On Political Apathy: Should we wake them, or let them sleep?

[GLOCKLIT BUNTOTER]

Just a few minutes ago I was about to drop an Instagram story with the aim of informing my friends of the bill H.R. 6090 which is currently in deliberation by the United States' senate. But before I hit send I had a thought which is still bothering me:

What's the point?

No one I know has any influence on American politics. I don't think informing my friends of political corruption will have any positive impact in their lives. So what's even the point of further eroding their will and faith in the institutions which we operate under?

What do you guys think? Do you think allowing your companions to remain ignorant of the evils is right or wrong? Why?

(P.S. This is NOT a thread about H.R. 6090!)

 

[LiraTirsoCaduceo]

I think when it comes to current politics in general, not just in the US, there's little individuals can do. We live in the reign of quantity, not in the reign of quality. You can inform and help a hundred people become more critical of the world they live in, the ideas we've inherited, and the lack of legitimacy they have to rule over us, and the system will pump out a hundred million idiots in their place.
We live in the last of the fourth ages, we could have the wisest of sages who has ever lived walking on Earth among us, and he wouldn't be able to overturn the system. Not to mention most don't want to listen, or aren't prepared to, and discussing with them, even trying to get them to think outside the box, might prove to be a waste of your time.

That being said, you shouldn't just give up, trying to inform people, become informed yourself, be knowledgeable about yourself and the world, this is something we should all aspire to. And then when we are further along the road, we can talk with others, maybe even become teachers of people who want to walk that path.
I think to have knowledge of some truth and not letting it be known to be worse than not letting people be blissfully ignorant.
Some day the tide will change, and winter will end. Until then I think we should take care of each other, speak for those who want to listen, and try to become free of the system's chains.

 

[SolidStateSurvivor]

They say that public trust in government institutions are at an all time low, so do your duty and bring those numbers down even more! And wait until you see just how many people believe violence against these institutions is justified...

Nobody wants to listen to you rant and rave or out of nowhere initiate such a discussion. The closest you can really get to potentially sawing people is just casually dropping "redpills" or some other equivalent, like cleverly joking or sharing a meme about it or something.

The larger question to ask though is if that sort of public sentiment even matters at this point given the current state of "democracy." The managerial/political class in the west has little incentive to serve the people, I mean just look how every single guy running for president in 2024 (even the third party!) is a zionist. And foreign governments looking to break away from this sort of influence have this weird trend of leaders mysteriously "dying" or divisive political unrest...

Or even in your personal life how much does it matter? I first started hearing about BlackStone and similar groups making major housing plays right around the Covid lockdowns. But what the fuck could I do to stop them from buying up all the real estate? I told people what was coming but we were all in the same boat. This time around I find myself planning (non violently, just to clarify to the glowies reading this) to be better prepared/stocked up in case my worst fears are realized later this year.

If you want to slowly erode trust and maybe create a larger scale change, you're better off operating in a sphere of influence, sharing your ideas and politics in a fertile online space rather than trying to completely sway those immediately around you. With those around you, you can only really further educate them about their current beliefs with current/past events that have some overlap with your own.

Personally speaking, by the time more stubborn people finally realize what is going on (ie shit you told them about a year or two ago) it matters little if they're still not listening to you in the present. There are people who seriously lack perception and require others to do the thinking/leading for them, people they will only trust because they have an established following, title, or on TV. That's a larger issue that can affect anyone of any party affiliation, and fixing it that is a tall order even for a psychologist.

 

[pickleman]

I think you're just starting to figure out how power works in Democracies.

It's interesting how much information/experience one needs before they can finally see through the illusion but thanks to the power of the internet its possible for many to break through this "Great Filter". Its Great Filter because if you are not well read or prepared you will fall victim to the onslaught of propaganda.

The term "Propaganda" is hyper nebulous, this is because you first need to realize that YOU are a propaganda machine yourself. You build a face, and you lie to others about who you truly are. You have your own desires and your own will and you project information out to the world that "supposedly" fufills those wills and those desires. But you are just an individual and probably a retarded one at that. You probably have no conception of your will or have any control over your desires let alone understand what any of that is.

