[daze42]

This view, though probably correct, is incompatible with democracy. We can't have rule by the people if the people aren't capable of ruling themselves. I still believe democracy is the best way forward, but it depends on critical thinking and there seems to be a decline in that area recently.

[DistressedDrone]

> it depends on critical thinking and there seems to be a decline in that area recently.

Respectfully, I call bullshit. There has always been a lack of critical thinking, we just didn't have the internet to bear witness. I think people are complaining about a lack of critical thinking more now because there are more educated people around to think critically.

So I agree that we need critical thinking, but let's not be alarmists about it just because some people are dumb or voted dumb people in.

[Uberphallus]

Yeah I don't think critical thinking is worse than before, it's just being amplified by the feedback loop that social media has become.

[AnimalMuppet]

Some time ago, here on HN, user api described social media as a "hate laser". I thought that was a brilliant term - stimulated emissions of hate. But maybe social media is a "stupid laser" as well.

[decebalus1]

> This view, though probably correct, is incompatible with democracy.

Which is fine, because (at least in the US) we don't live in a democracy. These views are very compatible with a plutocracy, which is what we currently have.