Centerfield

Echoes

At Blogging Of The President, in reference to the Dean blog, Ezra Klein has a positive view of the echo chamber

The blog kept the activists involved. It created a powerful echo chamber where they could hear from others like them all over the country. They felt involved, they were being listened to by a presidential campaign, they were finally being represented. That's the difference between activists and the average voter. Voters want representation, activists want involvement. The Dean campaign gave it to them. Then it gave them MeetUp. Now there were both virtual and tangible friends who you were working with, who you didn't want to disappoint. This is where you get the incredibly deep investment of Dean's supporters.

At Centerfield, we refer to the echo chamber negatively, as something which insulates people from other views. But I can see how for an isolated person who feels like a "voice in the wilderness" finding others online who echo their own views can be a important inspiration to activism.

I've more than once observed a process where communities gel, which is a great thing, but then harden and begin to exclude outsiders--not necessarly intentionally, but just become they speak in shorthand and with common points of reference that newbies find impenetrable.

Centerfield is becoming a small community, just starting to gel. We haven't hardened yet, and I hope we don't. If you feel like a voice in the curious political vacuum that exists to the right of the left, and to the left of the right, pull up a chair and hang out here. Leave a comment. And if you'd like post to the blog, email me at blog@centristcoalition.com.

Posted by rickheller at January 21, 2004 07:53 PM