Raise the Hammer

How is it that in an information age, the masses seem more ignorant than ever?

We're not more ignorant. Actually, I read just recently, that the average Joe from a hundred years ago would seem pretty dumb if suddenly thrust into today's world.

But I get what you're saying. Two things.

One. Quantity of information. Studies are starting to come in, that the internet age is reducing attention spans, excessive bombardments with messages, a life of quick twits, and instant access, are actually dropping intelligence. Someone who checks email constantly shows the same IQ drop as a regular pot smoker. Younger and younger kids are getting tablets and phones and it is changing how brains work. Not to be overly dramatic about it, but we are only just starting to discover the implications.

Second. Quality of that information. Garbage in, garbage out. Not a conspiracy theory, but well known and widely taught that this is quite deliberate these days. The entire field of marketing (sorry) is largely based on psychologically manipulating people into thinking and doing what the architect wants, through any avenue of social and psychological science that is legally available. Media often sells quantity over quality. Some examples ... Look at CBC facing cuts and existential crisis - what do the conservative managers cut? The Documentary teams, the award winners and only part of CBC the public feels is worth keeping. What does the for profit Spec print? Dreschel. What does not-for-profit RTH print? Researched quality information. History Channel or TLC want to show Pawn Stars all day? Bye; world's smallest violin for tanking cable subscriptions.

That said, like the Matrix scriptwriters commented, individuals are smart. People are dumb panicky animals. So individuals can and do make an effort to think critically and logically, and always have. I think the situation is exactly the same as it's been through human history. Ignorance and common groupthink has always been the easier path. The technology and degree of bombardment has changed. Human nature is exactly the same.