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The Acceleration of the Age of the Idiot

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Summary

This article looks at the accelerating rate of stupidity in modern society and the effects it is having on global economics, politics, media, and social cohesion. It examines how the loudest voices in society are often the most willfully ignorant, and how the lack of literacy and understanding of reality can lead to absurd consequences. It encourages readers to reflect on the world today and how much worse it is than a decade ago, while still holding onto their sanity, courage, grace and truth.

Q&As

How has the human folly and all its flavors accelerated in our societies?
The human folly and all its flavors have been pulsating through our societies faster and faster.

What is the main difference between the reactions to the doomed submersible and the refugees fleeing war and chaos?
The difference in reactions to the doomed submersible and the refugees fleeing war and chaos is that the doomed submersible received wall-to-wall coverage for weeks, plus huge rescue operations, funded by the world’s richest nations, with mournful press conferences, while the refugees fleeing war and chaos barely got a mention.

What is the reality literacy problem of our civilization?
The reality literacy problem of our civilization is that the single biggest problem we have is climate change, and yet maybe 10% of people can actually tell me what climate tipping points even are.

What are the major kinds of stupid that are present in our world today?
The major kinds of stupid that are present in our world today are anti-scientific conspiratorialism, violent rage, intimidation, threats, bigotry, hate, and ignorance.

How can thoughtful and sane people protect their sanity, courage, grace, and truth amidst the Age of Stupid?
To protect their sanity, courage, grace, and truth amidst the Age of Stupid, thoughtful and sane people should strive to maintain their literacy about basic realities, stay informed, and remember that just because the fanatics and lunatics shout the loudest, it doesn't mean they're right.

AI Comments

👍 This is a thought-provoking and informative article that sheds light on the current state of affairs in our world and how it can be improved.

👎 This article paints a bleak picture of the world we live in, painting an overly negative image of our current situation.

AI Discussion

Me: It's about how stupid our world has become in the past decade. It talks about all the different forms of stupidity that are taking over and how it's impacting our societies. It's really an interesting read.

Friend: That's really eye-opening. It's so sad to think about how quickly things have changed and how much worse they've become. It's scary to think that this is our reality now.

Me: Yeah, it's definitely concerning. It highlights the importance of being educated and informed and how dangerous it is to be ignorant of the reality of the world. We need to be aware of what's going on and try to be a force for good.

Action items

Educate yourself on the science behind climate change and the implications of climate tipping points.
Reach out to your local representatives and urge them to take action on climate change.
Support organizations that are working to combat the spread of misinformation and hate.

Technical terms

Inflation: An increase in the general level of prices of goods and services in an economy over a period of time.
Disinformation: False or misleading information that is spread deliberately to deceive.
Malice: The intention or desire to do evil; ill will.
Bad faith: Dishonesty or fraud; lack of good faith.
Stagnation: A state of inactivity or lack of progress.
Fanatics: A person filled with excessive and single-minded zeal, especially for an extreme religious or political cause.
Brexit: The withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union.
Trumpism: The political ideology and policies associated with former US President Donald Trump.
Bonfire of Vanities: A phrase used to describe a period of moral decline and decadence.
Pessimism: A tendency to see the worst aspect of things or believe that the worst will happen; a lack of hope or confidence in the future.
Social Cohesion: The bonds or ties that bring people together in a society.
Trust: Firm belief in the reliability, truth, or ability of someone or something.
Tipping Points: A point at which a small change or a series of small changes can cause a large and often unexpected effect.
Conspiratorialism: The belief that events and decisions are the result of secret plots by powerful groups.
Xenophobia: Fear or hatred of strangers or foreigners or of anything that is strange or foreign.
Humility: The quality of being humble; modest opinion or estimate of one's own importance.
Bigotry: Intolerance toward those who hold different opinions from oneself.
Hypocrisy: The practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform.