In the Chat Where It Happens

While I'm not a part of the specific group chats that Ben Smith is writing about in his latest Semafor column, I have been in other chats of a similar nature here and there over the past few years. And I think he capture the overall vibe fairly well. Yes, yes, those in such chats will frame this as sort of "gotcha" reporting or as an attempt to sway something seemingly straightforward as something slippery, specifically going after certain individuals. But again, I think Smith is tapping into something here that's worth calling out.

At the same time, his framing probably over-emphasizes how "important" these chats actually are – "the group chats that changed America" and all that.

In my experience, such groups perhaps start with grandiose aspirations, but that's probably more the quiet part that isn't really stated out-loud. Instead, they're framed more around "just an interesting group of people having a chat in a safe space" or whatnot.

But the reality of these chats quickly devolve – as Smith captures in part – into just a handful of people taking over a conversation and depending on how important the person talking is, things veer quickly into pure reply-guy sycophancy. Or if the person chatting isn't "important", few usually reply until someone "important" replies, and again, that's what actually spurs conversation.

That is to say, it's all largely performative...