American Anti-Intellectualism

[@Inhumanform]

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[@tapatton9]

I know 2 people who don't believe in dinosaurs.

[@TheVioletBunny]

🤡

[@tapatton9]

Sorry to double comment but I'm experiencing anti intellectuals in the comment section right now 😂

[@martell203]

I think it needs a ne name. I know you didn’t create the term, but calling someone anti intellectual sounds like you’re calling someone dumb and the anti-intellectual person will just stop listening as soon as they hear that term. Kinda like calling someone ignorant. I’ve gotten much grief over calling people ignorant because it had a negative connotation though I didn’t intend to be insulting so I just try to not use that word. Anyway, I’ve been discovering that the people who are thought to be the intellectuals actually aren’t. They are, or we’re in the case of our leaders and “authoritative voices/sources”, just good at making a significant portion of the population think that they are when they’re actually just liars that were able to convince many that their position was correct.

[@aardvark2641]

Fox News...say no more

[@KVL325]

"When stupidity is considered patriotism, it is unsafe to be intelligent." ( Isaac Asimov ).

[@filrabat1965]

Switch up a few words and it's even more accurate: When intelligence is considered unmanly, it's safest to speak stupidly.

[@jimbaxter8488]

When you assume that the people against socialist dictatorships are unintelligent and ignorant you are the epitome of ‘the problem’ and deluded with a superiority complex and self righteous hypocrisy.

[@Oldtanktapper]

Also Asimov: There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.

[@jimbaxter8488]

Here’s our current situation- “When indoctrination is considered education, it is an error to consider that the educated are intelligent."

[@filrabat1965]

@@jimbaxter8488 Which parts of our education are just indoctrination, even if just by omission? You can claim anything is indoctrination. But you gotta prove it to make the claim stick.

[@renavaleh576]

What’s equally disturbing is that we live in an age where many are actually proud of their ignorance.

[@ruthbley6674]

I say this exact thing! I also wonder (out loud) when did it become hip to be stupid

[@TheZodiacRipper]

War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.

[@NOBodYknoys111]

​@@ruthbley6674the Simpsons

[@secretlyaslug2325]

The refular man has essentially limitless trivia and science at the click of a button. The only thing keeping them from it is their desire to learn. They just don't need or want to learn.

[@jacquesparpaing3217]

@@TheZodiacRipperand men have periods.

[@mikedewine4694]

getting a hulk hogan trump ad before this video is wild

[@bobfallon2676]

The algorithm must like that combination because I got the same thing.

[@ThinkerHaistTV]

What’s an ad?

[@garyrobinson5655]

How have I not seen that

[@mikedewine4694]

@@garyrobinson5655 just posted a screen recording of it lol

[@CoolFishFunk]

Got a trump ad saying that Kamala Harris wanted to defund the police lol

[@evilkingstanley]

The worst part of this is the fact that it's so hard to pull someone out of their pit of anti-intellectualism. Trying to explain things comes off as condescending, and they get defensive and retreat to the comfort of the same old nonsense

[@paddlefar9175]

It’s all in the way you approach the other person, I think, especially when they know you are more educated than them and they’re defensive about a topic of discussion. You can’t expect to convince a reluctant person of something complicated in a short amount of time. Avoid using more complicated jargon and simplify things where you can. Humour and compassion goes a long way too, to keep a conversation going. If you go on too long about any topic that may frustrate them or goes counter to their beliefs, especially religious beliefs, it might be beneficial to break down complicated or contrary topics into shorter talks that are more “two way,” where they get to answer some of your socratic questioning. Let a complicated explanation evolve over time, over many different get togethers if possible, so that it’s not so preachy or overwhelming for them. Firstly, they need to believe that you respect them and secondly they need to gain trust in you. That’s nine tenths of the game right there!

[@vooveks]

@@paddlefar9175 Tiring though, isn’t it?

[@darthmaul7434]

​@@vooveksI would still preffer that over the frustration of a stubborn person unwilling to change their reasoning, it's worth it in the end.

[@paddlefar9175]

@@vooveks Yes. I only do this for friends and family usually.

[@kepspark3362]

@@paddlefar9175 Smart!😊 Who are you? Wanna meet up?😉

[@philipdubuque9596]

In a High School classroom in 1967 (the subject was "Civics" or "Problems in Democracy") a very heated disucussion got under way between the teacher and a few of the students. The teacher was in favor of the Viet Nam conflict and the students who were opposed were dominating the debate with very precise information. The beginning of my education in anti-intellectualism came when the teacher, in frustration,finally blurted out, "Don't try to change my mind with facts!"

[@Michael-m8y4i]

Yes, those pesky facts always ruin beliefs.

[@kwood55]

Said every MAGA member….

[@Phearsum]

@@kwood55 Oh yeah, Democrats are all about the facts.. Boys can be girls, men can have babies, abortion isn't taking life... Mmm.

[@rainbowdragon1872]

The TEACHER saod that?!?! Oh my lord....

[@ВладиславВладислав-и4ю]

So, facts say you what USA don't need defend world against commie occupation?

[@stickinug]

“Governments don't want a population capable of critical thinking, they want obedient workers, people just smart enough to run the machines and just dumb enough to passively accept their situation.” -George Carlin

[@peteraleksandrovich5923]

Carlin was smart and hilarious through most of his career, but became an Andy Rooney-esque curmudgeon towards the end. I don't know when this dates from, or if it's even an actual Carlin quote, but it typifies the simplistic, reactionary thinking that has corroded our conversations. GOVERNMENT BAD is something we expect from a 14-year-old who has just discovered (but not necessarily suffered through) Ayn Rand, not from someone who has tried to tackle the question of why governments exist and the many ways they operate.

[@californiacombativesclub202]

@@peteraleksandrovich5923 edge lords take Carlin out of context

[@OneRudeBoy]

Then comes automation

[@AceofDlamonds]

I like Carlin he's not a bad guy however Carlin himself fed that anti-intellectual crowd at times. I don't hold it against comedians and casual observers when they just give their gut hot takes. We all have those.

[@justanotherlizardperson420]

George was a comedic man but you must understand the roll of a fool to know what he was really doing. He shows the other side of the coin. He doesn't give right answers.

[@renegalvan6417]

In the entire history of humanity, fools have always outnumbered the wise.

[@peaceondeath2319]

Finding which is which is the hard part. If the fool has learned 1 thing, it's to side with the masses and agree with the common narrative.

[@paulvincent3280]

NEVER underestimate the power and ability of fools in large numbers! 😅

[@gehtkeinenwasan8087]

yeah because we are all fools... even a smart man can be a fool on some things... and a fool can be smart at some thing.

[@breveth]

Then it becomes the Dunning Krueger Effect. The fools will be assured of their foolishness and be more vocal than the wise or well-versed.

[@I.am.not.in.your.house.or.am.I]

There isn’t a certain definition of a fool. It’s more about doing very foolish things that look stupid relative to other options.

[@hm5142]

Intellectuals always question their positions. Anti-intellectuals are always right.

[@great-garden-watch]

Best and truest comment. The most brilliant always say things like It may, or we still don’t know but the evidence is strong

[@chrisbartolini1508]

@@great-garden-watchThat is not something I’m accustomed to when speaking to leftists.

