One of the most common criticisms of those who discuss and argue politics is that the other person just hangs around their own particular echo chamber, eschewing information from other sources. Therefore, their arguments are wrong.
Here is the Wikipedia definition of an political echo chamber.
In news media, echo chamber is a metaphorical description of a situation in which beliefs are amplified or reinforced by communication and repetition inside a closed system. By visiting an “echo chamber”, people are able to seek out information which reinforces their existing views.
Most people consider echo chambers to be a bad thing. After wallowing in my echo chamber for years and years, I believe that echo chambers are good things, and that everybody has their own version whether they admit it or not.
The assumption is that people will tune into a limited set of news sources, and their thoughts and actions will be influenced by what they hear. This idea appeals to Marxists, and uses the “stupid people” hypothesis. People are smart enough to know who they are and what they think before choosing a news environment.
People start hanging around echo chambers because they find places where they hear things they like. The chamber does not frame people’s opinion, but the people frame the chamber’s content. Individuals define and influence group dynamics.
In defense of a diversity of news and opinion I and others monitor different news and opinion sources just to see what’s going on. I don’t believe many opinions have been changed by the daily screed broadcast on CNN or any of the NBC blocks. I don’t see a lot of news on those networks, but just a constant meme of unsubstantiated speculation.
Fox News is part of my echo chamber, but I detest the style of contentious guests and passive moderators on the network. All I want is the current news without adornment of meaningless and awkward comments of anchors like Shepard Smith, or the continuous prattle of Shawn Hannity.
I can do without the opinion programs altogether. I am better equipped to analyze the news than the average news anchor. A lot of people feel that way and have more to offer their echo chambers than they get.
How about you?
