Comments on: Social Media: The New Path to World Peace & An End to Racism? http://blog.thoughtpick.com/2009/07/social-media-the-new-path-to-world-peace-an-end-to-racism.html A unique perspective of the Web and social media... Thu, 18 Mar 2010 06:56:05 +0200 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: 5 Ways for Using Social Media to Bring about World Change! | Thoughtpick Blog http://blog.thoughtpick.com/2009/07/social-media-the-new-path-to-world-peace-an-end-to-racism.html/comment-page-1#comment-12928 5 Ways for Using Social Media to Bring about World Change! | Thoughtpick Blog Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:56:50 +0000 http://blog.thoughtpick.com/?p=1471#comment-12928 [...] we are trying to bring an end racism, promote environmental awareness, protect children’s rights or achieve any other cause, I [...] [...] we are trying to bring an end racism, promote environmental awareness, protect children’s rights or achieve any other cause, I [...]

]]> By: racismreview.com » Blog Archive » Facebook Racism Reaches New Low with Assassination Poll http://blog.thoughtpick.com/2009/07/social-media-the-new-path-to-world-peace-an-end-to-racism.html/comment-page-1#comment-12516 racismreview.com » Blog Archive » Facebook Racism Reaches New Low with Assassination Poll Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:38:21 +0000 http://blog.thoughtpick.com/?p=1471#comment-12516 [...] So much for social media offering a new path to world peace and an end to racism. [...] [...] So much for social media offering a new path to world peace and an end to racism. [...]

]]> By: Social Media & NGOs: Crossing Boundaries & Building Bridges! | Thoughtpick Blog http://blog.thoughtpick.com/2009/07/social-media-the-new-path-to-world-peace-an-end-to-racism.html/comment-page-1#comment-11855 Social Media & NGOs: Crossing Boundaries & Building Bridges! | Thoughtpick Blog Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:15:25 +0000 http://blog.thoughtpick.com/?p=1471#comment-11855 [...] great power that social media possesses in addition to my sincere faith that it has the ability to pave the path for world peace. The thought reoccurred to me yesterday in a rather different face and form: the power social media [...] [...] great power that social media possesses in addition to my sincere faith that it has the ability to pave the path for world peace. The thought reoccurred to me yesterday in a rather different face and form: the power social media [...]

]]> By: Jim Crabb http://blog.thoughtpick.com/2009/07/social-media-the-new-path-to-world-peace-an-end-to-racism.html/comment-page-1#comment-12343 Jim Crabb Tue, 04 Aug 2009 17:37:40 +0000 http://blog.thoughtpick.com/?p=1471#comment-12343 Some random thoughts...a lot (maybe you could or have done some research) twitters are younger people. It is exciting to see so many young people who have just rejected, ignored, or just somehow escaped the ignorance perpetuated by thier different cultures...the fact that tweets are short also limits the chances of writing innocent but dumb things that can be misconstrued (where is the spelling checker!). Some random thoughts…a lot (maybe you could or have done some research) twitters are younger people. It is exciting to see so many young people who have just rejected, ignored, or just somehow escaped the ignorance perpetuated by thier different cultures…the fact that tweets are short also limits the chances of writing innocent but dumb things that can be misconstrued (where is the spelling checker!).

]]> By: Jim Crabb http://blog.thoughtpick.com/2009/07/social-media-the-new-path-to-world-peace-an-end-to-racism.html/comment-page-1#comment-11795 Jim Crabb Tue, 04 Aug 2009 07:37:40 +0000 http://blog.thoughtpick.com/?p=1471#comment-11795 Some random thoughts...a lot (maybe you could or have done some research) twitters are younger people. It is exciting to see so many young people who have just rejected, ignored, or just somehow escaped the ignorance perpetuated by thier different cultures...the fact that tweets are short also limits the chances of writing innocent but dumb things that can be misconstrued (where is the spelling checker!). Some random thoughts…a lot (maybe you could or have done some research) twitters are younger people. It is exciting to see so many young people who have just rejected, ignored, or just somehow escaped the ignorance perpetuated by thier different cultures…the fact that tweets are short also limits the chances of writing innocent but dumb things that can be misconstrued (where is the spelling checker!).