What if you were less retarded... what if you were, lets say, better than others? Because some people are indeed "better" than others. Better at what exactly? Lets keep it simple and go from there. Lets say you're a better Hockey Player. If you're one of the best you can get paid to play what is literally a Game that is for fun. People used to skate around lakes on sketchy blades and slap around a ball for fun. Now its sport where one can acquire power. Rich old peoplekin would have not cared about you in the world, but in this specific moment in time Old rich peoplekin with power will literally fight so that you can play a Game on their hockey team. Now why the fuck would they do that? You're literally a sweaty retarded (probably fit) boy who is being chased by raging hard old rich peoplekin. Why? Ill tell you why.

These Rich Peoplekin use "people" (more like sheeple), to acquire power. The Masses provide power. That's right. But where was the "VOOOOTE"??? I thought that this was a "Democracy"! There is no vote other than you paying attention to the retarded sweaty jock slapping around rubbers to another retarded sweaty jock wearing a shit ton of protection. That's right. By literally looking at the TV where all the metric fuck ton of advertisements are you just gave that Rich old peoplekin power! You also gave those retarded boys power too! WAY more than you would ever have.

Democracy is a sham ONLY BECAUSE people cannot control their Wills nor can they control their Desires. They need to look at sweaty young men on the TV. THEY NEED IT. And because that uncontrolled desire they give away their consciousness and their power to Rich Old Farts who shovel advertisements and overpriced merchandise into their faces.

Lets Continue with the analogy (which is not really an analogy this is a real power center). Its the holy playoffs. You're the Rich Old Fart and the Bus/Transit System is underfunded because thats the way it is. The fact that the Bus/Transit System is underfunded is all apart of how power works because when things are underfunded or broken they provide an oppurtunity for Rich Aristocrats to grow their power. So you want cheap advertisements... you want to make a "movement". So you pay the buses to say "GO TEAM GO" on them. Then pay the "News" companies to cover how your team is doing like as if its actual news when in reality none of this shit matters its just retarded jacked boys playing games that don't matter. Next thing you know the NPC in the office is talking about the TEAM, and they want your opinion on it. the NPCs are literally going crazy about it and you now feel left out and you feel that you need to pay the fuckers at NHL.com to watch a game. YOU LOSE!

THIS IS HOW POWER WORKS.

You cannot "educate the masses" that is a prodestant wet dream. I would say that the 80/20 Rule Applys. You can only teach them to do work for you. You give them money and you tell them how to hold your balls. They will do it. Obviously you don't tell them to literally suck your cock. You tell them that they are Special. There's a lot at stake here. They are Essential. You. Need. Them. LITERALLY A BLACK SQUARE AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. The more of that you do the higher your true power level will get. I mean if you're not able to get anyone to touch your johnson do you really have power? no. no you do not. This why why everyone in a Democracy is a prostitute. THERE IS A PRICE! You just need to learn from hidden wisdom on how to use this population supply of prostitutes to gain power. Think of it like an investment. You get your dick sucked and you make a return which can be used to hire more cock suckers to suck your cock which give you more returns. Keep doing that and your power increases over time.

You're on instagram. Why do you think anyone is on that website? They are literally drooling forever scrolling looking at advertisements. All you can achieve with a political post is to make someone angry and for them to literally do fucking nothing because they are ADDICTS. They are ADDICTED to these emotional spikes that rage bait like your post provide. Zuck needs more content.

PROVIDE THE ZUCK MORE FREE CONTENT.
ADVERTISEMENTS WILL BE CONSUMED.
LOOK AT THE SCREEN.
LOOK AT THE PRODUCTS THAT ARE BEING SOL...DEATH DESPAIR...PUPPIES....EGIRL...PRODUCT...EGIRL....DEATH....PRODUCT...SWEATY BOI...PRODUCT...DEAD BABIES...EGIRL...PRODUCT...FOREVER!!!!!

 

[GLOCKLIT BUNTOTER]

I think you're just starting to figure out how power works in Democracies.

Crazy how you wrote a 741 word essay and not a single one of them is on topic

 

[pickleman]

Crazy how you wrote a 741 word essay and not a single one of them is on topic

What do you mean. This is all on topic. I think I explained my point quite well.

 

[SolidStateSurvivor]

I think you're just starting to figure out how power works in Democracies.

It's interesting how much information/experience one needs before they can finally see through the illusion but thanks to the power of the internet its possible for many to break through this "Great Filter". Its Great Filter because if you are not well read or prepared you will fall victim to the onslaught of propaganda.

