Our world is more connected than ever. But, perversely, it's never been easier to find yourself cozily ensconced in a bubble made up of close friends or political allies, our social set or professional peers. And those bubbles are the perfect environment for groupthink to thrive, to allow certain dubious beliefs or weak arguments to go so unquestioned that we forget that they're even up for discussion. This week we asked nine of our Opinion columnists to debunk an idea — big or small — that has become conventional wisdom in their circles. We wanted them to deliver us the arguments that start debates at dinner parties or make their friends roll their eyes. For instance, while liberal-arts humanists like David Brooks are often skeptical of artificial intelligence, David argues that we should be excited about A.I., not afraid of it. It has become chic among the politically savvy to say that polarization in America is at its peak, but Zeynep Tufekci asserts that things have been worse in the recent past — and could get worse in the near future. Pamela Paul looks out on a world that believes a dog is man's best friend and finds the possibility of a deeper, more satisfying relationship with cats. And Charles Blow contends that while "born this way" was a powerful and consequential slogan, it's too narrow to capture the full range and nuance of human sexuality. We've put these together with five other pieces in a series called Don't Tell My Friends, But … I hope that you'll find an argument that pops one of your bubbles. Here's what we're focusing on today:
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Wednesday, July 31, 2024
Opinion Today: Nine columnists upend assumptions and burst bubbles
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