In today's political landscape, it's hard not to notice the growing divide and the erosion of informed discourse. As we navigate these turbulent times, I can't help but wonder: Have we reached a tipping point where ignorance has become the norm? Are we so far down the road that the public is ill-equipped to counter the latest governmental abuses?
It seems like the powers that be have successfully convinced many that losing is winning. The erosion of trust in institutions and the rise of misinformation can leave one questioning if we're collectively stuck in a cycle of intellectual stagnation.
Let's unpack this a bit:
- Media Influence: The media plays a crucial role in shaping public perception. However, with the rise of clickbait and sensationalism, the quality of information available has deteriorated. This makes it harder for individuals to discern credible sources from those pushing agendas.
- Historical Context: Looking back, periods of significant change have often been met with resistance and misinformation. The current era isn't unique in this aspect, but the speed at which information spreads today amplifies these challenges.
- Public Engagement: The shift towards more polarized debates can stifle open dialogue. When discussion becomes a battleground of talking points rather than fact-based exploration, it's harder to foster understanding.
- Intellectual curiosity: Encouraging critical thinking is essential. Without it, individuals risk being swayed by narratives that don't hold up under scrutiny.
So, while the situation seems dire, there's still room for hope. The challenge lies in recognizing our role as participants in shaping the narrative. We can choose to engage thoughtfully, seek out diverse perspectives, and remain curious.
Let's not lose sight of the power we hold in our collective intellect. By fostering critical thinking and a commitment to understanding, we can navigate these challenges and find our way back to a more informed public discourse.
I think it's a bit more hopeful than that(America is still fucked short term, but humanity might be better off long term). Throughout history, people have been misinformed idiots that don't think critically. It's just that prior to about 2008, people didn't really have access to the deluge of information that is social media and we're still trying to figure that out.
The reason misinformation on social media works so well is that people want to learn things, and if someone tells them a believable enough lie, they'll take that as fact doing only minimal checks(eg: my friend whom I trust shared this article saying that it's the Mexican's fault I see so many homeless people, so it must be true).
Stuff like this has happened throughout history. People published absolutely insane things in books and presented them as fact for hundreds of years, and it set back things like science and medicine for equivalently long, as people didn't fact check things then either.
The fact that people are already hammering on about trying to fact check social media means that people are educated enough now to start, and we as a species just need another small push in that direction
The internet has been around, as you understand it now, since the late 1990s. 1995 - 1996 is earliest analog to what we have now.
Yes, but not really.
In the 90s, the Internet was more like a fetch system. You'd think of a question and you'd go to the Internet to find the answer, and then it was back to the real world.
Now it's a push system. Answers are sent to us throughout the day, long before we are able to think of the question.