The term "Propaganda" is hyper nebulous, this is because you first need to realize that YOU are a propaganda machine yourself. You build a face, and you lie to others about who you truly are. You have your own desires and your own will and you project information out to the world that "supposedly" fufills those wills and those desires. But you are just an individual and probably a retarded one at that. You probably have no conception of your will or have any control over your desires let alone understand what any of that is.

What if you were less retarded... what if you were, lets say, better than others? Because some people are indeed "better" than others. Better at what exactly? Lets keep it simple and go from there. Lets say you're a better Hockey Player. If you're one of the best you can get paid to play what is literally a Game that is for fun. People used to skate around lakes on sketchy blades and slap around a ball for fun. Now its sport where one can acquire power. Rich old peoplekin would have not cared about you in the world, but in this specific moment in time Old rich peoplekin with power will literally fight so that you can play a Game on their hockey team. Now why the fuck would they do that? You're literally a sweaty retarded (probably fit) boy who is being chased by raging hard old rich peoplekin. Why? Ill tell you why.

These Rich Peoplekin use "people" (more like sheeple), to acquire power. The Masses provide power. That's right. But where was the "VOOOOTE"??? I thought that this was a "Democracy"! There is no vote other than you paying attention to the retarded sweaty jock slapping around rubbers to another retarded sweaty jock wearing a shit ton of protection. That's right. By literally looking at the TV where all the metric fuck ton of advertisements are you just gave that Rich old peoplekin power! You also gave those retarded boys power too! WAY more than you would ever have.

Democracy is a sham ONLY BECAUSE people cannot control their Wills nor can they control their Desires. They need to look at sweaty young men on the TV. THEY NEED IT. And because that uncontrolled desire they give away their consciousness and their power to Rich Old Farts who shovel advertisements and overpriced merchandise into their faces.

Lets Continue with the analogy (which is not really an analogy this is a real power center). Its the holy playoffs. You're the Rich Old Fart and the Bus/Transit System is underfunded because thats the way it is. The fact that the Bus/Transit System is underfunded is all apart of how power works because when things are underfunded or broken they provide an oppurtunity for Rich Aristocrats to grow their power. So you want cheap advertisements... you want to make a "movement". So you pay the buses to say "GO TEAM GO" on them. Then pay the "News" companies to cover how your team is doing like as if its actual news when in reality none of this shit matters its just retarded jacked boys playing games that don't matter. Next thing you know the NPC in the office is talking about the TEAM, and they want your opinion on it. the NPCs are literally going crazy about it and you now feel left out and you feel that you need to pay the fuckers at NHL.com to watch a game. YOU LOSE!

THIS IS HOW POWER WORKS.

You cannot "educate the masses" that is a prodestant wet dream. I would say that the 80/20 Rule Applys. You can only teach them to do work for you. You give them money and you tell them how to hold your balls. They will do it. Obviously you don't tell them to literally suck your cock. You tell them that they are Special. There's a lot at stake here. They are Essential. You. Need. Them. LITERALLY A BLACK SQUARE AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. The more of that you do the higher your true power level will get. I mean if you're not able to get anyone to touch your johnson do you really have power? no. no you do not. This why why everyone in a Democracy is a prostitute.

You're on instagram. Why do you think anyone is on that website? They are literally drooling forever scrolling looking at advertisements. All you can achieve with a political post is to make someone angry and for them to literally do fucking nothing because they are ADDICTS. They are ADDICTED to these emotional spikes that rage bait like your post provide. Zuck needs more content.

PROVIDE THE ZUCK MORE FREE CONTENT.
ADVERTISEMENTS WILL BE CONSUMED.
LOOK AT THE SCREEN.
LOOK AT THE PRODUCTS THAT ARE BEING SOL...DEATH DESPAIR...PUPPIES....EGIRL...PRODUCT...EGIRL....DEATH....PRODUCT...SWEATY BOI...PRODUCT...DEAD BABIES...EGIRL...PRODUCT...FOREVER!!!!!

This site needs more posts like this. What's your alternative/solution to it all though? Both in terms of changing this dynamic (if possible) and living within it as an individual?

All you can achieve with a political post is to make someone angry and for them to literally do fucking nothing because they are ADDICTS. They are ADDICTED to these emotional spikes that rage bait like your post provide. Zuck needs more content.

