Is the metaphor 'the world is flat' overly simplistic and optimistic? What significant 'bumps and valleys' exist in the real world?

Hey, that's a great question because it hits on a really core contradiction of our times. Thomas Friedman's The World is Flat was immensely popular back in the day, and its central thesis is certainly attractive. But is the metaphor too simplified and overly optimistic? My answer is: Absolutely.

This metaphor is like a beautifully taken scenic photo. It captures the beauty from one angle but ignores the rough mountain paths, muddy swamps, and dangerous cliffs outside the frame.

Here, using plain language, I'll talk about where the massive "bumps and crevices" really exist in the real world.

First, we have to admit that the "flattened" parts of the world do exist.

What Friedman meant by "flat" primarily applies to the spread of technology and information. That's accurate.

Communication Barriers Reduced: A designer in Shanghai can work for a client in New York via online platforms.
Instant Information: Events happening in Ukraine can be seen on the news almost simultaneously everywhere.
Knowledge Sharing: Want to learn programming? Platforms like Bilibili (Chinese platform) or YouTube offer a massive library of free tutorials; you don't necessarily need an elite university.

From this perspective, the "roads" of the global village have indeed been leveled considerably by the internet "highway." A talented ordinary person theoretically has unprecedented opportunities to be seen by the world.

But is the real world truly flat? – Those massive "bumps and crevices"

The optimistic idea of "the world is flat" ignores far too many real-world obstacles. These obstacles are what I understand as the "bumps and crevices."

1. The Economic Divide

This is the most obvious "depression."

Wealth Gap: Globalization allows capital to flow faster, but it often flows to where it can make the most money, not where it is most needed. The result? The rich get richer, the poor get poorer. Can the worlds lived by a Wall Street financial elite and a farmer in a remote African village really be called "flat"? They're worlds apart – one in the heavens, the other underfoot.
Industrial Inequality: Some countries dominate high-profit "industrial peaks" like semiconductors, AI, and biopharmaceuticals, while others struggle in low-value-added "industrial basins" like garment manufacturing and agriculture. Even within the same global market, your "gear" and someone else's "gear" aren't even in the same league.

2. The Digital Divide

The internet paved the road, but the problems are:

Can You Get On the Road? Many can't even afford the "vehicle" (smartphone, computer) or the "toll" (stable internet) needed to access it. While you might complain about slow 5G, billions worldwide still lack even a stable 2G/3G connection.
Can You Drive? Even with the devices and the connection, information literacy is an even bigger issue. Some can use the internet to learn skills and create value; others become trapped in echo chambers, online scams, and mindless entertainment content. Giving someone a good hand of cards is useless if they don't know how to play.

3. Cultural and Systemic Walls

The world is far from a boundless plain; it's carved up by various tangible and intangible "walls."

Language and Culture: Despite translation tools, deep-seated cultural misunderstandings and value conflicts remain immense. Behavior considered "diligent" in China might be seen as "rule-breaking, unproductive competition or overwork ('neijuan')" in some European countries.
Politics and Regulation: Trade barriers, tariffs, visa policies, internet censorship between countries… these are all very real "walls." For instance, you might be blocked from using a foreign app due to policy reasons. Where's the "flatness" here? It's clearly a "road closed" sign.

4. The Unequal Starting Line

This is the most fundamental "unevenness."

Educational Resources: Being born into different families and countries means vastly different quality education. The future paths of a student who can attend an Ivy League school and a child in a conflict zone without textbooks are destined from the start – one climbing a hill, the other descending into a valley.
Social Capital: Who your father is, who you know, what circles you move in… these "networks" are huge intangible assets in any society. A position an ordinary person might strive for ten years to achieve, someone else could land with a single phone call from their parents.
Healthcare Access: One major illness can plunge a middle-class family back into poverty. In countries with robust healthcare systems, people are free from this fear. Access to health – that most fundamental necessity – comes at a completely different cost depending on where you live.

Conclusion: The World Isn't Flat; It's "Spiky" and "Folded"

So, back to your question. The "world is flat" metaphor is not only oversimplified but also unduly optimistic.

A more accurate metaphor might be:

A "Spiky" World: Wealth, innovation, and opportunity are intensely concentrated in a few "spikes" – cities and regions like Silicon Valley, New York, London, Beijing, Shanghai. Meanwhile, vast "plains" and "lowlands" remain underdeveloped.
A "Folded" World: Like depicted in the sci-fi novel Folding Beijing, people of different classes live in the same city but inhabit separate, folded layers that never intersect. Physically close, but socially worlds apart.

In summary, the "world is flat" slogan expresses our yearning for seamless connection. But we must be clear-eyed: the ground beneath our feet remains riddled with deep fissures. Real progress doesn't come from pretending these "bumps and crevices" don't exist, but from figuring out how to "level the peaks to fill the valleys" so more people can truly stand on that so-called "flat" world stage.