10 Reasons Why Common Sense May Be Lacking Today
In today’s world, with its constant flow of information and rapidly evolving technology, the common lament seems to be, “Where has common sense gone?” While common sense, which is the essential ability to perceive, understand, and judge things shared by nearly all people without the need for debate, has been the foundation for many decisions in the past, it seems to be dwindling in our present age.
With social media, everyone is inundated with many opinions, fragmentary thoughts, pure falsehoods, and planned manipulation of emotions, intelligence, and fear. It’s no wonder people are intimidated and sometimes emboldened by what is delivered. The proper answer is to apply critical thinking and common sense to what you read, see, and ingest so you can make a value assessment, but we are burdened with time pressures, so people avoid this process or use it to feed their biases.
Here are ten reasons why common sense might be lacking in today’s society (Note, not exhaustive):
1. Information Overload: With the rise of the internet, an overwhelming amount of information is available at our fingertips. This abundance can sometimes cloud judgment and make it harder to discern fact from fiction, leading to decisions that might defy common sense. Unfortunately, some information is beneficial, some is false, and some is deceitful, further complicating the evaluation process. The key is that each individual must take the time to challenge the integrity of the information and measure against their value system. Sadly, few have any idea of what their values are and how they impact the rest of the population.
2. Rapid Technological Advancements: The speed at which technology advances can leave many behind. This gap can result in misunderstandings or misjudgments about the world as we grapple with new and unfamiliar concepts. Fortunately, at 76, I am still a geek who loves technology but also realizes the positives and negatives of each new iteration. Please take the time to understand the technology and how to use it to benefit humanity.
3. Loss of Direct Experience: In our digital age, many experiences are virtual rather than tangible. This detachment from the physical world can sometimes hinder our innate ability to use common sense. We are rapidly losing our sense of touch, listening, and interacting when it comes to many interactions due to this virtual world that is quickly expanding. Try to cherish every human interaction you can have that is not virtual and save the virtual for long distances and short-term discussions.
4. Fear of Offending: Society’s heightened focus on political correctness and not offending anyone can sometimes prevent people from voicing their intuitive, common sense views, lest they be labeled insensitive or out of touch. When providing a common sense view, you must respect the person you deliver the message to and follow up with workable solutions they can consider. Common sense ideas are not meant to be arrows launched from the other side of some wall and then run away. It is a choice, so treat it with love and respect.
5. Educational Shift: There’s an increasing emphasis on specialization in education. While deep knowledge in specific fields is beneficial, this can sometimes come at the expense of broader, general life knowledge — the kind that underpins common sense. However, with an emphasis on the trades for young people and businesses, understanding the need for the generalist and the specialist to be successful. There may be a shift in this particular part of the future.
6. Desire for Instant Gratification: The culture of wanting everything immediately, be it information, goods, or services, can hinder thoughtful reflection and patience, qualities necessary for common sense to prevail. Too often, we as people look not only for instant gratification but also for perfection. Part of common sense understands that there is no perfection regarding human-influenced processes, production, or interactions. Instant gratification may be a folly when done from reactive knee-jerk actions.
7. Social Media Echo Chambers: Platforms like Facebook and Twitter often expose us to information that aligns with our existing beliefs. It can create an echo chamber, reinforcing our views and stifling diverse perspectives that might challenge or refine our sense of common sense. When the echo occurs, we often filter it through our confirmation biases or other factors that narrow the vision to one and only one approach. This is dangerous.
8. Loss of Interpersonal Communication: With the advent of texting, instant messaging, and social media, face-to-face interactions have decreased. Closely tied to common sense, interpersonal skills can atrophy without regular, in-person dialogues. All we need to do is look around at the dinner table with a family engulfed in reading texts and messaging friends or colleagues. They can all wait to have a face-to-face conversation.
9. Over-reliance on Technology: While technology has brought myriad benefits, an over-reliance on it can lead to an erosion of basic skills. For instance, over-dependence on GPS might diminish one’s natural sense of direction or the ability to read a traditional map.
10. Cultural Relativism: As the world becomes more globalized, there’s a greater emphasis on understanding and accepting different cultures. While this is crucial for coexistence, it can also lead to a reluctance to apply common sense judgments universally, as what’s “common” might vary significantly across cultures. Having traveled the world, I have found that asking questions with respect and genuineness helps break the barrier to understanding.
In conclusion, while various factors might lead to a perceived decline in common sense, it’s crucial to remember that society constantly evolves. We cannot take this list, check things off, and say we have solved the problem. Expanding common sense is NOT a destination but a somewhat complex journey requiring attention at every corner.
What was considered common sense in the past might not be relevant today, and vice versa. The more we fight change, the more apt we are to lock ourselves in a restricted space with nowhere to go or grow. Still, recognizing the factors influencing our judgment can help us navigate the modern world with wisdom and prudence.
