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To say that interconnected humans behave like a flock of birds is very flawed in my opinion. Each bird in a flock sees the REAL behaviour of the other birds but

To say that interconnected humans behave like a flock of birds is very flawed in my opinion. Each bird in a flock sees the REAL behaviour of the other birds but this is not necessarily the case with the internet since an entity can heavily influence your perception of the other people by controlling the communication channel. The Internet and social network is more like adding the possibility to create one virtual bird for each real bird and then remotely control the whole flock.

ispo 4y ago
Look at this from the other way around, imagine you could put a few drones influencing the birds.
082349872349872 4y ago
Books on propaganda from the 1920's explicitly discuss "closing triangles" to artificially influence perception of near-neighbour opinions.
- ispo 4y ago
  Please can you provide a citation?
  - 082349872349872 4y ago
    I believe I'm remembering either Crystallizing Public Opinion (1923) or Propaganda (1928), both by Bernays. (IIRC, the exploitation of local social graphs is in his description of the techniques used to sell US entry into the Great War/WWI) But there were other authors I consulted in the same timeframe, and Linebarger, in Psychological Warfare (1948) points out that propaganda/public relations men (they were all men, in those days) are less than completely reliable sources when it comes to testimony as to their methods and their efficacy. So you'll probably want to triangulate a bit yourself. Edit: Propaganda Ch.I,p18 is already promising: ... it must be remembered that these thousands of groups interlace. John Jones, besides being a Rotarian, is member of a church, of a fraternal order, of a political party, of a charitable organization, of a professional association, of a local chamber of commmerce ... This invisible, intertwining structure of groupings and associations is the mechanism by which democracy has organized its group mind and simplified its mass thinking. ... To admit that [this structure] exists, but expect that it shall not be used, is unreasonable.
    - ispo 4y ago
      Amazing description of for what today are called the layers of a multiplex.

ispo 4y ago

Look at this from the other way around, imagine you could put a few drones influencing the birds.

082349872349872 4y ago

Books on propaganda from the 1920's explicitly discuss "closing triangles" to artificially influence perception of near-neighbour opinions.

ispo 4y ago
Please can you provide a citation?
- 082349872349872 4y ago
  I believe I'm remembering either Crystallizing Public Opinion (1923) or Propaganda (1928), both by Bernays. (IIRC, the exploitation of local social graphs is in his description of the techniques used to sell US entry into the Great War/WWI) But there were other authors I consulted in the same timeframe, and Linebarger, in Psychological Warfare (1948) points out that propaganda/public relations men (they were all men, in those days) are less than completely reliable sources when it comes to testimony as to their methods and their efficacy. So you'll probably want to triangulate a bit yourself. Edit: Propaganda Ch.I,p18 is already promising: ... it must be remembered that these thousands of groups interlace. John Jones, besides being a Rotarian, is member of a church, of a fraternal order, of a political party, of a charitable organization, of a professional association, of a local chamber of commmerce ... This invisible, intertwining structure of groupings and associations is the mechanism by which democracy has organized its group mind and simplified its mass thinking. ... To admit that [this structure] exists, but expect that it shall not be used, is unreasonable.
  - ispo 4y ago
    Amazing description of for what today are called the layers of a multiplex.