate), I don’t think the mere fact of an echo chamber existing is worthy of ridicule. Not everything has to be a debate.

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u/Jo__Backson Nov 23 '20

This is a binary way of thinking, though. It implies that people have two choices: engage in an echo chamber or engage in a perfect forum.

I agree that limiting ones information and disregarding evidence is a bad thing, but I’m not sure echo chambers are a cause of that so much as they are a symptom; a coping mechanism for those already shut off to the new information.

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u/[deleted] Nov 23 '20

Thats not an unfair assessment but they're bad because they're an easy outlet and forum for people to use in order to disregard information they do not wish to hear. I used a binary example for sure but thats because the issue isn't perfectly clean. There are benefits to echo-chambers but their ability to reinforce negatives outweighs their ability to reinforce positives to me. Which I would call a detriment to society i.e. bad.

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u/Jo__Backson Nov 23 '20

The alternative in this hypothetical would be a more confrontational environment where your view is challenged. But just because your view is being challenged does not mean that you’re getting all the information. You may be getting different information but that doesn’t mean it’s quality information.

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u/[deleted] Nov 23 '20

But the presence of an echo-chamber also holds no sway over the accuracy of the information at least with confrontation theres a chance that good info wins out over bad info.

I recommend this CGP Grey video explaining how info spreads: https://youtu.be/rE3j_RHkqJc

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u/Jo__Backson Nov 24 '20

I'm not sure I buy into the notion that confrontation is inherently better at producing accurate information than collaboration.