]]> By: More Facebook Racism | racismreview.com http://blog.thoughtpick.com/2009/07/social-media-the-new-path-to-world-peace-an-end-to-racism.html/comment-page-1#comment-11741 More Facebook Racism | racismreview.com Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:14:07 +0000 http://blog.thoughtpick.com/?p=1471#comment-11741 [...] of the youth culture. [...] of the youth culture.

]]> By: Tim Rees http://blog.thoughtpick.com/2009/07/social-media-the-new-path-to-world-peace-an-end-to-racism.html/comment-page-1#comment-11638 Tim Rees Mon, 20 Jul 2009 05:38:19 +0000 http://blog.thoughtpick.com/?p=1471#comment-11638 This is very interesting. I have only been using Twitter properly for little over a month after signing up earlier in the year and intitially having decided it was a waste of my time. Upon a second look I discovered TweetDeck and that changed the whole tweeting experience for me. Rather than sending tweets out blind, I discovered that by hashtagging topics of interest I could get directly plugged into an international community discussing my topics of choice! I found myself increasingly excited by the potential of Twitter and that excitement continues to grow. Unlike other media communities, on Twitter, if I find an individual's perspective offensive, I can simply unfollow. This allows me to focus positively on individual's who share my interests and we can share perspectives, thus Twitter becomes an enjoyable experience, unlike other interactive forums where I constantly found myself bogged down in the negativity of individual's who would belligerently insist I should accept everything they say as the absolute truth. Racists are hypocrites in my view and, in my opinion, whatever they have to say is worthless, although I agree with a world of uncensored free speech. Twitter is great because I can simply switch these people off. In normal everyday life, racists and bigots are an increasingly small minority, but the problem with a minority is they tend to shout loudly in order to be heard. Your research shows that the vast majority on Twitter are not prepared to tolerate racism and simply switch it off. I like that. This is very interesting. I have only been using Twitter properly for little over a month after signing up earlier in the year and intitially having decided it was a waste of my time. Upon a second look I discovered TweetDeck and that changed the whole tweeting experience for me. Rather than sending tweets out blind, I discovered that by hashtagging topics of interest I could get directly plugged into an international community discussing my topics of choice! I found myself increasingly excited by the potential of Twitter and that excitement continues to grow. Unlike other media communities, on Twitter, if I find an individual's perspective offensive, I can simply unfollow. This allows me to focus positively on individual's who share my interests and we can share perspectives, thus Twitter becomes an enjoyable experience, unlike other interactive forums where I constantly found myself bogged down in the negativity of individual's who would belligerently insist I should accept everything they say as the absolute truth. Racists are hypocrites in my view and, in my opinion, whatever they have to say is worthless, although I agree with a world of uncensored free speech. Twitter is great because I can simply switch these people off. In normal everyday life, racists and bigots are an increasingly small minority, but the problem with a minority is they tend to shout loudly in order to be heard. Your research shows that the vast majority on Twitter are not prepared to tolerate racism and simply switch it off. I like that.

]]> By: Zee http://blog.thoughtpick.com/2009/07/social-media-the-new-path-to-world-peace-an-end-to-racism.html/comment-page-1#comment-1756 Zee Sun, 12 Jul 2009 09:26:11 +0000 http://blog.thoughtpick.com/?p=1471#comment-1756 Well done BEE.. you are amazing.. keep on sweetie..<br>good luck Well done BEE.. you are amazing.. keep on sweetie..
good luck

