I use the term “blob” for individuals who suspend critical thinking, especially in politics. These individuals are swayed by surrounding opinions or societal pressures to make decisions without fully engaging their critical thinking capacities. A perfect illustration of this phenomenon can be seen through the lens of a 20-year-old standing on the threshold of exercising their right to vote for the first time.
Imagine this young individual, let’s call him Alex, who is ready to step into the voting booth. He’s surrounded by a close-knit group of friends, each of whom has a strong allegiance to a particular political party — some are Democrats (blue blobs), others Republicans (red blobs), while the rest can’t choose between Democrats and Republicans (purple blobs). They all have their reasons and are vocal about why their choice is the ‘right’ one.
As the election day approaches, the cacophony of political discussions among his friends grows louder. Alex, not having delved deeply into the political landscape himself, finds it easier to align with the political leaning that resonates most with his social circle. If most of his friends are supporting a Democratic candidate, he leans blue; if they favor a Republican, he leans red; and if they are not inclined towards any, he leans purple. The essence of the blob phenomenon is this very surrender of personal inquiry in favor of the comfort of collective agreement.
This isn’t about the validity of Alex’s political choice, whether red, blue, or purple, but about the process through which that choice is made. Did Alex take the time to understand the candidates’ policies, ideologies, and track records, or did he morph into a blob, allowing the prevailing winds of his social circle to guide his decision?
Unfortunately, it’s not just the 20-year-olds that fall into this trap; it’s the successful and thoughtful billionaires like Chamath and his billionaire friends. They support political candidates of both persuasions with vast sums of money without asking critical questions. These leaders get us into wars and do not resolve centuries-old Ukraine/Russia or Israel/Hamas and many more all over the world. They cannot confidently say there will be no third world war.
The politicians are hardened in their positions, as are their billionaire champions who influence the rest of us through their charities and political action committees.
How do they accomplish all of this? They use narratives where facts and values don’t matter. They mastered the art of the narrative. They are extremely good at it. They can spin anything to push an agenda.
For example, Barack Obama writes about our belief in the inherent value of every human life and that it’s morally bankrupt to justify the deliberate slaughter of innocent people. His solution is to tell Israel to minimize the loss of civilian life for its right to exist. How is it morally justified to minimize the slaughter of innocent people? We should be asking him to work towards returning the hostages without further loss of ANY life. We should force our leaders to condemn wars and violence of any kind. They should be promoting life and it doesn’t matter whose life.
What is the solution? We, as voters, should be aware of the blob mentality and step away from it. It’s possible with generative AI.
Now, envision a tool to help us navigate the maze of political discourse, a platform that enables a deeper understanding of the political landscape, encouraging questions and fostering informed discussions. Generative AI solutions can be designed to do just that — help individuals break free from the blob, engage in informed dialogue, and make choices based on a well-rounded understanding of the issues at hand.
As the narrative of Alex illustrates, stepping out of the blob is about empowering oneself with knowledge and understanding, thus making more informed, individual decisions. It’s about breaking free from the bubble of collective conformity and venturing into a space of personal inquiry and discernment.
I leverage Generative AI to bridge the political divide, empowering voters to make informed decisions beyond partisan blobs. Through projects like https://chat.vivek2024gpt.com, I aim to facilitate meaningful interactions between voters and politicians, promoting critical thinking over passive acceptance.
If this topic intrigues you, feel free to subscribe to my blog. Your support in navigating these waters to create impactful platforms is invaluable. Together, let’s step out of the blob’s comforting embrace and venture into a realm of informed, constructive dialogue.
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