Building Bridges: Understanding Connections in Society and Technology
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Chapter 1: The Concept of Building Bridges
To traverse a divide, we must first comprehend its nature.
In every aspect of our lives, we focus on creating bridges—establishing connections that never existed before. These bridges enable individuals to access places that would otherwise be unreachable, fostering exploration and the blending of different worlds. Each day, we construct bridges in both minor and significant ways; whether greeting a stranger, checking in with friends, or contributing to the workforce that keeps society functioning. Learning new things literally rewires our brains, allowing us to perceive information in fresh ways.
As a programmer, my role is to connect various components within a digital framework. It resembles a colossal machine with numerous intricate parts, all meticulously linked by a series of rigid protocols, some of which make more sense than others. Building a complex digital environment feels akin to assembling a gigantic Lego set, where each piece must adhere to specific instructions. The experience is both exhilarating, given the level of control one possesses, and exasperating due to the uncompromising nature of the rules and the overwhelming complexity. Yet, it is fascinating how entire realms—games, social networks, ecosystems—are created merely by forging the right connections.
I've begun to perceive the real world through a similar lens. Much of our social structures are founded on essentially abstract concepts. Money, for instance, manifests as bills, coins, and figures in bank accounts, yet it doesn't physically exist in the universe. Celestial bodies and living organisms operate independently of monetary systems. The notion of money exists solely in our minds and through the connections we form around it. The same can be said for laws, governments, and countries; borders exist only on maps, while the universe abides by natural laws. The rest is part of a societal agreement we collectively embrace as we grow and assimilate into our surrounding culture—a vast user agreement we refer to as law and society, which varies from country to country and city to city.
Section 1.1: The Online Realm and Social Constructs
An intriguing aspect of the digital landscape is its ability to abstract social systems from the tangible world, creating virtual communities with unique cultures and contracts. For instance, take the game Overwatch, which I have played since its inception. Its memes, developer updates, and fan creations have developed into an independent entity. The player community of Overwatch possesses its own social norms and dynamics, distinct from those of other games, such as Fortnite, which I have yet to experience. Each game fosters a unique reputation and culture, separate from the rest, aside from being part of the gaming universe. This compartmentalization of social rules extends to forums, social media, and various online platforms, creating a reality reminiscent of The Matrix, where our screens connect us to alternate worlds.
Subsection 1.1.1: Tribalism and Social Groups
Historically, the inclination to categorize the world into groups has always existed. Since humanity's dawn, tribalism—forming in-groups and out-groups—has been prevalent. In contemporary times, we fragment into various social circles based on shared beliefs, be they religious, ideological, or interest-based—sports, music, movies, and crafts. Previously, these mental spaces often corresponded to physical locations, such as churches, stadiums, and community centers. However, in the digital age, we are no longer constrained by physical boundaries, allowing for a more expansive reach.
At its peak, Overwatch boasted around 40 million players—more than Canada’s total population. Reddit has approximately 430 million users, surpassing the United States’ population. Facebook has 2.8 billion active users, exceeding the most populous nations, China and India. Although some of these figures include bots, even a significant reduction would still leave us with staggering numbers. The scope of virtual territories has expanded, shaping new boundaries in our social landscapes.
Chapter 2: The Dual-Edged Sword of Social Movements
Every movement now has the potential to expand rapidly, akin to a double-edged sword. Twitter and Facebook played pivotal roles in two significant events in our recent digital history: the Arab Spring and the Capitol Hill riot. During the Arab Spring, social media facilitated real-time coordination and information dissemination, helping to expose local events to a global audience. Governments attempted to restrict internet access, but the speed and scale of mobilization proved overwhelming. In contrast, in 2021, these same platforms were used to incite white supremacists against the U.S. government, with much of the chaos documented in real-time by the rioters themselves.
Both events demonstrated how social media can rally populations around a shared sentiment, yet they also revealed the inherent fractures that can arise within society. Each uprising necessitates an adversary—whether it be Millennials versus Boomers, citizens versus their government, or the 99% versus the 1%. Paradoxically, the very desire to unify can lead to societal division.
The first video titled "What It Takes to Build a Highway Bridge - Road Construction in Georgia" explores the complexities and efforts involved in constructing infrastructure that connects communities. It highlights the engineering challenges and teamwork required in bridge building.
The second video, "How a Bridge is Built Over Deep Water | Suspension Bridge," delves into the intricate process of creating suspension bridges over challenging terrains, showcasing the innovation and skill necessary for successful construction.
This brings to mind numerous psychological studies aimed at unraveling how groups can inflict harm on one another, such as the infamous Stanford prison experiment and the Milgram shock experiments. However, the studies that resonate most with me involve seemingly innocuous scenarios, like the blue-eyed/brown-eyed lesson where children were taught to view their peers as inferior based on arbitrary traits. This led to immediate bullying and division. Our brains seem predisposed to form alliances based on minimal distinctions.