*brain

Adding video to channels (Brain) - requested by jonny.

*promote

Promoting this video and sending it back into the queue for one more try; last queued Thursday, February 10th, 2011 10:05am PST - promote requested by enoch.

I like Pinker, he's always interesting. *science

Adding video to channels (Science) - requested by gwiz665.

Ok, so did he say that the reason democracy allows the freedom of assembly is so that the leaders can see all there enemies in one place?

Are you threatening me?

>> ^Enzoblue:

Ok, so did he say that the reason democracy allows the freedom of assembly is so that the leaders can see all there enemies in one place?


No, he was saying democracies value freedom of assembly because democracies require freedom of assembly to form. Everyone needs to know that other people feel the same way they do because it gives you collective power. If a group of people want to form a different type of government, they must first collectively agree that the current government is crappy, and you can't do that without the freedom to group up and communicate.

Obviously, increasing connectedness through communications technology is having quite an effect on that whole "I know that they know that I know" thing. Not only does information spread quickly, but the knowledge that other people know the same things you know also spreads faster than it ever has in the past.

I should point out that the quote "it's out there" also extends to the Emperor with no clothes.

... if you know what I mean.