[@iviewthetube]

Intellectuals never say, "I am the science."

[@iviewthetube]

Intellectuals, like Einstein and Galileo, did not care about consensus.

[@eyeamstrongest]

​@@chrisbartolini1508 cry about it

[@captainsmileyface4336]

I grew up homeschooled, where watching Prager U was part of my government classes, and we took field trips to the creation museum. Even my science textbooks were Ken Ham's curriculum. God, this video is a breath of fresh air! Just moved out of my parents house finally thriving as a transgender person. Thank you for this video

[@mrsoisauce9017]

Try moving to Europe. If you want to be an intellectual, they’re actually valued across the pond

[@Silvreina]

@@mrsoisauce9017 Europe has the same exact problem with rising anti-intellectualism as it does here, bruv. Ur not exceptional

[@mrsoisauce9017]

@@Silvreina I say what I say as an American. Besides, a rising issue can still be less of an issue in certain places. In Europe, it’s a rising problem. In America, it’s baked into our very culture

[@amarevanhook7453]

Prager U for class is absolutely sick

[@Pllayer064]

lmao many such cases

[@FairLadySpiny]

My 10 year old brother had cancer in his face during covid. If he had gotten sick, he literally would’ve died. The amount of people who would argue with me that their comfort takes precedence over my brothers life absolutely broke me. I have such little hope in the good of people now.

[@nickwells20]

So you are saying your brother with cancer takes precedence over everyone else's lives. Do you see the problem in your logic?

[@Kevin_TN]

@@nickwells20because wearing a mask is such a burden.

[@Hako_ware]

​@@nickwells20 Yes. Because it's a 10 year old with cancer. There's no reason to not wear a mask beyond your stupid childish tantrum over being told to be a better person for once in your pathetic life. If anything more people supported wearing masks and you morons thought your comfort took precedence over everyone else's healthy and life. I'd say be a better person. But if you feel the need to cry 'what about my comfort' when confronted with an immunocompromised 10 year old with cancer. You are beyond salvation.

[@darthmaul7434]

​@@nickwells20Are you aware humans are naturally selfish? Yeah it makes sense that his brother is more important to him than a bunch of random strangers because his brother has a emotional connection with him, just like everyone has with their loved ones. And he is not the only one who gone through this situation and many others weren't as fortunate.

[@orangeTadpole]

@@nickwells20I bet you call yourself “pro life”.

[@Lucaat]

“Stupidity is a more dangerous enemy of the good than malice. One may protest against evil; it can be exposed and, if need be, prevented by use of force. Evil always carries within itself the germ of its own subversion in that it leaves behind in human beings at least a sense of unease. Against stupidity we are defenseless.” -Dietrich Bonhoeffer

stupidity also leaves a sense of unease. I think you have a false dichotomy there. Eg willful ignorance

[@Lucaat]

It is a quote. kzbin.info/www/bejne/raiXaJWIbZuqicUsi=zz3S-HNgQNgTqPM7 Ignorance could be seen as a feature of stupidity?

[@tamadeus7189]

Gynocentric spiritualism is not intellectualism.

[@nbaoldgirl]

I took a screenshot of this comment! Thank you.

[@JordanManfrey]

@@tamadeus7189 neither is using Latin phrasing to obfuscate brain dead takes like the one you just posted

[@zacthomas2847]

It's a tough question to ponder whether this modern wave of anti-intellectualism has been brought on by the dawn of social media, or if it has simply been emphasised by everyone having an equal opportunity to share their beliefs. Regardless of the answer, the threat to intellectualism remains deeply disturbing.

[@SerratedPVP]

Everyone should be able to be heard, the greeks knew that diversity of thought was a good thing and that is why they practiced debates, they knew that we must share knowledge to find wisdom. I think our culture just values "hustlin" more than it does thinking. I don't know what was their form of "hustlin" was but, It goes back to the '80s when people bullied the "nerd." So no, I don't think it is from social media, I do think it is a lot worse because people use social media to spread this hate. But we both agree it is deeply disturbing, I find a lot of people will shit on "the smart person" after making a point but will never argue against it, shows they are immature and insecure of their own intelligence, and their insecurity shows in how they'll always refuse to make a counter. Or even just say (I say this a lot) "I'm not very educated in this but I'll continue listening." A lot of people resort to things like "Don't hurt yourself with that big head..." They think they are funny... and I guess it's hard not to disagree. 😆 People in person are waaaayyy less irate and usually are those to listen so long as it's not a left vs right issue lol, it's crazy how the internet was used so much for learning and now it's just shit talking and you have to learn in person because that's the only way someone will respect you. if you read all that I love you, :P

[@Devil-Made]

I still believe it’s the anonymity of the internet that fans the flames of most of our cultural and societal woes. No one has to be accountable for what they say anymore.

[@piglin469]

@@SerratedPVP This is true.

[@obbie1osias467]

That plus all the brain cell killing chemicals they are ingesting with their junk food! Trump's, literally, the biggest evidence of that!🤣🤣🤣

[@charitydunning7369]

I think it’s brought on by the Democratic oligarchs.

[@Magnulus76]

Anti-intellectualism in't the attack just on science-based facts. It can also involve disdain for philosophers, abstract reasoning... any kind of intellectual pursuit that isn't immediately practical.

[@dino0228]

Yes, he says that.

[@user-is3yn7xr4c]

Anti-intellectualism is what you get as a result of the enlightenment era's geopolitical and social influences. It's a byproduct of the intellectually totalitarian English imperialistic materialistic scientism and the unfortunate(but inevitable) consequence of the English imperialistic materialistic scientists' abandonment of the study of the human souls. It's also a byproduct of the people's situations during the Dark Ages, which is the lack of opportunity to developed their societal traditions and cultivate their communal practices into a bunch of therapeutic ones.

[@brokenrecord3523]

"How much money do I get if I learn that?" I ask these questions in interviews (blue color job): What is the last book you read? and What is your favorite class in high school? The answers are always the same: "I don't read books. and I hated school." I'm in a very red county.

[@blairpenny1526]

​@brokenrecord3523 lmfao here we are years later and turns out the "conspiracy" theorists were right about most of the things the "experts" were lying about with covid huh...did the books you read tell you about that? Fauci was lying to the public about the origins, social distancing, masks and so much more and you leftists ass hats told yourselves we are so incredibly stupid we couldn't possibly know something you don't. It's hilarious watching the "intelligent" left make utter fools of themselves over and over

[@thelostcosmonaut5555]

​@@brokenrecord3523 "What ya readin' for?" -Bill Hicks

[@gregeoryl]

My big example is the same people who say school should have taught them something useful like doing their taxes are all the same people who said they never had a use for math.

[@Junkinsally]

Good schools do! I took a class called “business math” in high school, 11th grade I think. It taught how to use math for useful things like how to balance your check book and navigate a basic tax form. I went to high school in West Virginia no less! 😂

[@mrcool7140]

​@@JunkinsallyI think you missed their point. Or you may have even proven it 😂

[@OkeyBestie]

Maybe I misinterpreted that statement always but I thought it meant "I want to learn when and where to submit my tax return, who has to pay how much, who to contact if I need help with taxes, all the tips and tricks on how to reduce my taxes, how much am I allowed to earn before I have to tax my income" and so on.

