Content-type: text/html Downes.ca ~ Stephen's Web ~ What's your tribe?

Stephen Downes

Knowledge, Learning, Community

I've never liked the use of the word 'tribe' to refer to social groupings on online society. Maybe it's because I've never felt like a member of one. But it's mostly it's because the phenomenon of tribalism often works against the wider interests of society. As George Packer wrote, "Tribes demand loyalty, and in return they confer the security of belonging. They're badges of identity, not of thought." They create a sense of "us vs. them". Sure, I get the sense of belonging being appealed to here. But learning is one thing; belonging to some special in-group is another. We need to be precise in our characterization, especially when it comes to talking about what traits of cooperation we value in learning.

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Stephen Downes Stephen Downes, Casselman, Canada
stephen@downes.ca

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Last Updated: Dec 22, 2024 02:58 a.m.

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