Edited and revised from a comment I left at the Confluence this morning.

Chicago Dyke is right to point out that sometimes when everyone in the room is in loud agreement, even if the points being made are valid and the emotions displayed are sincere and civil, the room can still start to sound like an echo chamber. It’s not that dissent is unwelcome here at Corrente — Leah, ChiDy, Xan, Xenophon and other top-shelf posters have written several vigorously discussed pieces recently. The danger to a site like this is that we become boring. We repeat ourselves. We get used to the sound of our own voices, and as virtual alliances and sympathies bond us together we begin to self-edit and become timid about being bold thinkers and commenters.  Read more