It is disheartening to realize how many people were copying smart opinions because they were trendy (within certain crowds), rather than convergent realization.
I think the opposite is more true: the smart people defended the ideas that supported the "stupid" actions which were also supported by those same ideas but in a "dumber" way.
See also: the classic George Carlin "I understand what you're trying to do, but you're doing it all wrong!" brand of "comedy".
Then liberal ideas of "democracy" and "will of the people" disabled that part of the back of our brain which told us "well if this is how 'stupid' people are implementing our ideas, perhaps we should prevent the 'stupid' people from doing so lest they fuck it all up."
It is disheartening to realize how many people were copying smart opinions because they were trendy (within certain crowds), rather than convergent realization.
I think the opposite is more true: the smart people defended the ideas that supported the "stupid" actions which were also supported by those same ideas but in a "dumber" way.
See also: the classic George Carlin "I understand what you're trying to do, but you're doing it all wrong!" brand of "comedy".
Then liberal ideas of "democracy" and "will of the people" disabled that part of the back of our brain which told us "well if this is how 'stupid' people are implementing our ideas, perhaps we should prevent the 'stupid' people from doing so lest they fuck it all up."