Texts without Context

Here's an interesting article in the New York Times about the effect of digital media, social networking, and the like on our culture. It's relevant to our ongoing discussions on civil discourse and the lack of a center in American political life. There's a good survey of recent books on the subject; it makes a contribution to understanding how the internet's democratizing and empowering effects also lead to mediocrity, pandering to the lowest common denominator, poor intellectual rigor, and polarization. Those of us who've embraced the internet will find it disturbing!