There’s a magnet on the refrigerator at Loon Landing with these wise words, “Never underestimate the stupidity of people in large groups.” The lake is a place designed by a merciful God to discourage such large groups, thereby lowering the probability of the introduction of stupidity. It is important to point out that not all people who find themselves in a large group are stupid. It’s just that the larger the group the easier it is to get “caught up in the moment.” This explains why riots are a common occurrence wherever large groups are found. It explains why fights break out at heavily attended sporting events. It explains the asshattery associated with Spring Break beach gatherings of college students, and political conventions.
What I have recently become aware of is the fact that this pithy little magnet-meme on the refrigerator at Loon Landing is a perfect encapsulation of one of the guiding principles of my life. I have always been suspicious of conspicuously large things. I can’t help being wary of how exactly they got that way. I see a magnificent cathedral built 800 years ago and wonder—How many peasants fell to their deaths building this baby? I look at the pyramids in Egypt and marvel at the massive egos of the pharaohs and the thousands of dead slaves sacrificed for their vanity.
In today’s world this aversion to large things extends to giant corporations, huge labor unions and the Federal government, all unwieldy, way too powerful and impossibly corrupt. It’s the reason I could never live in a big city. Heck, my suburb is starting to feel too crowded. I should point out that all the craziness taking place in Minnesota isn’t happening near any of their magnificent lakes! It’s all confined to Minneapolis which shouldn’t surprise anyone.
But the largest group of human beings ever assembled in the history of the world is brand new, not even possible a mere generation ago. If it is true that the existence of stupidity can be dependably found in large groups, then the daily gathering of 300 million Americans on the internet at any one particular time might be the single largest stupidity producer of all time.
Since the algorithms that drive content to us on the internet generally send us things we basically agree with/like, it has the effect of herding us into big silos with other people just like us. Spend enough time scrolling and you would be excused from believing that your point of view on any topic is the only reasonable position. This is where I get suspicious of the largeness of the medium. If I see a huge group of my friends all agreeing on some issue, especially when I ALSO agree, I start feeling slightly duped. Then I start going to corners of the internet that I disagree with. Most of what I see there is just as triumphantly confident in the righteousness of their position as my side is, but at least I get to hear some version of the other side of the argument…plus it has the added benefit of playing hell with my algorithm. They don’t what the heck to send me now! Ha.
Now, introduce AI into the mix and you have stupidity construction in overdrive. Suddenly, nearly half of the images I see on social media are not only stupid, they’re not even real. So, what started out as a really cool way to keep up with the trials and tribulations of friends and family has become a propaganda machine that would have made Joseph Goebbels drool. Algorithms can be designed to divide, stoke anger and resentment, confuse, agitate, and eventually…pacify.
Maybe one day there will be a real, existential crisis to befall humanity so grave that accurate and instant communication will be the only way to save the day—something for which the internet would be essential. But, just like the boy who cried “WOLF!”, nobody will believe anything they see.
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