The last paragraph introduces a question interesting to me.

Is opening up communication channels responsible for social conflict?

Is Mark right or wrong in his last paragraph.

I've always assumed he was wrong but the premise should be examined explicitly.

Naturally I don't claim that the radio or newspapers invented the social conflict. I am saying they could be responsible for the actual incidence of conflict itself.

If you picture each person as a collection of memes, then;

> The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents. - H.P Lovecraft

The potential for conflict in the individual is not resolved with conflict for the most part. We do know the more intellectual among us tend to be more neurotic, perhaps another hint at the essential lovecraftian truth.

That means barefaced conflict is only possible when an individual meets another and communicates. It is then latent contradictions become evident.

Far from the notion that communication acts as a meditator and leads to peace, the truth might be the opposite.

tldr; if we don't talk to each other, everything will be fine!