A Rare Superpower

Common Sense

Let’s talk about something that used to be standard but now feels like a rare superpower: common sense. Once upon a time, people had it. They used logic, thought critically, and made reasonable decisions. But lately? It seems like we’re collectively running low on this basic human function. Why are we getting dumber?

From people believing everything they read on the internet (seriously, fact-checking isn’t illegal) to folks walking into traffic while staring at their phones (because looking both ways is apparently outdated), common sense is becoming uncommon.

And look, I get it—technology, social media, and the non-stop flood of nonsense have made it harder to think for ourselves. But at what point do we just stop using our brains entirely? Let’s break down the epidemic of missing common sense and figure out how the hell we fix it.

1. The Death of Critical Thinking

Here’s the thing: thinking takes effort. And in an age where you can Google literally anything in two seconds, a lot of people have just... stopped trying. We see headlines, memes, or 10-second TikToks and assume they must be true. Why research when you can just repost garbage with confidence, right?

• Someone posts a “fact” online? Believed without question.
• A celebrity says something “groundbreaking”? Must be gospel.
• A random influencer pushes some new miracle trend? Let’s all do it, no questions asked!

The lack of skepticism is wild. When did we stop asking, “Wait... does this even make sense?” Because let me tell you—half of what’s out there does not.

2. We Confuse Loud Opinions with Facts

Ever notice how the loudest people tend to have the worst takes? Somehow, we’ve arrived at a point where volume equals truth. If someone confidently yells a dumb idea long enough, suddenly people start believing it.

• A dude on YouTube with zero qualifications tells you vaccines will turn you into a robot? Somehow, people buy it.
• A reality star says reading books is pointless? People take it as life advice.
• An internet troll starts an outrageous rumor, and before you know it, it’s “news.”

Confidence is not a substitute for intelligence. But too many people mistake certainty for correctness. And that, my friends, is how nonsense spreads like wildfire.

3. Nobody Wants to Admit They’re Wrong

Let’s be real—nobody likes being wrong. But some people have made it their life’s mission to never, ever admit it. You could hit them with facts, evidence, and a neon sign flashing YOU’RE WRONG, and they’d still double down.

We see it in politics. We see it in relationships. We see it every time someone crashes their car while texting and still insists, “I was totally paying attention.”

Admitting when you’re wrong isn’t a weakness—it’s intelligence. It means you learned something. But in today’s world, people would rather fight to the death for a bad opinion than just say, “Damn, my bad.”

4. Social Media Is Melting Our Brains

Social media was supposed to connect us, but instead, it’s given us a front-row seat to the absolute worst takes on the planet. And the worst part? People see stupidity online and copy it in real life.

• TikTok challenges: Oh, drinking NyQuil chicken could kill me? Didn’t stop some folks from trying.
• Instagram trends: “I saw this influencer say sunscreen is a scam, so I stopped wearing it!” Good luck with your new relationship with skin cancer.
• Facebook “news” pages: “The Earth is actually flat!” Sure, because Bill from Facebook must know more than NASA.

At some point, we have to stop letting the internet be our primary source of intelligence. Otherwise, we’re just mass-producing idiots at scale.

5. We Forgot How to Be Self-Sufficient

Remember when people could change a tire, cook a meal, or read a map? Yeah, those were the days. Now, we have full-grown adults who panic if their phone dies because they can’t remember a single phone number, navigate without GPS, or—Hell —have to ask a real human for directions.

Technology is great, but it’s making us helpless. When basic survival skills are becoming a lost art, we might be in trouble.

So, How Do We Fix This?

Great question. Here’s a radical idea: start thinking again.

• Question everything. Don’t just take things at face value. If something sounds off, look it up.
• Accept that you might be wrong sometimes. No one is right 100% of the time. Own it, learn, and move on.
• Use common sense before acting. If something seems crazy or dangerous, it probably is.
• Get offline once in a while. Go outside. Touch grass. Have real conversations.

It’s not about being the smartest person in the room—it’s about not being the dumbest.

Final Thoughts: Let’s Bring Common Sense Back

Look, I know the world is a crazy place. But we don’t have to make it worse by shutting off our brains. Common sense isn’t dead—it’s just on life support. And if we don’t start using it again, we’re all screwed.

So, let’s start thinking. Let’s start questioning. And for the love of all things logical, let’s stop treating dumb ideas like they deserve a platform.

What’s the dumbest lack of common sense you’ve seen lately? Drop it in the comments. Let’s laugh, cry, and figure out how to fix this mess together.