[@catchdog5759]

Good example. They are not "all the same ppl " tho. I've always felt that an intro to tax laws/forms in school would be very helpful. I do my own tax forms each year and use math every day.

[@Quidditch2888]

@@OkeyBestie you’re probably going to hate this but if you actually sit down and read the instructions for doing your taxes it’s incredibly easy

[@allannahk]

Intellectuals: hide behind books Anti-intellectuals: hide behind ONE book.

[@MsJudi54]

Not true.

[@lakshaykochhar6799]

That's a simplification, but I guess, they usually do hide behind one school of thought.

[@daveburke5177]

True intellectuals don’t hide behind books.

[@watson5551]

How about Intellectuals: Read books Anti-intellectuals: hide behind ONE book.

[@Rexorazor]

​@@daveburke5177 Right, True intellectuals are banned and shadow banned to oblivion.

[@TeamCat1128]

I don’t know if it makes me feel better or worse that this dumpster-fire-era we’re living in has roots in the past. For me, it seems like the crazies were always the ones in the background. Now they’re in the foreground and it’s scary af.

[@great-garden-watch]

That’s a good point. We certainly are much more aware of the others because of social media. The fringe wouldn’t have a platform in the old days. Maybe they have always been there.

[@t700e]

@@great-garden-watch”Fringe wouldn’t have a platform…” I’m really not so sure about that. It seems, “back in the day” fringe ideas were often justified by supposed intellectuals. This is not a knock on intellectuals, but a realization that “the fringe” will find any method to get their message out. I’m thinking that when intellectuals moved away from “the fringe”, those ideas were suppressed until the dawn of social media.

[@Smedley1947]

Think of pitchfork mobs.

[@aesop1451]

Read Adorno and Horkheimer’s Dialectic of Enlightenment and Feyeraband’s Against Method. I assume you’re referring to MAGA. It’s so easy to brand anyone you don’t like as anti-intellectual. Mass immigration depresses wages, free trade leads to jobs being shipped overseas, and the American people are tired of interventionism. These three reasons are why Trump won in 2016.

[@TheZodiacRipper]

Yeah, because of social media they now know they arent alone .

[@utilid4lifefigureitout602]

Anyone who can be considered to have an exceptional level of intelligence realizes there is a giant chasm between what they objectively know and what they don't know, including what they will not ever know.

[@frankfahrenheit9537]

Stupid people think they know all. And intelligent people try to not hurt the stupids by not shutting them down when saying stupid stuff. So the stupid win.

[@enclavesoldier769]

Is it an quality of a person with exceptional intelligence? I am average in intelligence and acknowledge what I can learn is limited, but I would not say that having “exceptional intelligence” is what allows you to know your limits.

[@utilid4lifefigureitout602]

@@enclavesoldier769 you can't have exceptional intelligence without understanding it.

[@Bozowomp]

My friend really struggles with this. Him and I both seem like decently smart people but I have a deep acceptance of how much of a dunce I’ll always be and he seems to not be open to the idea that he isn’t correct about his preconceptions

[@jacquesparpaing3217]

@@frankfahrenheit9537because society isn’t hierarchical enough. In classical sino-(neo)confucean cultures (China, Korea etc.) men of culture held the most social prestige. When they talk, they shall speak truth, and listeners must abide to their discourse, because they are people of wén, dedicating their whole life to study, not only for practical reasons but as an ideal. The idea that everyone can have and should have an opinion on everything is wrong.

[@hadara69]

“There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.” ~Isaac Asimov

[@Jupa]

That guy can write

[@user-is3yn7xr4c]

@@hadara69 cult of ignorance? You mean cult of hyper-individualism?

[@hadara69]

@@user-is3yn7xr4c Agreed. I'd argue it's Libertarianism that's to blame for our hard pull toward the far Right (Trump's Fascism) as well as propensity for anti-intellectualism. When you think you always know better than the experts, it's because you fancy yourself the only one worth trusting. 🙄

[@lautheimpaler4686]

​@@user-is3yn7xr4c liberiterianism is the political branch of hyper-individualism.

[@aesop1451]

Read Adorno and Horkheimer’s Dialectic of Enlightenment and Feyeraband’s Against Method. (((Asimov))).

[@patrickharte4773]

No joke... in the middle of this vid, I got an ad about how sound waves combined with ancient pyramids can counter gravity. There's no hope guys. We live among people who believe this stuff. 😮‍💨

[@yossarian00]

We always did, the internet just allowed them to come together and be louder than anything else

[@ASAP_CARAMEL]

There's way wayyy less of these ratty people than you think, it's just that media makes considerably more money giving them the microphone so their influence has really expanded in a disturbing way, unfortunately

[@meh3247]

So install an adblocker then? You'll have less to whine about and be happier.

[@judica8873]

"The Deliberate Dumbing Down of America" by Charlotte Iserbyt

[@waluigiisthebest2802]

Anti-intellectualism is the rich and powerful taking the idea of class warfare but pointing the finger somewhere else, specifically on the people who are most willing to challenge them.

[@ModernDayHeretic-m9j]

I disagree, the people who are pushing identity politics the hardest these days are largely on the left with black lives matter and LGBTQ. In fact back in 2012 there was occupy wallstreet where there was anger directed at the right people. This was a class war action and there where people on both sides of the political spectrum at this protest. However ever since occupy wallstreet, the elites have been propping up all these astro-turfed identity movements the hardest. They are so scared of anything like occupy wallstreet ever happening ever again. Intellectuals more often then not end up vary 'appeal to authority'

[@JD-ny3vz]

Yes

[@aesop1451]

Read Adorno and Horkheimer’s Dialectic of Enlightenment and Feyeraband’s Against Method. Btw, the rich and powerful use LGBT, feminism, and race discourse against the white working-class Christians of the Rust Belt that went on to vote for Trump.

[@userre85]

It's easiest to climb the ladder in USA then anywhere else.

[@chaver1114]

⁠@@aesop1451 I'm not disagreeing that the rich and powerful benefit from pushing focus to inequalities other than class, but that also doesn't mean they don't exist and aren't just as worth striving against. Class struggle that doesn't acknowledge intersection with race, gender, etc. can only ever result in systems that still have tiers/classes based on those other injustices. All this to say, yes, the powerful weaponize white nationalists, weaponize social issues, but we cannot choose to fight only the class struggle, because class solidarity that is exclusionary isn't class solidarity, and is destined to fail.

[@twilisols]

This way of thinking, while American in origin, has spread internationally via the internet. American-style anti-intellectualism has a much shorter history in other nations than it does in the US, but it's gaining ground in the wake of panic and misinfo about the pandemic. I wish there were an easy way to recover people who've been infected by anti-intellectualism. It has such a strong emotional appeal for some people, in part because anti-intellectualism seems to recognize the issue that higher education is inaccessible to the lower classes (but rather than blaming classism, it attacks education itself). Making higher education free and accessible might help remove the class issue, but those at the top have a vested interest in not doing that.

