Blog: Why Does It Seem Like Everyone is Delulu?

I’m sorry to use that term in the title of a serious blog post, but the question still stands: Why is everyone so delusional nowadays? From media pundits, internet personalities, and regular people it seems like sanity has left the room. So, what is causing this?

I think the first reason is the fact that we’re constantly being bombarded with more information than our brains can take. The entire world is in our hands in the form of cellphones, and the effect of that sort of access has proven to be detrimental. We’re less connected to other humans, we’re more narcissistic, have higher rates of anxiety and depression, have shorter attention spans, etc. Thus, we’ve become not only focused on ourselves, but we’re also adopting beliefs that don’t line up with reality.

The second reason why I think this is happening (especially amongst internet personalities) is because facts don’t get clicks; outrage does. While it’s still possible to find respectful debates and discussions online, the ones that lack nuance are typically the ones that get the most clicks. The internet has become less about respect, and more about turning conversations into a gladiatorial match in which nuance and context are lost, and it typically becomes ad hominem.

This also rolls into the third reason why everyone seems to have lost their minds, which is the lack of nuance when it comes to politics, relationships, etc. Much of this is manufactured by the media and tech companies, but it’s been quite effective in turning people against each other, making them see everything as black and white, or the other side as a sort of caricature even if it’s not.

Fourth, is general consumerism. This is also tied to reasons 1 and 2, but because we live in such a consumer culture, we’re looking for whatever is the most entertaining or appealing. Not only do we see this in how much of content is based on overconsumption, but we also see it in what’s trending. For example, think about figures like Candace Owens, who push insane conspiracy theories. She doesn’t give us the facts but appeals to human nature’s need for closure and want for someone to blame. Another example is the manosphere which feeds into men’s need for validation in a world that devalues them in an unhealthy way. What they preach may sound good to some, but in reality, it isn’t a good, true, or healthy way of dealing with things.

Fifth is possibly the most concerning and it’s our general lack of common sense and an understanding of truth. Since the smart phone came out, it seems like people have gradually become dumber as our attention spans dwindle and much of our thinking is outsourced to AI. Additionally, the public-school system doesn’t help as they’re some of the biggest peddlers of falsities and postmodern garbage.

So, how do we fix this?

The main thing I would suggest is to get out of the echo chambers. Learn what the facts are instead of listening to outrage farms, or listening to whatever sounds good. Touch grass, learn to think, and stop trying to make caricatures of people on the other side.

Until next time,

M.J.