Another great example of our need for media literacy.
Diamond builds on what Carter wrote in his book Civility. (A terrific read if you have the chance.)
During the pioneer days we all had to get along. Keeping the wagon train close together and settling near one another was a necessity because people needed each other to survive. You had to be empathic or at least respectful to the people in your "tribe." To get the daily business of life done people had to work together.
Now, people scream profanities at others from the isolation of a car, ruin reputations or break hearts from a keyboard. Believe it or not, students "text" fight with each other. Technology has created a world where you can say anything or do anything without the consequence of looking the person you are ranting to - or about - in the face. In this sense we are creating a world of weaklings. As my mother says, "If you can't say something nice" . . . but my addendum is "If you can't say something nice just make sure you have the chutzpa say it to their face."
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