[@totallyjon]

While I agree with you, I don’t necessarily agree with the notion that higher education is what’s missing from these people’s lives. I never went to college and I consider myself to be an emotionally intelligent person, which is largely what it takes to be a good person. For the most part, it simply requires putting forth an effort towards practicing empathy - and there are a lot of people out there who never learn how to practice it. Maybe their parents suppressed all possibility, or maybe they’ve simply rejected the concept; and yes, maybe higher education would assist them… but I reject the idea that it’s what makes the difference. Choosing to be an empathic person is what makes the difference, and truthfully I have never found that to be difficult.

[@twilisols]

@@totallyjon I wrote this comment when I was in my early twenties, and apparently I was dumber than I remember being. Now that I'm older, I think the reason anti-intellectual attitudes spread is because they appeal to those with an inferiority complex. They tell you that you never need to learn or question anything, because you already know everything you need to. I was also wrong that anti-intellectualism is a US phenomenon that has spread to other countries. I've been living outside of the US for three years now, and it's deeply embedded in other cultures. Class does come into the picture, but it's less about access to education and more that the experience of classism creates deep feelings of inferiority in some (not all) members of the lower classes. In Chile, it manifests as public school students mocking those who try hard in school, resulting in a genuine widespread belief that intellectuals are actually stupid. The smart man is one who tries as little as possible at school, has street smarts, and rejects attempts by others to educate him in non-practical matters. Students will mock their peers for having a proper accent in English class instead of intentionally speaking badly, because they view compliance with expectations as a sign of a weak mind. Offering free higher education unfortunately doesn't do much to help those affected by anti-intellectualism. They reject even free secondary education, in a lot of cases! Social attitudes have to change before certain people can take advantage of opportunities. Creating more opportunities might help some, but not all. Edit: I also no longer think the upper classes are unwilling to educate the lower classes because they want to keep them ignorant, but because college degrees become less valuable to employers the more people have them. For-profit colleges are a market in and of themselves, and they have their own laws of supply and demand. I'm not sure why I ever believed otherwise. Maybe I'm an idiot.

[@kepspark3362]

@@twilisols Thanks for sharing your thoughts! If you are willing to, i'd like to learn which cases you observed these from? US, Chile, & ...?

[@derekjordangregg7468]

It’s been around since bc

[@christopherhill7843]

It seems the dumber the person, the more confident they are.

[@robguyatt9602]

Yes Dunning and Kruger did a study on this issue and the, "the Dunning Kruger efect" became an oft used phrase to desrcibe ignorant and over confident people.

[@christopherhill7843]

@@robguyatt9602 I’m familiar with it. I don’t know who’s listening, so I try not to sound like a smarty pants. I’m hoping that simple explanations break through to even one person who doesn’t already know this. Thank you. 🙏🏼

[@robguyatt9602]

@@christopherhill7843 Yes it is good policy to remain humble in tone. I loved Richard Feinman's use of the phrase, "it seems to me" when discussing how things in nature work. Often a better way than "the fact is" for example, don't you think. He was a humble man.

[@christopherhill7843]

@@robguyatt9602 Agreed. I don’t have the patience of a saint. A part of me is still raw and animal. I consider myself an intellectual. My IQ is silly. But I grew up fighting and pulling no punches. I recognize evil and I confront it. I’m not afraid. I’ll leave the better judgment to others and do the dirty work needed by those who are unwilling to bear that burden. I love my fellow humans and the idea of America. I fought for it. As much as I would like to use my words, I’m not afraid to get physical and meet the other side in the trenches. I’m what I need to be.

[@xaenon]

They were raised on the idea that 'confidence is power'. And... sadly, they're NOT WRONG. Look at how many gullible, unedcucated fools are snookered in by someone speaking CONFIDENTLY about things that, if actually analyzed, are utter bollocks. Reigion has been based on this principle since the bronze age. Politics is just another form of religion - same mechanism, just painted a different color and programmed with different rhetoric. There's a type of person known as a CON-MAN. Literally short for 'confidence' man, and look at the wealth and power a successful con-man can accumulate. Glaring examle: DONALD TRUMP. And to a lesser degree, Tucker Carlson, Matt Gaetz, Alex Jones, etc. Not to menion virtually any televangelist you'd care to name. There's a damned good reason the rich and powerful encourage anti-intellectualism. IT'S HOW THEY STAY IN POWER.

[@hm5142]

I have been a physicist for over 50 years. I know from long experience that many of the ideas I like most are wrong. But we live among people who, even though they are poorly educated and informed, believe their ideas are right just because they have them. It is unclear to me if anything can be done about this, though it is really horrifying to see people with limited knowledge and understand setting policy for the nation. It looks like a path to self-destruction to me.

[@adaslesniak]

It's an cultural issue. It can be done... but nor by a few, nor shortly.

[@borano2031]

Good luck, Amerrka!!! Rgr

[@janiceball8431]

The unwillingness to know more or open minded enough to accept people how they are and let it rest. No rest for the unhappy.

[@Zack-vi7is]

The fix is a better education system. The chances of that happening are unfortunately slim because one party despises the idea of well-educated citizens and the other simply doesn't care enough push for it. Democrats would rather "unify" with the anti-intellectuals and play nice than make a strong push toward changing the status quo. This is why in spite of the threat Trump presents, I hope people protest against the current administration as much as possible. At a certain point Americans need to leverage what power they have to force change. And Democrats in an election year have a lot to lose so they are more likely to be pressured into things by protesters. If only they could get things done without the public forcing their hand, Trump wouldn't be a threat to begin with.

[@phils4634]

Not just in Physics. One of the current fads in medicine is "Antibiotic Stewardship" - basically rationing the use of any reasonably modern agents. The "latest" agents are virtually unused, so the return on the investment (generally in the order of $25 billion per drug) are minimal. So, the Industry has abandoned antibiotic development since it's not economically effective. "Why are there no really novel agents" is an oft-heard whinge, however trying to explain the above is met with complete disdain. As for "Resistance", it helps to remember that the majority of agents are microbial defence compounds, and have been around for millennia, as has the ability to inactivate them ("resistance").

[@DawnSkyStudios]

Anti-intellectualism has been a problem in Russia for 300 years. That's more than the US exists! Philosophical boats and planes are the loudest cases of situational flight of smart and talented people due to humanitarian disasters. Repressions, deportations, executions, denunciations out of envy or fear of themselves suffering from the arbitrariness of the authorities, wars - this is what harmed generations of people and for years to come. Now the war is in Ukraine, and many talents have fled abroad again. True, now there are social technologies, and therefore the citizens of Russia can enjoy their creations from a distance.

[@IFYOUWANTITGOGETIT]

Damn. Thats depressing. 😢

[@td0713]

“Intellectualism” is what spawned bolshevism and the at least 20 million deaths of innocent people between 1919 to 1954.

[@meanderriver347]

Ngl, I'm seriously considering moving out of the US so I can bring my skills to another country. Is not a bad way to avoid all the persistent polarizing politics here

[@DellariSafire]

@@meanderriver347 I advise you do, its what I plan to do as soon as I turn 18. This country is fucking doomed and i am not giving my skill and intellect to it or its leaders.

[@connorbosley4431]

It's almost as if when a country is too big the people stop getting to know each other, and stop sharing new things resentment of others develops and turns into anti intellectualism

[@tonka9573]

As a german who watches a lot of content from over the pond since the pandemic it amazes me how many topics you cover lately I was thinking about. Thank you for your work. By the way, I just wrote a comment under the latest community post of 'Dave's Lemonade' and mentioned his channel came up in your Q&A stream. I suggested a collab because I feel you would get along very well.

[@Inhumanform]

Thanks for doing that!!

[@jessxkirby38]

As a german, do you think Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler includes a lot of anti-intellectualism? Hitler often runs down and calls intellectuals stupid

[@joeyhoy1995]

Being German doesn't make him a supporter of a fascist that led his country 80 years ago. ​@@jessxkirby38

[@scatterbrain_jane]

I am always grateful for the challenge of hearing other people's point of view, regardless of how I feel after. Do I still feel the same? Do I feel more pushed to learn? Do I need to be more kind, more honest, more welcoming? In all ways, yes. While so many people are fighting out there, I want to learn how to listen so I can help create change. Thank you always for these awesome videos.

[@neildrd]

What percentage of people throughout your life who you have enlightened (ie. argued with to eventually prove his belief wrong and shown/taught him the truth/accuracy) have thanked you for doing so? I find it ironic that those who would actually appreciate it and say "thank you" are far, far fewer than those who do not. Yet education or enlightenment is a valuable gift, no? "I am always grateful for the challenge of hearing other people's point of view" .... very good to hear!

[@FranBravoEs]

What a beautiful life you are living, dear. :)

[@Sarahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhr]

I get so angry at our institutions for allowing this to happen. For not strengthening our schools. Letting poverty and economic inequality increase. Creating secondary education that is unattainable for so many. For allowing our food standards to stoop so low. Most people don’t inherently move towards anti-intellectualism. It becomes a more palatable explanation for a hard life. It allows people to feel powerful by quickly flipping the narrative so they come out on top. It gives pride to a wounded man.

[@bobs182]

Money rules.

[@landiahillfarm6590]

Thank you for saying this OUT LOUD. Anti-intellectualism is power. Ill-educated people are easier to influence [propagandize] and thus control. The only differences are the means to squelch knowledge. Religious dogma, racist dogma, etc., etc.

[@robertshipley6990]

I like religious dogma. Learned healthy moral ethics from religion. I like racism. Learned quality of life issues, like never live in a black area again.

@@robertshipley6990 thanks for your opinion donald

[@robertshipley6990]

Welcome. What part of my statement hit home ?

[@RebeccaOre]

@@robertshipley6990 If anyone claims to learn ethics from the Bible, they're saying without threats of eternal damnation, they'd be doing things that most agnostics don't do. B. I've lived in mixed neighborhoods since I was 20. They're not all alike.

[@lockpickrogue-yc5wc]

Let us not conflate education with intelligence. Someone with a PHD can have a lower IQ than someone without a PHD.

[@Slim_Gaffigan]

Hey. Thanks for engaging and responding to the criticism in the comments in an honest manner. I'm glad you teach your audience to be critical of information on KZbin and expect the same from them.

[@djbombba]

I didn't think you were going to do a video on this, but this topic has been on mind more since the pandemic began. Very underrated channel!

[@Ostenjager]

4:59 The Founders like Washington and Franklin weren’t anti-intellectuals, they had a problem with the ruling elite and nobility e.g. people who were in charge through no virtue of their own, save an accident of birth. They were attempting to establish a meritocracy, where it was possible to attain wealth and prosperity through hard work and education. That was what they were promoting. Other people later on twisted this into something that was anti-intellectual, the same way some people twist their ideas into “this is a Christian nation” rhetoric.

[@hyperion3145]

He also skips over the non-Puritans that came to what is now the US and competed with them. Most notably the Spanish who brought the ideas of the School of Salamanca, which had a massive impact on the Founding Fathers.

[@reedtheroom9580]

Yea this videos not perfect but im glad he is speaking on this topic

[@stephenlefty]

Is it really true that the founding fathers wanted to establish a meritocracy, or was it the case that the founding fathers, rightfully so, resented the conditions of colonial life and sought to take the means of production into their own hands. Of course ,assuring that the distribution of capital after the revolution still was unequal, and that those who obtained wealth and political representation were very frequently limited to the white, male land owning elite. It is not to say they weren’t justified in their revolution, but it is clear that property and capital were not distributed in a way that values hard work. But rather, in many cases, one’s connections and existing wealth

[@Ely-zf4yt]

Yeah I was about to comment on this. When it comes to Benjamin Franklin specifically, after reading his autobiography he certainly doesn't come off as an "anti-intellectual" to me. Admittedly there is one part in his book which I would say comes off as anti-intellectual and that's when he is saying people shouldn't waste their time on studying Latin because it makes more sense to simply study a language that has an immediate practical use to the person, but this overall I wouldn't say is enough to make him out to be someone who is opposed to education or rigorous thinking. Benjamin Franklin actually did quite a lot in his community to promote education. He founded a club known as the Junto where him and a few of his friends would come together to debate things like science, philosophy, and morality. In addition he also opened the first subscription library in America, and he helped found the University of Pennsylvania and served as president for a number of years.

[@Ely-zf4yt]

​@@hyperion3145 Yeah also the Quakers who frequently challenged Puritan theology and were persecuted for it.

[@bigamigo4863]

In my opinion, intellectual dishonesty and willful ignorance are an epidemic in society.

[@goober123cool]

@bigamigo4863 Exactly. Exhibit A: this video insinuating that these problems only exist on the right by only showing clips of them, and exonerating the left of any criticism. Still a good video though

[@Ely-zf4yt]

​@@goober123cool Well to be fair he does say Lindon B Johnson is guilty of doing this as well, but yeah he probably could've used a more recent example.

[@kims364]

I said it last video and I'll say it again this video, how has your channel not blown up?! Your work is incredible!! Keep up the amazing work and documentaries 💜.

[@DaveSCameron]

Overton fenstre?

[@eksbocks9438]

Some people are just too focused on their own personal bias. They get angry. And they take their anger out on anything they want. Combined with a society that doesn't like confrontation. Just like with Neville Chamberlain, it only creates a perfect storm for more problems to happen. Instead of banding his allies together, he threw Czechoslovakia under the bus. And then was surprised, when Germany's dictatorship asked for more.

[@krisenger4410]

You do know that Chamberlain was the Prime Minister who actually declared war on Germany in 1939, right? He did not give Hitler what he wanted at Munich, considering the Fuhrer really wanted war.

[@TheSilentWalkerz]

What’s sad is that even though this video makes sense even to a child, trumpers will still deny that they’re brainwashed

[@holomurphy22]

the child thinks like the parents

[@Boretheory]

Italian here. Not denying that the American right is quite extreme and anti-intellectual but I encourage u to refrain from the idea that the American left is the opposite. American universities have created the same class of politically motivated scientists that in Germany and Britain searched for confirmations of their racist theories in their fields threw pseudo-scientific claims. I believe the woke (yes I know the conservative use it as insult) movement isn’t any different. Ultra-progressives are just as ignorant and bigoted as the ultra-conservatives. Spitting on the face of religious people and saying god isn’t real it’s fantasy doesn’t make u enlightened just an asshole❤. -an “agnostic” Italian

[@s2wuolf508]

They point out that left wing media is biased then in the same paragraph would say fox news isn’t biased. Its as if the idea that 2 things could be true at once is foreign, its completely black and white for those arguing that fox isn’t biased

[@TheSilentWalkerz]

@@s2wuolf508It’s sad because the left has evidence to back up their side, while right wing bs always scapegoats and uses rumours.

[@imnotracistbut-9559]

I know MSNBC has made it impossible for you to ever consider that you might be wrong (one could even call it, propagandized) but if you clearly don’t understand something to the point you can’t even pretend like you do, how can you be so assured they’re completely wrong. You don’t know anything and yet claim to know all there is. Do you see the problem here?

[@meh3247]

This just made me (A Northern European) feel bad for all of those intellectual Americans that have to tolerate this ever expanding epidemic of stupidity all around them. I can just close my browser and ignore America for the day/week/month... What can they do?

[@deansmits006]

It sucks. And you can't have rational conversations with them bc they don't have common foundations of reality

[@nathanstorm8093]

I might be moving to your country if trump wins.

[@swisstroll3]

I think that Anti-Intellectualism has its roots in the fact that the resources of society disproportionately go to the few and that makes those left out angry. It starts in school with so what if he is smart and I am not? I am bigger than he is or we are more numerous than he is. We will get what we deserve!

[@allannahk]

I’m a Brit and I’ve been watching you since the early days. I enjoy your commentary on present day issues and you really have healed a little of my jaded, cynical soul. It’s wonderful that young men such as yourselves quietly beaver away and ask the questions that few will, you give pause for thought in a world where the most divisive shout and clamour for attention all of the time. Your Elon Musk essay was particularly delightful. I had only ever seen him on Joe Rogan and I thought he was a considered, thoughtful and humble chap but you helped me understand his place in popular culture… A big thank you.

[@TheAceLewis]

It took y’all this long to figure out dumb people don’t like nerds? I found that shit out when I was in elementary school. Seeing idiocracy as a teenager wasn’t even a “oh this movie is so ahead of its time” moment for me it was a “finally somebody gets it.” Moment.

[@whocares4648]

He figured out that nerds are fucking lame, and made a 20 min video essay about it, bcus hes a lame ass nerd

[@holomurphy22]

don't act like people don't get it, actually everyone gets it

[@epicawsome3458]

Just scrolling through these new comments you can see the evidence of anti-intellectualism seething through, this paper was excellent and those who couldn’t actually sit down and understand the argument are themselves not just victims of anti-intellectualism, but a huge pro pent of it. So as much as we can try to correct them, they will never engage in a meaningful way. Keep doing the great work your posting!

[@sethkamens6085]

The amount of anti-intellectualism in this comment section is wild.

[@Floris_VI]

I'm not from america but especially in the last few years, i suppose since the whole flat earth movement and in general conspiracies got big, i have been noticing exactly this. But never knew quite how to describe it all at once, this video made alot of sense to me, thanks for bringing this issue to light.

[@CarayMay]

Where are you from?

[@redstrat1234]

You can see the problem. The people who really need this video and the information in it will never watch it.

[@illytree]

I can't wait to see what comes from this channel in 2022.. I went looking for others after watching all the JCS videos and I'm so glad I found you. excellent video keep it going the people will come!

[@markbanash921]

Anti-intellectualism has always been part of American culture because being intelligent has always been seen as a threat. Americans can understand people who can hit a ball farther or who can run a little bit faster, but someone who can solve an equation faster or build a structure faster has the potential to out-compete them. It's easier to denigrate intelligence than to try to achieve it.

[@jimmoore8951]

Perpetuating misinformation is one of, if not the main problem today. Confirmation bias and our algorithms tend to shape our perceptions more than we care to admit. Also, be careful with generalizations when categorizing groups of people. Intellectualism and faith don't have to be opposing views. I have a BA in Theology and a MA in Psychology and tend towards rejecting most simplifications of viewpoints, but look forward to hearing both sides of an argument.

[@wuxin5847]

during the 1918 pandemic there anti mask and anti vax were popular and there was no social media - it is not a new thing

Great to point out the history of this as many people seem to think it's a modern issue that just appeared with social media. There is no such thing. Everything today has roots in the past. History truly is the most important subject. You can't properly understand the world without it.

[@lesslycarthan956]

To dismiss all you have learned is an insult to your own intelligence

[@xaenon]

And to those who taught you.

[@sheloe4273]

Its absurd to me that your channel isnt bigger than it is, Its genuinely on of the best channel Ive seen on yt

[@Inhumanform]

Thank you!

[@Boretheory]

@@Inhumanformhad u shown examples of the left being ignorant and bigoted as well instead of just the right maybe u would have been bigger

[@Pllayer064]

Hottie damn

[@Mezamesasu]

If it makes you feel any better, it's not just a US problem... We in the UK see this too.

[@Shmerpy]

I'm afraid anti-intellectualism isn't just relegated to the USA. My country to the north has also , thanks to Trump and Covid, become a breeding ground for this phenomenon.

[@reedtheroom9580]

Im a dual citizen. At least the ignorant Canadians are much less aggressive than Americans. I'm in country ass PEI right now and people will ask what I think about Trump and when I tell them I hate him they act so shocked 😂

[@Baconcatboy]

Europe also has this issue

[@africanhistory]

Regan was a master of anti-intellectualism. And from there it went downhill fast.

[@hadara69]

"It is not the aim of science to open a door to infinite wisdom, but to set a limit to infinite error." ~Bertold Brecht

[@johnbarker5009]

Worst of all, anti-intellectual movements which achieve the power they seek always turn violent and end in tears.

[@mbarber7723]

Can't believe this account isn't bigger. Incredible content 🤝

[@sti_xy1]

@6:01 - "Even Thomas Jefferson was mocked for his intellect" - to live in a society where "mocked for his intellect" is a phrase is asounding, and proof enough that we definitely need to work on our ideals.

[@rms1034]

We must fight anti-intellectualism wherever and whenever possible.

[@tuliplouart]

I got a prager u ad while watching this lol

[@ChineseSpyBal00n]

I got a Turning Point ad lmao

[@phillapple8260]

the ad placer saw “american” in the title and rolled with it

[@Chlocean]

0:20 I LOVE that this is so well-known. It happened in my childhood hometown, it's so wild seeing the library I once dreaded doing research papers in randomly about the internet.

[@sebastianfries274]

Yall gonna think I’m kidding but guess who got a Trump ad right as the “Power and anti-intellectualism” segment (9:12)

[@Jake-dg7mi]

me too loll

[@DavidThomas005]

I was recommended this video like 10 times and I never clicked on it because I did t why was anti-intellectualism was and I kept thinking it was going to be a political video. I’m glad I clicked.

[@mr.k905]

It’s so sad but true. Our societies are moving backwards. We’ve reached an anti-intellectual tipping point. It’s the same in Europe …although it seems less openly dumb over here.

