I think people are reticent to admit that unfettered globalism (especially in the internet which was meant to connect the world) is bad and has serious security implications. It should've been obvious retrospectively, but folks were lulled by a sense of post-soviet optimism.
Im concerned this represents a more general trend towards severing the small connections between countries formed on things like social networks, and that in doing so we’re opening ourselves up to a public that will be more supportive of useless war.
If anything, social networks will only fuel support for war, as we're seeing with Russia and Ukraine.
Among the more liberal-minded Russians like me and most people I know back home, support for the Ukrainians had collapsed after two years of interacting with them online. It's become so bad, some people I met on the net have actually gone from opposing the war to volunteering to join the Russian army. And as for the Ukrainian side, their opinion of the common people of Russia is no better.
Anyway, we had way more of the "small links" you mentioned than you guys will ever have with the Chinese. A lot of us have family on the other side, even more had good friends across the border. The war destroyed most of these connections, and in case the West and China fall into a war, I don't see any reason whatsoever for you to do any better.
I can’t argue with that. Why do you think the exposure leads to less or equal camaraderie? I know interpersonal exposure to groups tends to reduce dislike of those groups, so is it an issue with the medium?
Support for the Ukrainians had collapsed after two years of interacting with them online.
This two-year period - you mean starting from the Feb 24th invasion (so the "collapse" as up until about two months ago)?
And what kinds of experiences with Ukrainians did they say they were having?
And as for the Ukrainian side, their opinion of the common people of Russia is no better.
Surprise, surprise. They have their physical survival to be concerned about now. And no longer have the attention or empathy resources to ponder the mystries the Russian soul.
There's also the compelling argument I hear them make: that anyone in Russia who understands what's up with Putin and Ukraine, has the financial means to flee (and no compelling reason, such as an elderly family member, to stay) -- should have done so long ago by now.
What else do you honestly expect after what's been happening since 2014/2022?
You are wholly missing the point I'm making. I was not making any claim on whether someone's behaviour is good or bad. What I claimed was, interpersonal links between nations will probably fuel mutual hatred once the nations find themselves at war.
No. Stop. The public is only against war because Chinese spies are hypnotizing them with algorithms. You're not thinking clearly. The red menace is everywhere, you need to stay vigilant and focused.
