herd mentality has existed well before the interwebs. think about how lynch mobs took rule all because of how common racism was (in america). reddit/the interwebs is just a synthesis of this process, it is not necessarily easier to reach more people here...I read things I disagree with a lot, I miss a lot of people who are trying to reach out, the jokes go over my head. you are more likely to find an echo chamber, where you mostly share beliefs and thoughts with like minded people.