[@Boretheory]

Teachers actively humble the students without any ripercussions that leads to a population more open to being wrong as they were used from young age that it was fine being wrong if then put effort in trying to understand the other side

[@Kuzey457]

Moving backwards implies we were once moving forward. When was that exactly? If I recall the masses have always been more or less the same. In fact, they were less literate and educated in the past.

[@toastedsniper9248]

Not even 7 minutes in and man, I just have to say I freaking love your videos!!!!

[@subjectiveexperiences1072]

Great video! I would love to see this discussed more through a class lense. A lot of knowledge is gatekept through money and means, and then weaponized against the poor. This can be intentional design on the part of powerful entities who, like you said, are invested in using anti-intellectualism as a tool. Feeling disenfranchised doesn’t justify going full anti-intellectualism or being willfully ignorant where information is available to you, but that doesn’t mean that genuine disenfranchisement isn't still a part of the issue worth discussing. You touch on it here, but I'd love to see it discussed more at length. If ^that was confusing I'm talking about that tension in which elitism can and does in fact influence access to information, which in turn creates a distrust of "elite" institutions such as colleges, which then in turn feeds into anti-elitism based anti-intellectualism, and how class plays a role, and how class issues are then weaponized by those in power to exacerbate it.

[@jennifermoody6987]

Brilliant observation and viewpoint my friend! I definitely concur and have similar views myself.. what many individuals fail to realize, comprehend and understand is that there are many intellectual people who possess degrees and diplomas from colleges, who seem to lack any kinda common sense or critical thinking skills, yet they believe their college education certificates mean that they are more intelligent and superior than individuals who possess immense amounts of both common sense and critical thinking skills, even though they didn't attend college to receive a "formal education".. I am someone who has read more books than I can even possibly count, about a WIDE variety of subjects and topics, spent years doing indepth research and studied many different/opposing aspects of those subjects, in order to be a more fully informed and well rounded individual.. however, I am completely self educated and never finished high school, because I don't necessarily feel like I'm actually receiving anything of value in a classroom setting.. logically and critically questioning or challenging what's being taught in a classroom, has usually caused immense problems for me by the educators, who only choose to believe what their formal educations have taught them, even if there has been hard evidence and proven facts to challenge what they were taught.. I am self aware enough to realize that, although I may know a great deal of information thanks to my studies, I know less than nothing in the grander scheme of things, and that whatever I do know could change or evolve in the future since new discoveries are made everyday.. science is one of those fields, much like history, that changes over time as more information and discoveries are revealed.. mathematics is probably the only subject that remains consistent over time, even though our capabilities for understanding it may expand over time.. I appreciate your comment and I commend you for your insightful views.. 👏 👏 😊😊❤❤

[@sethkamens6085]

You're right about this critique but, overall, far too kind to this video. This was effectively a critique of conservative anti-intellectialism, which hardly captures how deeply anti-intellectialism penetrates society in the US. A better critique would root itself within neoliberalism and how it relies on correlations, reductionist arguments, and the discouragement of systems thinking to limit critical thinking.

[@BreePanda29]

very nicely done, i really appreciate these videos you make. please keep making them.

[@talmadgeturnipseed7175]

I once heard one of these people say, "Truth is all about your perception". How are you supposed to explain even empirical evidence to them at that point?

[@crabbyalthegrump641]

There is a new Yorker article called "why facts won't change people's minds" that relates to this point.

[@holomurphy22]

It depends what is meant by that, it can be pretty valid in many circumstances...

[@Iandar1]

Cuz we don’t base our beliefs on facts we base them on our intuition/presuppositions plus the is ought problem. And saying people should believe the facts makes it prescriptive.

[@aeiou6766]

Protagoras, Kant, Schopenhauer, Schrodinger and more thinkers agree on the same statement.

[@socalnahtty]

More people need to watch this. 👍🏼

[@tj7870]

cult members would not understand!

[@ByronWoolley-x7t]

This is a long standing and severe problem. Our schools/people need to have a knowledge based curriculum in order for our discussions to have a common understanding of issues.

[@cgortz89]

What a well made analysis and video! Loved that you put out there to be critical to all information on youtube eventhough it includes your own channel. Thanks for great input! I think US is more invested in not understanding climate change and the heavy sustainability issues we face, and so market and political media will have a high tendency to go for conspiracy theories and choosing only to notice science that protects those things. Unfortunately the US also managed to become a strong media center internationally so it will make the sustainability development even harder.

[@Crunch104]

"He didn't need no scientists" ha ha! Excellent video. This issue is the scourge of humanity.

[@christopher7725]

Man, this is a great video and I really wish I could send this to people but it’s wayyy too accurate for them and they would reject it immediately.

[@tapatton9]

Another great essay. Thanks for the content, friend.

[@CarayMay]

Hey! Cool channel. This topic is a monster of a topic. If you make more videos about anti intellectualism I would watch the hell out of them :)

[@EdmontonRealEstate01]

Trump sure helped a lot to bring this about.

[@Pants.69]

I tend to think Trump just emboldened people to say what they already believed publicly

[@paulsmith5724]

It’s always been there. The stupid uninformed leader just allowed people to expose their stupidity!!!

[@xaenon]

As much as I want to agree with you, I cannot. Why? Because Trump didn't bring it about. He benefitted from it, yes. Promoted it, certainly. Bue he didn't 'bring it about'; he merely dragged it into the spotlight, dolled it up as 'patriotism', and made it do a striptease - all to the delight of his followers. Trump is the SYMPTOM - currently the most prominent one - but not the disease. The disease will continue killing us long after Trump is but a bad memory. And because the cure for the disease is the option that has been generationally bred out of us, there *WILL* be others like Trump. There are at least a dozen or so waiting in the wings RIGHT NOW.

[@yossarian00]

Trump is just another symptom, not the cause.

[@wuxin5847]

trump was parroting what he was taught from people like roy cohn - trump is just a symptom of anti intellectualism

[@d3r4g0d8]

When people are proud to be stupid.

[@osurpless]

/authentic, as per frequent wearing of cowboy hats. Instead of just on Halloween…

[@maryu8328]

Don't Look Up did such a great job at showcasing this. The Dunning-Kruger effect is another good one in maga culture.

[@taranicole1669]

Very interesting video. I believe that this topic is much deeper. There are too many variables! Unfortunately we live in a world where money and power most often takes priority!

[@prl.5108]

This should be mandatory viewing in every American school.

[@joeblog2672]

Really good presentation, one that is critical to understanding and possibly influencing the various factions of political supporters in the US. So many people on the right and middle do not understand these dangerous times and this can help them directly and the enlightened to help them learn.

[@philipb2134]

George Washington came from wealth; Franklin arguably was a 'self-made man". As the founder of the first public library in the Western Hemisphere, he might not tick the box as an anti-intellectual.

[@wuxin5847]

they were both part of the british nobility - fanklin was not self made - stop with this bs - in fact being self made is impossible - every one depends are other people in one way or another -with out society all these rich people would never be able to achieve any thing

[@botaswiththefur]

After learning JCS is no longer making videos, you have no idea how grateful I was to wake up and see you posted a new one. ❤

[@michellemorningstar6610]

JCS uploaded in the last month with fancy new editing and said they were going to upload more. Did I miss something? I can't see community posts from my tablet .

