Does anyone do any actual thinking of their own anymore?

Question

You see so many people who simply copy whatever they read or see or hear on the news, and they present it as some sort of revolutionary idea that they thought of on their own. They blindly accept whatever Ann Coulter or Michael Moore offers, and simply repeat it without considering whether it has a shred of logic. Liberals and conservatives are equally guilty of it. They think that they are being a really subversive and rebellious person, when in reality, they haven't had an original thought in years. They think they are cool because they say provocative and controversial things, which actually have no substance.

Is there any actual intelligence going on out there?

Answer 1

I do. When faced with an overwhelming display of unanimity on any issue or the mindless mantra-lie repetition of something which is put forth as fact when it is utter nonsense, I call to mind the favorite words which were constantly uttered by Clem Kaddidlehopper, a character created by the comic Red Skelton:

"It just don't look right to me".

Answer 2

Very little.   it is a lot easier to pretend what someone else has decided on is something you have put lots of thought into and that you spent time researching facts.   The truth is.....we dont train ourselves or others to think....the media and the politicians do our thinking for us....and then I wonder why we are in such a mess.

Answer 3

Not in my pay grade! Not my job! It's not my turn! It's harmful to my career! Will this go down on my resume! Forget about it!

Answer 4

I agree with you completely.

"Obama is a Muslim!" "McCain has Alzheimer's!" Back and forth with no one bothering to talk about issues.

And if, God forbid, someone actually manages to bring up an issue, the answers are all insults--from both parties. Apparently the only thing everyone can agree on is that the issues are off-limits.

Answer 5

It's few and far between, I too have noticed that most people don't actually form opinions, they just regurgitate what their favourite talking head said. I blame generations of TV watching, the power of modern scientific propaganda and advertising, and in the USA at least a school system that rewards conformity and makes zero effort to teach critical thinking.

http://unitedcats.wordpress.com/2008/08/...

http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/m...

Answer 6

That's why the liberals wanna take over.  They want the government to do all of our thinking and make our decisions for us because they really believe that they know what's best for us.  Don't get me wrong, I've disagreed with many things put on by the conservatives, too, but not once have I heard them say that the government knows what's best for me.  I say s***w 'em all.

Answer 7

You are correct.

Answer 8

The masses don't need to think; they just need to pass tests and jump through hoops.  You don't need logic or rationality to read the tabloids and thinking is counterproductive to keeping society in it's place.

That may be seen as provocative or controversial, but I believe it has substance.

Answer 9

You are quite right. It's the dumbing down of public education which is to blame - especially in the US.  And the deliberate anti-intellectual stance of the Reagan-Thatcher era, and the subsequent end of informed public debate. So those who have the knowledge to guide public opinion are buried in despondency and cynicism; and the mainstream media are so corporatised that they only serve the interests of those who pay the most. The saddest part is that post-globalisation, this trend is now spreading to India and Latin America as well.  

Answer 10

Most  people  believe  everything  their  government  tells  them. Mainly through the  newspapers.  Most  of the  things  that  are  in  the  press  i  totally  dismiss  as  nonsense.

Answer 11

First you should understand one thing.  we are humans.  we have plus and minus.  No one will come to a conclusion and all are confused while taking decisions.  it is human nature, and if you begin to find fault, no one will be spared.

why this ?

The main reason is the 6th sense.  with this 6th sense, he learned a handful information and with this handful information he takes power as his own and not applying his mind for any action, of course as you said doing copy (this may be from childhood on tests, and examinations)

human forgets that he has to learn a ''mountain'' level.  with this handful information, even he dared to question the God.  God gave us thinking power, but the thinking power diminishes to all on some reasons..hasty, jealousy, hatred, urgent etc.,

There are people but those people are not known to all.  But, we see only a weaker than stronger.  i repeat, we are humans and we are acting as humans.  Humans will be like that only, because we are humans.