"In the age of social media, progressives have unprecedented opportunities to associate with like-minded people" feels like it would be news to, e.g., trade unionists, members of Labour/Liberal clubs, co-operative societies, etc etc etc of bygone eras
People in modern western society have always gathered with other like minded people! This is not a unique contemporary phenomenon! If I went to a 1950s rotary club and started espousing socialism or a 1960s liberal club quoting enoch powell what do you think would have happened?
Things that did *not* get invented in 2008 no matter what columnists and bloggers think: -People who share values dating each other -People who agree with each other discussing ideas -People liking it when other people agree with them -People shunning those whose views they find scary
The world has never been this sort of university debating society vision of a liberal idyll where people seek out as many opposing views as possible and then sit listening to them and saying "hm, some good points my man". This has never existed anywhere, in any society, outside of tiny circles.
Loving the idea that the Labour Party is full of “like minded people”. (I am a member.)
Well, it is as much as Bluesky is!
Fewer Americans tho - and some on the left definitely prefer US style progressiveness to European social democracy. Being able to think their American thoughts whilst being actually British is fairly new.
right so if anything Bluesky is *more* heterogenous than traditional political-social institutions?
I appreciate I am potentially taking your points too seriously lol
It is a Friday!