Or maybe you've become much more aware of the need to triangulate because all information is partial.

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I think it’s both. It really did used to be easier for people in our society to agree on narrative and also, as you say, there was always a need to triangulate because indeed all information is partial

Information follows a Pareto distribution: 90 percent of the information comes from 10 percent of the sources. Prior to the internet and mobile phones, that meant a few TV networks and local radio stations and newspapers. It used to cost tens of dollars for a long distance phone call; now it’s basically free. Now the outliers can broadcast their messages. In some cases, they’re valuable. But there are a lot of wing nuts out there. There have always been conspiracy theories, for instance, but now they have a global community and can talk to each other.

If you’re saying that it used to be easier for people to settle on a narrative, whether that narrative accurately or inaccurately reflects the truth, that’s what I’m also saying.

Agreed