Is the Cyber Mob a Threat to Freedom?

According to Lee Siegel and Ron Rosenbaum , the extraordinary advances made possible by the Internet have come at a sometimes worrisome cost. Rosenbaum focuses on how online anonymity has become a mask encouraging political discourse that is increasingly distorted by vitriol, abuse, and thuggishness. Siegel argues that the Internet has undermined long-established standards of excellence, promoting participation and popularity over talent and originality. Both writers warn against the growing influence of what Siegel calls “interactive mobs.” This event was based on their essays (see links below) in the recently published collection titled New Threats to Freedom (Templeton Press).

Lee Siegel is culture columnist for the New York Observer and has written about culture and politics for numerous publications. His most recent book is Against the Machine: How the Web Is Reshaping Commerce and Culture and Why It Matters. Read his essay, “Participatory Culture and the Assault on Democracy.”

Ron Rosenbaum is a culture columnist for Slate and the author of seven books, including The Shakespeare Wars: Clashing Scholars and Explaining Hitler: The Search for the Origin of His Evil. Read his essay, “Cyber-Anonymity.”

Michael Goodwin is the chief political columnist for the New York Post, writing on national, international, and New York issues. Before joining the Post in 2009, he was the political columnist for the New York Daily News.