Or you help to motivate the next Gavrilo Princip in terms of inciting incident and setting off a chain of events.

 

[pickleman]

This site needs more posts like this. What's your alternative/solution to it all though? Both in terms of changing this dynamic (if possible) and living within it as an individual?

The philosophy that people should be able to do whatever they want to as long as it does not "harm" others (liberalism) should be seen a flawed philosophy and should be canned. The "harm" seems to be not well defined because Liberals tend to warp time into a fine sliver and fail to consider consequences of individuals being able to do whatever they want to even though many of the consequences were predicted by intelligent people long ago.

I personally believe in the 80/20 rule which means that in any realistic situation where this dynamic is changed would involve a hierarchical system where 20% manage the 80% in an authoritarian way. In order to make the 80% consent to being ruled over they need a source of meaning outside of being drugged into oblivion, and instead of providing a largely individual experience it should be a collective one. There should be these fancy places were elite members of the 20% preach to the 80% once a week in fancy buildings that make people consider their morality. You can even have them sing songs, and volunteer together in order to create authentic collective experiences. The 20% needs to control who is being married and need to make sure the next generation are ushered into this spiritual existence to become one of the whole. Such an institution would be invaluable. If you can find such a institution I would join it. Odds are you will be a lowly manager in the 20% if you have half a brain cell. The 80% masses will be ignorant (like they are today) but actually happy under the boot of the 20%.

You might think being "controlled" is bad, but its only bad when you come from the perspective of an "individual" whose consciousness is a serious mess. The "individual" is non-ironically heavily controlled today, much more so in the past... your "freedom" is being able to be sedated by slop media. You have very little control if you do not have the wealth to control others. When the source of the control is one that provides peace via strengthening your virtues rather than tugging on untrained desires...it is more satisfying than the alternative. The alternative is being controlled by your desires. A wise individual can easily figure out that the choice has always been right in front of them the entire time. You always had the free will to choose. I wouldn't get hanged up on the concept of "control". "Control" and your thoughts of control can drive one into insanity. You are a Monkey! The wide population cannot handle being an "individual" guided by their monkey desires. They reject the Good and find themselves being flushed down a toilet of despair!

"no pickleman! thats crazy, I would rather be controlled by psychopaths and their horde of cock suckers! I have freedom! I can watch TV, and rent expensive appartments, and workout, and and play video games, and consume all these products!"

okay. sure you know whats best. mr. "individual". here's your gold star little guy! and there's more good boy points if you go out and vooote !

 

[LiraTirsoCaduceo]

The philosophy that people should be able to do whatever they want to as long as it does not "harm" others (liberalism) should be seen a flawed philosophy and should be canned. The "harm" seems to be not well defined because Liberals tend to warp time into a fine sliver and fail to consider consequences of individuals being able to do whatever they want to even though many of the consequences were predicted by intelligent people long ago.

I personally believe in the 80/20 rule which means that in any realistic situation where this dynamic is changed would involve a hierarchical system where 20% manage the 80% in an authoritarian way. In order to make the 80% consent to being ruled over they need a source of meaning outside of being drugged into oblivion, and instead of providing a largely individual experience it should be a collective one. There should be these fancy places were elite members of the 20% preach to the 80% once a week in fancy buildings that make people consider their morality. You can even have them sing songs, and volunteer together in order to create authentic collective experiences. The 20% needs to control who is being married and need to make sure the next generation are ushered into this spiritual existence to become one of the whole. Such an institution would be invaluable. If you can find such a institution I would join it. Odds are you will be a lowly manager in the 20% if you have half a brain cell. The 80% masses will be ignorant (like they are today) but actually happy under the boot of the 20%.

You might think being "controlled" is bad, but its only bad when you come from the perspective of an "individual" whose consciousness is a serious mess. The "individual" is non-ironically heavily controlled today, much more so in the past... your "freedom" is being able to be sedated by slop media. You have very little control if you do not have the wealth to control others. When the source of the control is one that provides peace via strengthening your virtues rather than tugging on untrained desires...it is more satisfying than the alternative. The alternative is being controlled by your desires. A wise individual can easily figure out that the choice has always been right in front of them the entire time. You always had the free will to choose. I wouldn't get hanged up on the concept of "control". "Control" and your thoughts of control can drive one into insanity. You are a Monkey! The wide population cannot handle being an "individual" guided by their monkey desires. They reject the Good and find themselves being flushed down a toilet of despair!

