EOTO #2 Reaction

The presentations on media theory concepts from Group Three offered fascinating insights into how information flows and influences our society, and one of the solo presentations. Three concepts caught my attention: the spiral of silence, the Overton window, and the Army Robot Dog.

Kyra’s explanation of the spiral of silence theory showed how people often self-censor their opinions when they believe they’re in the minority. According to her, this theory was developed by Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann, who defined it as the study of how our willingness to express controversial opinions is affected by our perception of their popularity. 

This connects directly to concepts we discussed earlier in the semester, particularly the chilling effect, or cancel culture. Both phenomena create environments where people become hesitant to express certain viewpoints out of fear of social punishment or isolation, exactly what the spiral of silence describes.

When people fear backlash for expressing unpopular opinions, they remain silent, creating the illusion that those opinions don’t exist. This further reinforces the cycle, making it even harder for diverse viewpoints to enter public discourse.

Kyra mentioned how this affects her personally, noting that she finds it difficult to voice her opinion when she feels she might be judged. She also pointed out that people are more likely to listen to opinions that align with their own, which creates barriers to meaningful dialogue.

Michael’s presentation on the Overton window particularly resonated with me. He explained that this window represents the range of political possibilities the public is willing to consider and accept. What struck me was his point about how long it can take for this window to shift on major social issues. He mentioned women’s suffrage, which took until 1920, and civil rights legislation in 1964. 

This connects deeply with my personal history - my grandmother participated in the Civil Rights Movement, marching and advocating for rights that today seem so obvious but were considered radical at the time.

As a Black woman, I’m acutely aware that people like my grandmother had to forcibly push the Overton window wider through decades of struggle and sacrifice. Their persistence created space for the freedoms and opportunities I now enjoy, though the struggle continues today.

Michael highlighted how minorities, including women and people of color, are often the most affected by these slow-moving changes, as they’ve historically been marginalized in American society. It’s humbling to realize how recent these shifts are in our history and how much work remains to be done.

Finally, Bernadette’s presentation on the Army Robot Dog fascinated me, given my background in the Navy. She explained how these mechanical canines are being developed to replace traditional service dogs in military operations. 

She outlined how military dogs have long been used for their ability to scent, track, detect, and even attack when necessary. The robot versions offer advantages like not requiring rest, food, or medical care, while also addressing ethical concerns about putting animals in danger.

Having served in the Navy, I’ve witnessed firsthand the critical role technology plays in modern military operations. Technology continuously evolves to keep personnel safer while improving mission effectiveness.

These robot dogs represent the next frontier in that evolution, potentially reducing risk to both human soldiers and animal partners.

I appreciate Bernadette’s balanced approach, noting both the advantages (like limiting risk to humans and animals) and the challenges (such as high costs and vulnerability to hacking).

These three concepts demonstrate how complex the media landscape and information environment have become. From the psychological mechanisms that can silence diverse opinions to the gradual shifts in what society deems acceptable to discuss, to the technological innovations changing how we operate in high-risk environments, understanding these dynamics is crucial.