http://blog.e-democracy.org/posts/1117
From: E-Democracy.Org - Project Blog
Date: Sat, Jan 15, 2011 at 11:09 AM
E-Democracy.Org - Project Blog
Civility Online – Why are you hurting America?
Posted: 15 Jan 2011 08:13 AM PST
When Jon Stewart appeared on CNN’s Crossfire, he essentially brought
that show to an end, with the admonishment:
And I made a special effort to come on the show today, because I have
privately, amongst my friends and also in occasional newspapers and
television shows, mentioned this show as being bad …
And I wanted to — I felt that that wasn’t fair and I should come here
and tell you that I don’t — it’s not so much that it’s bad, as it’s
hurting America. … Stop, stop, stop, stop hurting America.
Since then, I’ve been thinking how do the major media online news
sites get their Jon Stewart moment for the incivility they are
fostering (by poor design, perhaps not intent) with online news
commenting. It is not that I expect partisan blogs to be civil, I
don’t. But with major media hosted online points that connect people
in local and national conversations across political lines, I expect
far more than a virtual civil war among partisans. I expect some
attention to quality, impact, and democratic mission of a free press.
With the tragic shootings in Arizona, the cause and motivations aside,
the acidic and vitriolic nature of online (and broadcast media-based)
exchange has hit the center stage. The New York Times noted:
What’s different about this moment is the emergence of a political
culture — on blogs and Twitter and cable television — that so loudly
and readily reinforces the dark visions of political extremists, often
for profit or political gain.
Whether in conversations with online news professionals or the session
on civility that I hosted in DC at Public Media Camp, I’ve noted an
earnest, “It is a disaster. We know we need to do better. But how?”
response. Again, let the partisan blogs have their echo chambers, but
for online sites that seek to contribute to the whole of democracy
across the political spectrum it is time to step up.
To that end, I am circulating a call widely for a “Civility Online”
virtual conference and possible webinar specifically to connect online
news and social media hosts interested in enhancing civility with
those with techniques, approaches, tools, and technology to make
improvements across the field. Sponsors are being sought to make this
possible. Note the interest among the dialogue and deliberation crowd.
Contact us if you would like to help sponsor this or contribute in
some way.
In terms of E-Democracy.org‘s experience, we use real names and have a
simple ban on name calling. We accept that this requires the
subjective role of a volunteer forum manager as we feel the democratic
community benefit from strong civility with issue-based discussions is
far greater than the backlash from those who think the freedom of any
one individual to attack people or groups with name calling and
insults trumps that benefit. Most media sites avoid real names (one
reason Facebook is eating their interactive lunch) and they are
concerned about the resources it takes to truly facilitate in an
active way rather than react to just the most abusive posts. The
problem as the 2% of the most vitriolic have taken everything over,
everyone else has left.
To build on this exchange, see my recent 14 minute speech on “Local
Matters, Civility Matters, Inclusion Matters” (slides only here) is
now available in video from the UK-based Guardian (see more speeches
from other keynote speakers like the CEO of Google, Clay Shirky, etc.)
:
My remarks calling for greater civility were controversial because
they run counter the cyber-libertarian myth that it is a good thing
that no one knows you are dog on the Internet. It lead to an interview
with the Guardian’s podcast and a live radio interview a few weeks
later on BBC Radio 4.
Lastly, I’ve seen this problem taking root for over a decade and here
is an excerpt from my speech “Democratic Evolution or Virtual Civil
War” in 2003.
Join the revolution? I don’t believe the Internet is inherently
democratic. To me, most people and organizations are fundamentally
anti-democratic by nature. Many of those in power and those clamoring
for power are self-centered actors. They operate within the miracle we
call representative democracy. Most accept the idea that democracy is
good, but these actors do little to ensure its strength.
After a decade working directly with e-democracy issues, I’ve
concluded that “politics as usual” online may be the tipping point
that finishes off what television started – the extinction of
democracy and democratic spirit.
Those hoping for an almost accidental democratic transformation
fostered by the information technology will watch in shock from the
sidelines as their favorite new medium becomes the arsenal of virtual
civil war – virtual civil wars among partisans at all levels.
When I open e-mail from all sorts of American political parties and
activist groups, I see conflict. I see unwillingness to compromise.
Let’s be optimists and suggest that the Net is doubling the activist
population from five percent to ten percent. The harsh reality is that
we are doubling the virtual soldiers, an expendable slash and burn
online force, available to established political interests.
As the excessive and bitter partisanship of the increased activist
population leaks into the e-mail boxes of everyday people, I predict
abhorrence of Net-era politics among the general citizenry. I fear the
extreme erosion of public trust not just in government, but also in
most things public and political.
Instead of encouraging networked citizen participation that improves
the public results delivered in our democracies, left to its natural
path, the Internet will be used to eliminate forms of constructive
civic engagement by the other 90 percent of citizens. A 10 percent
democracy of warring partisan is no democracy at all.
Compounding the problem, the billions of Euros in e-government focus
almost exclusively on one-way services and efficiency. Government
makes it easy to pay your taxes online – while doing little to give
you a virtual – anytime, anywhere – say in how those taxes are spent.
Many elected officials are turning off their e-mail for citizens,
leaving it on for lobbyists to reach their staff directly, and
building what I call “Digital Berlin Walls” of complicated web forms.
One-way “e-governments” based on efficiency to the exclusion of
“two-way” democracy are the norm. Unfortunately, most governments are
saying e-services first, democracy later.
In summary, online political strife combined with governments that are
incapable of accommodating our public will present a dark future for
democracy in the information age.
Join the democratic evolution!
Everything I’ve just said contrasts dramatically from the exceptional
experiences of citizen groups and governments leading the way with the
best e-democracy practices.
Everyday in Minnesota, I experience the power of online discourse
among citizens. I am impressed by online innovations in many
parliaments and government agencies. And I’ve been inspired by the
online activism of many groups.
However, we have an enemy. It is not “politics as usual.” They must
compete to survive. Our enemy is our indifference to our generational
democratic obligations. We have a duty to make the most honorable use
of the unique information age opportunities before us.
We have a choice, we can strategically use ICTs to improve our
communities, strengthen society, and address global challenges or we
can ride the ICT-accelerated race to the post-democratic bottom.
It is time to give more than lip service to e-democracy experiments,
research, and best practices.
It is time to bring the democratic intent and values required to make
the demonstrated possibility of the new online medium a universal
reality.
Build the democratic evolution!
To make what is possible probable, the time for action has arrived.
The new media, led by the Internet, must be used to help us meet
public challenges. It must be used to transform anti-democratic states
and break apart hyper-partisan and unresponsive politics at all
levels. We must be smarter, faster, and more committed than “politics
as usual.”
More: Democratic Evolution or Virtual Civil War
So what should we do about civility online?