"no pickleman! thats crazy, I would rather be controlled by psychopaths and their horde of cock suckers! I have freedom! I can watch TV, and rent expensive appartments, and workout, and and play video games, and consume all these products!"

okay. sure you know whats best. mr. "individual". here's your gold star little guy! and there's more good boy points if you go out and vooote !

I used to think like that a while ago, I was quite authoritarian in my "ideological views" as if to say, and really enjoyed the read of Bernays. Saw the masses as something to be kept blissfully ignorant, people don't like making decisions anyway so why not just make decisions for them and let them think they came up with it. Build a walled citadel.
But what is then the point? The why is crucial. It's an ideology, a false religion, with all these false idols in place of God, like the nation, the collective, and economic growth.
A king has a duty with the well being of his people, most importantly their spiritual well being. What is the point of doing all you said if we don't connect to what is good, beautiful, and truthful?
If you are going to replace the current system by something else, why chose something that is clearly ugly, evil and false?
Why should people be kept ignorant and be manipulated instead of providing them with the tools to form a connection with truth? Beyond this material realm.

 

[pickleman]

But what is then the point? The why is crucial.

I have the perspective that everyone has the free will to choose the Good over the Evil. It's just that in a hyper-individualist society with AI algorithms are encouraging people into choosing the Evil over the Good. It's better to have a functional society which preconditions people to choose the Good over the Evil. Currently the preconditioning is sedation by algorithms, television, etc.

The reason why there is no purpose to attempt to "educate" people on social media is because you are effectively providing content for addicts. You're like a "clean supply" heroine. You need FORCE to stop what is happening to these people. I do not believe "clean supply" works for the drug issues either. Addiction to social media and addiction to heroin is a death sentence. There is no such thing as a clean supply of poison. They need to be removed from society so that they can detached from their addictions. This requires the will to see the philosophy that people should be able to do whatever they want to assuming that they are not "harming others" is a flawed philosophy and does not work for the heavily sedated. The Heavily sedated do harm others.

The Social Media Addict should be forced to reduce usage or face removal from society. I think this way because I think addictions in general weakens one's Free Will, and thus the community has the divine duty to help the individual heal from the trauma of the addiction so that they have a stronger will to choose the Good. Not allow it to continue by providing a "safe supply" of sedatives.

 

[Lamp Fool]

Art is more compelling than politics. It takes the truth as inspiration and brings it down into our material reality, and merely experiencing it hits us harder than a thousand political arguments, slogans, or propaganda pieces. I think that's why we're here on a vaporwave forum, anyway.

A man can't live on redpills alone. He needs to have something more valuable than his own comfort first before he can even be truly political at all, so help people get that instead. If you can make a work of art that reminds people what good even is, then they are better off than if you merely convinced them Thing A is marginally less worse than Thing B.

 

[tygers99]

What happens when you go out and VOOOOOOOOTE

 

[灰の男性]

We should just blow them up.

 

[Vitnira]

Wake them up because there's more to the world than global and federal level poltiics. The more people that Wake Up the more people can contribute in some way to alternative society. Senate/president votes are not the only way to change society. US Senate is not US society. You live in a small local area where you do have power.

You are part of a deeply interconnected web of humans and giving up on them means giving up on yourself. Obviously don't start frothing at the mouth about Tha Jooz at the grocery store, but think about normie redpills to drop. Take for instance Blackrock and China buying properties - figure out your state, county, and city laws about these topics. Florida recently passed a law preventing foreigners from owning property in the state. I voted on that. Me. On my ballot. And others did too - because knowing about the Chinese property buying threat alarmed people enough to put a ballot amendment on and vote for it. Next there could be an amendment to stop Blackrock. Something changed. It's small, but something changed. Stick to bipartisan issues whenever possible, or at least bipartisan non-boomer issues (I talk a lot about how much the FDA/EPA/FCC suck at doing their job, for instance. No guns or abortions or anything touchy. Just "why does the FDA let us eat literal garbage".)

Chat up fucking grocery store workers. I had a cashier compliment my dystopian you-are-here shirt and we had a brief talk about how important that media is.

Send your instagram message. You know it's the right thing to do. You can't build a better world alone.

