In his recent column, Nicholas Kristof asks whether the Web, flooded with information and ideas as it is, can actually trigger new ways of thinking or whether it will only serve as a tool for filtering out dissenting view points. “There’s pretty good evidence,” he writes, “that we generally don’t truly want good information — but rather information that confirms our prejudices. We may believe intellectually in the clash of opinions, but in practice we like to embed ourselves in the reassuring womb of an echo chamber.”

Innovation, though, relies on diversity of thought. It needs the free-wheeling optimist and the brow-furrowed pragmatist, the pie-in-the-sky dreamer and the devil’s advocate. A multitude of voices. Piers Fawkes, of the always-compelling PSFK, reminded us recently of Linus Pauling’s great quote: “The best way to get a good idea is to get a lot of ideas.” And it’s especially true in a conversation such as the one on sustainable design and green thinking, where political rhetoric and biases are everyday hurdles.

Activism too often devolves into a monologue, rather than a healthy and open dialogue. The driving philosophy of Love Tomorrow Today is the belief in the efficacy of ‘one degree of change.’ That’s not to say that we strive for half measures or that we turn away from bold thinking, just that we understand that real, lasting change is inclusive rather than exclusive.

Kristof mentions Bill Bishop’s “The Big Sort: Why the Clustering of Like-Minded America is Tearing Us Apart.” In that book, Bishop argues that “Americans increasingly are segregating themselves into communities, clubs and churches where they are surrounded by people who think the way they do.” And educated Americans seem to be the worst offenders. Kristof explains,

One 12-nation study found Americans the least likely to discuss politics with people of different views, and this was particularly true of the well educated. High school dropouts had the most diverse group of discussion-mates, while college graduates managed to shelter themselves from uncomfortable perspectives.

For those of us interested in reshaping the sustainability debate and forging new ways of thinking and new solutions, the Web’s potential as an idea aggregator is unparalleled, provided we don’t filter out the dissenting voices.

[cartoon source: Leo Cullum]