]]> By: chrisharringtonjp http://blog.thoughtpick.com/2009/07/social-media-the-new-path-to-world-peace-an-end-to-racism.html/comment-page-1#comment-1683 chrisharringtonjp Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:01:19 +0000 http://blog.thoughtpick.com/?p=1471#comment-1683 FadiPick, yes, processing of inherited memes can take time and I think it is dependent on the mental flexibility (ability to adjust to new ideas), novelty-experience (history of exposure to new ideas), and breadth of knowledge of the receiver.<br><br>Perhaps the best way for, for instance, traditional cultures to survive the process is to embrace the Internet and social media and become an active participant without losing sight of their unique values. The best way to do that is to empower the youth while providing nurturing and support. Any attempt to resist the tide of information, which now represents the almost the entirety of human knowledge, can only result in drowning in it.<br><br>I have strong faith that the youth, when given access to all of human knowledge as well as nurturing support, can develop the ability to make better choices than we have done before them, and social media is an essential enabler in that process. FadiPick, yes, processing of inherited memes can take time and I think it is dependent on the mental flexibility (ability to adjust to new ideas), novelty-experience (history of exposure to new ideas), and breadth of knowledge of the receiver.

Perhaps the best way for, for instance, traditional cultures to survive the process is to embrace the Internet and social media and become an active participant without losing sight of their unique values. The best way to do that is to empower the youth while providing nurturing and support. Any attempt to resist the tide of information, which now represents the almost the entirety of human knowledge, can only result in drowning in it.

I have strong faith that the youth, when given access to all of human knowledge as well as nurturing support, can develop the ability to make better choices than we have done before them, and social media is an essential enabler in that process.

]]> By: FadiPick http://blog.thoughtpick.com/2009/07/social-media-the-new-path-to-world-peace-an-end-to-racism.html/comment-page-1#comment-1680 FadiPick Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:02:45 +0000 http://blog.thoughtpick.com/?p=1471#comment-1680 chris, that is the beauty of social media, it brings closer to each other, face to face, to address and embrace our differences. Usually racism comes out of ignorance and failure to realize the humanity in the other. <br><br>I think that in today's world, knowledge sharing it easier than ever. It is so easy to share information and it is so easy to access it. People from around the world will pick up. Technology is easy to transfer but the problem would lie in the inherited memes - that would be the hardest part to overcome. chris, that is the beauty of social media, it brings closer to each other, face to face, to address and embrace our differences. Usually racism comes out of ignorance and failure to realize the humanity in the other.

I think that in today's world, knowledge sharing it easier than ever. It is so easy to share information and it is so easy to access it. People from around the world will pick up. Technology is easy to transfer but the problem would lie in the inherited memes – that would be the hardest part to overcome.

]]> By: chrisharringtonjp http://blog.thoughtpick.com/2009/07/social-media-the-new-path-to-world-peace-an-end-to-racism.html/comment-page-1#comment-1674 chrisharringtonjp Wed, 08 Jul 2009 07:56:47 +0000 http://blog.thoughtpick.com/?p=1471#comment-1674 Great post!<br>I imagine that perhaps those who have a desire to use modern social media actively are already less likely to be burdened by the unfortunate emotional baggage of racism or intolerance.<br>However, I do think that this open, non-private modern type of social media can in fact play an important role in moving us toward global peace. Information technology augments and molds our cognitive abilities to a greater or lesser degree depending on individual mental flexibility. None are more flexible then youth. As more and more youth in the developed world grow up in such an environment, we will head toward that global tipping point where movement toward the compassion and altruism which I believe is our nature when not suppressed will finally become the norm rather than the exception.<br>It is essential that the world focus on inviting into the mix those nations who still believe information needs to be controlled. Once the technically literate youth come of age, and the old guard have retired, the only remaining potential for conflict will be due to a knowledge and awareness gap between industrialized populations. That potential is to me second only to the global environmental crisis as an issue for concern. And as long as a gap exists, the old guard mentality can rationalize its continued existence. Great post!
I imagine that perhaps those who have a desire to use modern social media actively are already less likely to be burdened by the unfortunate emotional baggage of racism or intolerance.
However, I do think that this open, non-private modern type of social media can in fact play an important role in moving us toward global peace. Information technology augments and molds our cognitive abilities to a greater or lesser degree depending on individual mental flexibility. None are more flexible then youth. As more and more youth in the developed world grow up in such an environment, we will head toward that global tipping point where movement toward the compassion and altruism which I believe is our nature when not suppressed will finally become the norm rather than the exception.
It is essential that the world focus on inviting into the mix those nations who still believe information needs to be controlled. Once the technically literate youth come of age, and the old guard have retired, the only remaining potential for conflict will be due to a knowledge and awareness gap between industrialized populations. That potential is to me second only to the global environmental crisis as an issue for concern. And as long as a gap exists, the old guard mentality can rationalize its continued existence.

