The term paper I did on sensemaking as evidenced by social media exchanges has changed the way I look at internet interactions. Exchanges taken literally, miss the process that is happening and the reasons why people write.
I haven't formed definite opinions, but it seems that internet exchanges are intrinsically linked to making sense of unsettling situations. Online newspaper's "comment spaces" after articles are part of the same genre of exchange. I didn't follow the exchanges after the incident in Norway, but the English riots are also instructive in seeing how people make sense of situations.
Something that is increasingly apparent is that new information goes into an existing framework, but overwhelmingly the framework itself doesn't seem to change much. People who harbour deep suspicion towards the Japanese government tend not to distinguish between the LDP and the DPJ and are inclined to see anything that the govt. says or does in the light of misinformation and coverups.
People who are sceptical of "expert" scientists tend not to be persuaded by figures that say small amounts of radiation are safe. People who evaluate based on "expert" advice tend to be comforted in their decision to remain in Japan.
Many western foreigners are incredulous at the "shouganai" mentality they perceive in Japan, which serves to reinforce their existing cultural stereotype of Japanese as being passive and docile. Grass roots campaigns are overlooked, as is the fact that most Japanese have no option but to live in Japan.
These observations lead me to the question - what does it take to change someone's mind? What does it take for a person's existing framework to be reshaped? Can a science sceptic become a science believer? Conversely can a science believer become a science sceptic? Can a person who believes that riots in the UK are the result of poverty and social neglect be persuaded that the matter is simple criminality and vice versa?
What causes people to change their mind? Is it "overwhelming evidence"? Is it personal experience? Is is the wise words of people in authority? Is it economics?
Still trying to make sense of it.
