Fractured World: The Curse of the Internet
The Internet, meant to connect humanity, amplifies hatred and tribalism by overwhelming our brains, evolved for Dunbar’s ~150-person social limit, with thousands of interactions and information overload. Fast thinking (System 1), as described by Kahneman, relies on biases to group people into “us” vs. “them,” fueling online battles that spill into real-world violence, like hate crimes and riots. This escalation is unsustainable, eroding social cohesion, mental health, and economic stability, demanding a breaking point. Potential solutions include platform reforms to prioritize empathy, digital literacy to counter biases, and rebuilding offline communities to restore human connection. Without deliberate change, the cycle of hatred risks worsening, but user-driven shifts and technological tweaks could steer the Internet toward unity.
Snakes and Milk: An Ancient Thread Connecting Bengal to Baltic Shores
When I was young I heard stories of a snake that once used to live in our house. It was…
Learning from Hunters and Gatherers
Where humans have multiple partners, does monkeys have multiple partners too? Where humans love sea food, does birds love seafood…
Cognitive Dissonance
Would you kill something because you feel empathy towards it? I don’t mean killing it to reduce its suffering, but…
Travel narrows the mind – G. K. Chesterton
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts.” However,…
The Power of Hope and Meaning: How Faith Can Heal or Harm
Faith can move mountains. It can kill you too. In the realm of human experience, faith is a potent force,…
Milinda and Nagasena: The Art of Debating
King Milinda was a powerful and intelligent ruler. He was also curious about Buddhism. One day, he met a sage…
Evolution of Durga – Connecting with the World
Travelling by train from Xian to Moscow, and interacting with different people of totally different cultures, I have come to…
SECRET OF SUCCESS: ADDED PERSONBYTE THROUGH TEAMWORK
Information is not the things that make it, but rather the pattern in which things are arranged. The accident altered…
Kamakhya Temple: Story of love lust anger and sacrifice
“Indian gods and goddesses are personal, down-to-earth and human-like, despite their powers.” We started from our hotel at Guwahati on…