]]> By: Beiruta http://blog.thoughtpick.com/2009/07/social-media-the-new-path-to-world-peace-an-end-to-racism.html/comment-page-1#comment-1666 Beiruta Tue, 07 Jul 2009 04:40:00 +0000 http://blog.thoughtpick.com/?p=1471#comment-1666 Hello all :) <br><br>After reading your comments and replies, which I kindly appreciate, I thought I need to explain something: The above article was based on a Twitter experience and since twitter is a very popular social media channel, from there came the title :)<br><br>Now, moving on, I am sure there are thousands of people out there who might not own a PC or use social media all in all but looking at the numbers of those who do, I can safely say: "they can make a difference".<br><br>Moreover, I think that we, the people who use media, follow the news and formulate opinions, are the ones who count at the end of the day... The less fortunate people have so much more to worry about such as finding a shelter over their heads! We, the people who have blogs, social media involvement and access to forums, discussions with millions of others out there, we are the ones who can make a difference for those less fortunate...<br><br>Please note that I, in no way, tried to sell that social media "will bring world peace", I posed a question trying to find out what you think of the matter since you all are active members of this great platform for "change".<br><br>Finally, I personally believe that social media has filled a gap between many peoples across the world making it more possible to share opinions, learn about other cultures and yes, be more tolerant and understanding towards other races, ethnicities, religions and thoughts.<br><br>Best always... Hello all :)

After reading your comments and replies, which I kindly appreciate, I thought I need to explain something: The above article was based on a Twitter experience and since twitter is a very popular social media channel, from there came the title :)

Now, moving on, I am sure there are thousands of people out there who might not own a PC or use social media all in all but looking at the numbers of those who do, I can safely say: “they can make a difference”.

Moreover, I think that we, the people who use media, follow the news and formulate opinions, are the ones who count at the end of the day… The less fortunate people have so much more to worry about such as finding a shelter over their heads! We, the people who have blogs, social media involvement and access to forums, discussions with millions of others out there, we are the ones who can make a difference for those less fortunate…

Please note that I, in no way, tried to sell that social media “will bring world peace”, I posed a question trying to find out what you think of the matter since you all are active members of this great platform for “change”.

Finally, I personally believe that social media has filled a gap between many peoples across the world making it more possible to share opinions, learn about other cultures and yes, be more tolerant and understanding towards other races, ethnicities, religions and thoughts.

Best always…

]]> By: Joe http://blog.thoughtpick.com/2009/07/social-media-the-new-path-to-world-peace-an-end-to-racism.html/comment-page-1#comment-1665 Joe Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:04:32 +0000 http://blog.thoughtpick.com/?p=1471#comment-1665 I tend to agree with Amer- life being in the public space make people more careful. Social Media may make the world SEEM less racist, but its hard to say. Perhaps being exposed to open-minded thoughts and opinions can really tone people down. I do like the trend though :) I tend to agree with Amer- life being in the public space make people more careful. Social Media may make the world SEEM less racist, but its hard to say. Perhaps being exposed to open-minded thoughts and opinions can really tone people down. I do like the trend though :)

]]> By: Amer Kawar http://blog.thoughtpick.com/2009/07/social-media-the-new-path-to-world-peace-an-end-to-racism.html/comment-page-1#comment-1663 Amer Kawar Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:22:48 +0000 http://blog.thoughtpick.com/?p=1471#comment-1663 You got me thinking, why does twitter appear to have less racism? Maybe it's because people know that their tweets will be stored publicly and linked to their profile indefinitely? At the end of the day, no one wants to be labeled as a racist! You got me thinking, why does twitter appear to have less racism? Maybe it's because people know that their tweets will be stored publicly and linked to their profile indefinitely? At the end of the day, no one wants to be labeled as a racist!

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