[@botaswiththefur]

@@michellemorningstar6610 Their videos are being flagged for "Violence and sensitive topics" too much. 😑

[@roxyhart5692]

They're moving to a different platform

[@The-Sycophant-Fox]

The only problem I have with him is their perpetuation of the pseudoscience named 'body language analysis', besides that, their other stuff is incredibly informative. The idiosyncrasies of body language makes it not reliant enough to be useful in a real world setting, not even therapist use it during their analysis of a patient.

[@Mswordx23]

Curiosity is something that is in rapid decline. More and more, people think they know everything already.

[@holomurphy22]

'more and more...', '[...]is becoming more ...'. No it's not, in most cases. If you're really curious, then please be aware of how much people use thense kind of sentences, way too easily. It's actually hard to compare with the past

[@ilovebeingme9573]

Even being 2 years old this video hits every time. There's nothing like the willful ignorance of the American adult.

[@PatrickCraig-lh5is]

17:25 "...as well as practicing compassion towards the person and their perspective." This is the best advice of the entire video. Ridicule and hatred only help to entrench and spread anti-intellectualism more.

[@SubTactHiphop]

Could you do a video on Jordan Peterson? I love your perspectives, there very enriching and I would love to see what light you cast on him. As always another banger of a video my dude 🔥

[@LaurinkoSattumaa]

There is an urgent need for more content in the vein of the latter part of this video.

[@zerofaith]

Strong effort trying to make it a "both sides do this" argument.

[@Susweca5569]

When I was growing up, a strong education was expected and encouraged. I was reading before the age of four. My parents stressed independent, critical thinking and went out of their way to expand my education well beyond the school room. I can't imagine being willfully ignorant.

[@AlexMadinger]

Very well done - I'm sharing this with quite a few people. One thought for you: much of the B roll in this video was distracting, such as 9:58. I had to pause and go back, and not look at the screen in order to listen. Other times the graphics are great like at 15:10.

[@wdfkTV8555]

I remember many decades ago when in high school, students not seeking a higher level of intellectual knowledge, criticized and belittled those who were making the better grades and making the National Honor Society. I believed at the time they were called the national brownie society as to insinuate that these higher Achievers or Goody Two-Shoes brown-nosers. Looking back I realized just how ignorant and willfully so they were and still remain. Also reflecting back on the experience, I see how many students failed to make greater strides in their intellectual standing because they were marginalized to start with and only wanted to fit in with the group, thus sacrificing or inhibiting their future well-being or standing in Society. In my small community, if you wanted to fit in and not be harassed you had to support the neanderball team playing under the Friday night lights.

[@chrisgraham2904]

Exactly, It remains the war between the popular kids and jocks who belittle the nerds and stuff their head in the toilet for a swirly, or jam them into a locker. The nerds that can endure the punishments are the ones who go on to drive America forward. They are the 5 percent of America that brought the industrial revolution, the automobile, medical advancements, engineer the great infrastructures, put the James Webb Telescope and the international space station into space, design the aircraft and transportation equipment that moves the country, created the computer, the iphone in your hand and design the equipment and weapons that keep American's safe. 80% of the population are the labor that make the innovations of the 5% actually materialize. The final 15% add little to nothing to the advancement of society and leach off of societies programs and engage in criminal behavior to survive.

[@chrisgraham2904]

Exactly, It remains the war between the popular kids and jocks who belittle the nerds and stuff their head in the toilet for a swirly, or jam them into a locker. The nerds that can endure the punishments are the ones who go on to drive America forward. They are the 5 percent of America that brought the industrial revolution, the automobile, medical advancements, engineer the great infrastructures, put the James Webb Telescope and the international space station into space, design the aircraft and transportation equipment that moves the country, created the computer, the iphone in your hand and design the equipment and weapons that keep American's safe. 80% of the population are the labor that make the innovations of the 5% actually materialize. The final 15% add little to nothing to the advancement of society and leach off of societies programs and engage in criminal behavior to survive.

[@notaweeb2850]

Ugh, does this hit home was born at the beginning of this century in ex-socialist European country, but, possibly due to globalization I have somehow noticed this since middle school. Like...the world sucks and people hate thinking about things. I want to thank you for making this content, I love your essays and I'm baffled that more people haven't discovered you yet!

[@2639theboss]

There has never been a socialist european country. Do you mean communist?

[@notaweeb2850]

​@@2639theboss technically, it had 'Socialist Republic' in all of its various names before and during its collapse, and imo, it was more associated with socialism than communism. To give context, it is one of former member countries of Yugoslavia

[@DawnSkyStudios]

Greetings from Russia, peace ✌️ and love 💕

[@lmlimpoism]

some people do not want to learn because learning is change and change is bad, or something.

[@belldrop7365]

Change is bad because it's acknowledging that something is wrong.

[@lmlimpoism]

@@belldrop7365 true. you can't fix something that isn't broken, after all.

[@belldrop7365]

@@lmlimpoism More like if it ain't broke, don't fix it. ie keeping the status quo.

[@lmlimpoism]

@@belldrop7365 that is the same thing, just more open ended. "if it aint broke, don't fix it" implies you **could** fix it, but since it's not "broken" (or, no perceived problem) there's no need. which i guess works better, especially for what anti-intellectuals want.

[@belldrop7365]

@@lmlimpoism We only say "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" because you already know there's a problem and contemplating on it but you don't want to change things for reasons so you leave it be as it is.

[@alanmark12345]

America is a charisma based society. Ideas matter little, and more on the delivery, a clever witticism or demonstrating dominance. The focus on who "won" a debate is all that matters in America.

[@georgeleddy483]

You left out the “know nothing” movement of the late 19th century. It epitomizes the thesis of this good video I wish all my students would watch.

[@fionaanimates8692]

It actually scares me because people are now viewing knowledge and critical thinking as a bad thing. I worked in a COVID unit at a nursing home at the peak of the pandemic and the amount of nurses who would openly refuse to wear masks despite it being mandatory around their elderly patients was astounding. We had 7 deaths in a week. It made me sick that we are still so disillusioned with politics that some can disregard other people’s livelihoods in favor of being righteous.

[@bobs182]

Trump downplayed Covid for financial reasons. Social distancing and wearing masks kept people from going to his resorts, hotels, and restaurants. Trump's campaign against windmills is due to Scotland putting wind turbines near one of his golf courses. Trump's attack on Amazon abusing the post office is to hurt Bezos after Bezos bought the Washington Post. This is exactly why presidents are supposed to divest themselves from financial interests.

[@your_being_led_by_your_nose]

He doesn’t like stupid people. He “depends “ on stupid.

[@adamyooz]

This is a very interesting video and I agree with a lot of it but there is a question that sticks out in my mind. If anti-intellectualism is so endemic to American culture, why has American culture consistently been on the forefront of intellectual pursuit? Be it science, technology, the arts and even the humanities, the United States has been a major intellectual player in the wider human “project”

[@fishboy7054]

I think Lao Tzu once said something like 'keep the people stupid so they don't get any ideas'

[@patriciafaithfull6360]

The gop has co-oped that, and added keep them pregnant and unemployed so they aren't worrying about democracy or wealth, but are constantly struggling for a scrap of bread.