The Glitter of Lies and the Death of Discernment
Nowadays, one no longer has to search for misinformation but instead risks drowning in it.
We live in an age where misinformation is not just a pollutant in the stream of knowledge but the glittering confetti thrown at a parade of indifference. Today’s pursuit of truth feels like an ancient curiosity, admired in theory but gathering dust in practice.
Critical thinking is the antidote we desperately need, yet it is treated like an elective in the school of modern life rather than the core survival skill it truly is. Without it, we become sailors lost at sea, mistaking sirens for safe havens.
Few seem to care because, let’s face it, caring takes effort — and effort is not associated with Wi-Fi. In a society intoxicated by convenience, discerning truth feels like asking for the menu at a fast-food drive-thru.
Why wade through complexity when a headline or meme offers the dopamine hit of certainty?
Nietzsche once observed,
“Sometimes people don’t want to hear the truth because they don’t want their illusions destroyed.”
Now, it’s less about illusions and more about indifference. Critical thinking rebels against this indifference. We have to face uncomfortable truths so that we can debunk comforting lies.
The existential crux is that we are complicit in this indifference. Every “like” and every retweet of a half-truth is a vote for a world where truth is negotiable. In this theater of misinformation, we are not only the audience but also the stagehands, spotlight operators, and occasional clowns.
The question is why so few are interested in this and why we have allowed interest to become a niche hobby. To reclaim the pursuit of truth, we must reclaim critical thinking — not as a luxury but as a duty.
A loud rebellion does not mark the death of truth but the quiet indifference of those who no longer seek it.
New Book Release (available on Amazon): Critical Thinking is Your Superpower: Cultivating Critical Thinking in an AI-Driven World
