Re:The sum of all knowledge and the sorry state of the web
by marcus_holmes on Friday September 23, 2022 @08:02AM
(#32950744)
> True, but a difference is that they could not spread their confidently wrong opinions globally, only locally, and that opinions were tied to their identity.
> If my mom wrote a blog or posted on HN/reddit, she could certainly come off as a doctor, or even lie about being one, and many would believe her.
I don't think your mom (likeable as she no doubt is) could get an audience of millions just by posting her opinion on HN/Reddit/Social media.
I think the situation is pretty much back to what it was: most of the population have a limited reach of influence. Some people have a much greater reach.
The difference is that the people with greater reach used to be trained journalists who held to a code of conduct and were given that reach by institutions. Now there is no such code of conduct, and the assignment of audience reach is more random, and totally uncontrolled by any institution.
> If my mom wrote a blog or posted on HN/reddit, she could certainly come off as a doctor, or even lie about being one, and many would believe her.
I don't think your mom (likeable as she no doubt is) could get an audience of millions just by posting her opinion on HN/Reddit/Social media.
I think the situation is pretty much back to what it was: most of the population have a limited reach of influence. Some people have a much greater reach.
The difference is that the people with greater reach used to be trained journalists who held to a code of conduct and were given that reach by institutions. Now there is no such code of conduct, and the assignment of audience reach is more random, and totally uncontrolled by any institution.