[granshaw]

This is so common in the current anti-intellectual American mindset... other forms it takes:

  - I wouldn't know, X person is way smarter than me
  - (Try to discuss how something might work...) This was made by really smart people, I'll leave it to them!
  - (learns you're doing an Engineering degree) Wow, you must be really smart!
  - The "for science!!" trope

[onos]

That sounds more like “avoidance of personal engagement in intellectual pursuit” rather than anti-intellectual - if anything these suggest complete deference to supposed experts.

[hahaxdxd123]

Interesting. My impression of American anti-intellectualism is that it more often takes the opposite form:

"X person is by all measures more educated than me on this topic, but I did own research! (on Youtube and Facebook)"

[JamesianP]

I'd say it's a suspicion of the values and political agendas/biases of intellectuals as a social class.

I know professionals living in other countries who believe every silly conspiracy theory they see on youtube too. That part is a universal problem.

[granshaw]

That's a separate, more recent problem IMO. Mistrust of experts and lazy self-affirmation