QAs

Strategies for Answering Discussion and Essay Questions

Chapter 11

XI: Strategies for selected Discussion Questions and Essay Questions in Chapter 11 (see

pages 357-358 in the textbook)

A. Strategies for Selected Discussion Questions in Chapter 11

1. We saw that Gordon Graham believes that online communities promote individual freedom

because members can more easily disregard personal attributes, such as gender and ethnicity,

which are more obvious in traditional communities. However, we also noted online

communities have also had some negative effects. In addition to threatening traditional

community life, they have: facilitated social polarization (because of the very narrow focus of

some groups); minimized the kind of face-to-face communications (that have defined

traditional friendships); and facilitated anonymity and deception (thereby enabling some

forms of socially and morally objectionable behavior that would not be tolerated in traditional

communities).

Mitch Parsell considers some aspects of online communities whose focus tends to be on

topics and issues that are divisive and narrow. He worries that “extremely narrowly focused”

online communities can be dangerous because they “can polarize attitudes and prejudices,”

which can lead to increased division and “social cleavage.” So, rather than reinforcing and

extending positive values of community life, Parsell suggests that some narrowly focused

online communities threaten social cohesiveness.

2. Many critics worry that political blogs are dangerous for democracy because they

disseminate information that typically has not been vetted by journalistic standards. So, there

are questions of accuracy and reliability with political blogs, and critics worry because it is

generally believed that truth is essential for a democracy to thrive. However, Alvin Goldman

is not as pessimistic about these factors as many critics are. For one thing, he notes that even

if some bogs are biased and inaccurate, it doesn’t follow that the entire blogosphere is biased

(appealing to kind of Fallacy of Composition critique. But we also saw that Goldman suggests

that the “zealous advocacy” of some political bloggers, as well as the “adversarial process”

facilitated by blogs in general, may even turn out to be a good thing? How can that be?

Goldman believes the system of checks and balances, which are “collectively stronger than

the kinds of filtering mechanisms used in the conventional media” may be a good mechanism

for “truth-determination.” In this sense, Goldman implies that the blogosphere may ultimately

contribute to the preservation of democracy and democratic ideals.

B. Strategies for Selected Essay Questions in Chapter 11

1. For one thing, Rheingold’s portrayal of virtual interaction in the future does not address the

kind of harm that could result from individuals engaging in “cybersex.” Because sexual

activity of this type is considered virtual, i.e., in the sense that it takes place in cyberspace or

virtual space, it does not follow that this activity is unreal (see the Virtuality Fallacy discussed

in Chapter 3). Marital infidelity that takes place in cyberspace can still cause harm to the

injured party. Brey has shown why we cannot simply dismiss the kinds of harm that can result

from behavior carried out in virtual environments as unreal harms.

2. Critics of VR technologies seem to be correct in that, all things being equal, VR

experiences are less fulfilling than (“real”) experiences in the physical world. In this sense,

then, we can agree with the critics of VR that virtual reality is an “impoverished reality.”

However, some people may be capable of experiencing something only through the use of VR

technology. For these people, including those with disabilities of a certain sort, the VR

experience of some activity would seem to be preferable to not being able to experience it at

all. An interesting question, however, is whether some individuals may eventually come to

prefer virtual interactions to the kinds of interactions that take place in the physical world. For

example, some may prefer to conduct all of their social activities in cyberspace. It is one

thing, if someone can interact only in a virtual forum because of geographic constraints or

because of a disability. However, if persons prefer virtual interactions because it can eliminate

the need of one’s ever having to interact at all in face-to-face social situations, then something

of what we have come to believe is a vital part of natural human discourse could be

threatened.