I'm Only the Trombone Player

The Disappearance of Common Sense

Authors Note ▼

For the November' 2021 30-Day Blogging Challenge "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" 

PROMPT – November 4^th. – We've all heard of people who mysteriously 'go missing'. Tonight, write about a person who 'goes missing'. Someone that you read about in the newspaper or online, but nobody seems to know them, or remember them

Her name was Common Sense.

She disappeared along with Reality and Sanity at the advent of the Social Media Age. Sadly they were replaced by dogmatic adherence to Preconceived Beliefs, Conspiracy Theories, Rumors and Misinformation Campaigns, masquerading as Facts.

The manifestation of her disappearance has been harmful in so many ways. Hateful rhetoric flourishes, people adhere to unproven realities with no basis in truth or fact. Unfounded conspiracy theories damage reputations, and social programs. When those who post the hate and misinformation are presented with the truth, the presenter is labeled as brainwashed, an unbeliever, a boomer, or worse.

Common Sense expects us to be able to weigh all of the evidence, not just the evidence that supports our preconceived beliefs and opinions, Reality expects us to search out facts and information, not just accept the words of some social influencer. Sanity requires that we be able to review the new information critically, with an eye toward truth.

I really miss Common Sense, Reality, and Sanity, hopefully enough others do also. Maybe, We can continue to search for them.