 

[StoicCabal]

The only thing that will stir someone who is politically apathetic, is policy or executive decision that DIRECTLY affects them. Making attempts to make them involved otherwise is pointless.

If you want proof, ask the average voter why they're voting for who they are, and they'll only be able to cite one specific issue. It's why the Roe v Wade decision torpedoed the Republicans on the eve of the '22 midterms, because it mobilized the left's radical feminist voting base to come out and vote in opposition to ardently pro-life candidates.

Nothing kill's a political candidate's prospects of election harder than apathy amongst their own voting base.

 

[Anto]

We should just blow them up.

It's easier to just show them zoomer-created edits.


View: https://youtu.be/YpL-nBFGm-g

 

[takeitbaby]

Social media, especially instagram and twitter, have created this expectation of your being an activist as default. This hasn't really been an issue since the BLM protests in 2020, but it has recently been prominent since October 7th. I am as anti-zionist as anyone, and have been for years longer than some of the people policing others for not posting enough canva bullshit on their instagram stories, but I am far past feeling any desire to spread awareness towards any cause. I love political discourse, perhaps I even sow too much of it, but I would say I am largely apathetic considering my overall complete inability to bring about change. Oh well!

 

[Some_porcupine]

The philosophy that people should be able to do whatever they want to as long as it does not "harm" others (liberalism) should be seen a flawed philosophy and should be canned. The "harm" seems to be not well defined because Liberals tend to warp time into a fine sliver and fail to consider consequences of individuals being able to do whatever they want to even though many of the consequences were predicted by intelligent people long ago.

libertarianism, more of

What happens when you go out and VOOOOOOOOTE

https://forum.agoraroad.com/index.p...ost-occupy-nonsense-world-boring-dystopia.39/ - and "zillenial dream utopia" on tumblr, wikia, g-sites and on here agora

The only thing that will stir someone who is politically apathetic, is policy or executive decision that DIRECTLY affects them. Making attempts to make them involved otherwise is pointless.

If you want proof, ask the average voter why they're voting for who they are, and they'll only be able to cite one specific issue. It's why the Roe v Wade decision torpedoed the Republicans on the eve of the '22 midterms, because it mobilized the left's radical feminist voting base to come out and vote in opposition to ardently pro-life candidates.

Nothing kill's a political candidate's prospects of election harder than apathy amongst their own voting base.

^

Social media, especially instagram and twitter, have created this expectation of your being an activist as default. This hasn't really been an issue since the BLM protests in 2020, but it has recently been prominent since October 7th. I am as anti-zionist as anyone, and have been for years longer than some of the people policing others for not posting enough canva bullshit on their instagram stories, but I am far past feeling any desire to spread awareness towards any cause. I love political discourse, perhaps I even sow too much of it, but I would say I am largely apathetic considering my overall complete inability to bring about change. Oh well!

yup, see gallery of https://forum.agoraroad.com/index.p...ost-occupy-nonsense-world-boring-dystopia.39/ - and "zillenial dream utopia" on tumblr, wikia, g-sites and on here agora

 

[2bias]

you exist at least 5 steps down from federal politics (at least in the states). pay more attention to the shit you can influence (like local zoning, board of education, mayoral campaigns etc) and not soiboi v. chud hyperpopulism culture war slop. from there people will learn real democracy and start grokking state and federal politics.

local politics is also all about REAL HUMANS in the REAL WORLD. you go out and do real meatspace shit. i was pleasantly surprised when i started showing up at local council meetings and stuff. red vs blue garbage sometimes leaks in, but for the most part, people just discuss actual issues.

 

[Akenshi]

I would say the problem is not apathy, people are obsessed with politics. The crux of the issue is that they are focusing on the Pro Wrestling style personality issues, not the policies. National and International politics are basically distraction. The system's greatest trick is that people focus on the big thing, while forgetting that the big global thing is made up of a myriad of little, local things.

So it's a focus issue, compounded by the false sense of importance created by the mass media. Simply for many local politics are not trending on Twitter or in Cable so they don't know much. In fact their local election choices will be influenced by their national election choices. This basically creates an electorate that doesn't need to be pleased because their votes are already locked in, why pander when you can get elected for free? lol

I would add what makes things really bad is that people's brains get wiped when they focus on the next big thing, aka the Current Thing, or the current iteration of the news cycle. Most people seem to live in an eternal present, that is why they fail to make connections and understand patterns.