It’s no secret that critical thinking—the ability to analyze, evaluate, and interpret information—is on the decline. Every day, it seems like there are more people who have somehow missed the memo on basic logic, rationality, and even, well, “common sense”. And let’s face it, the results are nothing short of hilarious—if a little terrifying at times.

From misunderstanding basic facts to confidently sharing wildly incorrect opinions, these individuals seem to be operating in an alternate reality where evidence doesn’t exist, and conclusions are drawn with all the finesse of a toddler finger-painting in the dark.We’re about to take a dive into the world of people who lack critical thinking—and the laugh-out-loud, head-shakingly absurd results that follow.

Critical thinking has always been important, but it feels like we’ve reached a point in history where more people than ever are either unwilling or unable to engage in it. And what’s even stranger? These folks seem to be multiplying. It’s like a reverse evolution, where instead of developing sharper minds over time, certain segments of the population are opting for blissful ignorance.

Now, I’m not talking about the occasional moment where we all forget to check the facts before spouting an opinion—no, I’m talking about the people who operate entirely outside the realm of logic. For them, every day is a new opportunity to showcase their talents in misunderstanding, misinterpretation, and missing the point entirely. And somehow, they do it with unwavering confidence.

It’s one thing to encounter people who lack critical thinking skills, but it’s another thing entirely to witness the bizarre outcomes of their thought processes. Let’s explore some of the most laughable—and sometimes infuriating—examples of what happens when critical thinking takes a backseat.

We’ve got to start with one of the most infamous groups in the anti-critical thinking community: the Flat Earthers. These are the folks who, despite centuries of scientific evidence, believe that the Earth is flat, not round. And they’re “serious” about it.

In fact, some of them even organize conferences and launch homemade rockets to prove their point. Because, obviously, when you’re questioning the conclusions of thousands of scientists and astronauts, the logical next step is to build a janky rocket out of spare parts from your garage and blast yourself into the sky.

– “Result:” Most recently, a brave (or perhaps wildly misguided) flat-earther launched himself in a homemade rocket to prove the Earth was flat. Spoiler alert: the rocket didn’t work, and no groundbreaking discoveries were made. Except perhaps the reaffirmation that “gravity” is very real.

Next up, we’ve got the anti-vaccine crowd, whose rallying cry seems to be, “Why trust the overwhelming majority of medical professionals when Karen from Facebook has a gut feeling?” These individuals have decided that vaccines, which have successfully eradicated deadly diseases for decades, are part of some massive conspiracy. And what’s their evidence? Oh, you know—memes, YouTube videos with zero credible sources, and something they heard from a friend’s cousin’s hairdresser.

– “Result:” Thanks to the anti-vaxxers, diseases like measles, which had been all but wiped out, have made a comeback. Nothing says progress like reversing decades of medical advancements based on wild speculation and “research” conducted via Instagram.

Who needs years of education and experience in a field when you can just do a quick Google search? These folks believe that reading a single article or watching a couple of YouTube videos makes them an expert on any given topic. Medical diagnosis? They’ve got it. Climate science? Please, they watched a two-minute video and now know more than the entire scientific community.

The worst part? They’ll argue with “actual” experts as if they’re on the same intellectual playing field. Doctors, scientists, historians—no one is safe from the unrelenting confidence of the Google Expert.

– “Result:” People have started diagnosing themselves with bizarre conditions after a quick online search, leading to everything from self-prescribed weird diets to unnecessary panic over what turns out to be a pimple. Dr. Google has claimed another victim!

If there’s one place where non-critical thinkers can really shine, it’s on social media. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have given everyone a voice, and unfortunately, some of those voices belong to people who believe that “research” means scrolling through their newsfeed and nodding along to the posts that confirm their existing beliefs.
You know those inspirational memes with pretty backgrounds and random quotes attributed to famous people? Well, there’s a large group of people who take these memes at face value, never stopping to question their validity. It doesn’t matter if the quote makes zero sense or if it’s falsely attributed to someone like Abraham Lincoln, people will repost it as if it’s gospel truth.

– “Example:” “Don’t believe everything you read on the internet – Abraham Lincoln.” – a widely shared meme. And yet, some people will “seriously” comment, “So true. Abe was way ahead of his time.”

Remember those chain letters from the early days of email? The ones that said if you didn’t forward the message to 10 friends, you’d have bad luck for seven years? Well, they’re still around—and the people who lack critical thinking are still falling for them. Only now, instead of email, they’ve moved to Facebook and Instagram.

These chain posts now claim that if you don’t share them, Facebook will delete your account, or Bill Gates won’t donate $1,000 to you. Somehow, despite the obvious absurdity, people are still sharing these posts as if their online lives depend on it.

– “Result:” Facebook remains flooded with posts from people trying to avoid imaginary threats and win fictional money. Spoiler alert: Bill Gates isn’t sending anyone $1,000 because of a Facebook post.

A particularly fascinating group within the non-critical thinking community is the ““Alternative Facts”“ crowd. These individuals live in a world where truth is subjective and facts can be made up on the spot to suit their narrative. Who needs reality when you can just make up your own?

Nothing screams “I have no idea what I’m talking about” quite like someone saying, “I do my own research.” For this group, “research” consists of YouTube videos and articles from obscure, unverified websites. They dismiss actual, peer-reviewed studies because, you know, those are part of the grand conspiracy.

– “Example:” They’ll tell you with absolute certainty that the moon landing was fake, and they “did their own research” to prove it. Their research? Watching grainy YouTube clips from the 1970s narrated by some guy named Chuck who has a “research” lab in his basement.

For these folks, nothing is ever as it seems. The government is watching your every move, Big Pharma is out to get you, and the Illuminati? Oh, they’re behind “everything”. Critical thinking? Nah, who needs it when you can slap the word “conspiracy” on anything you don’t understand?

– “Result:” An entire community of people who think 5G towers are mind-control devices and that the moon is hollow (and possibly a government outpost). One thing’s for sure—never a dull moment at their dinner parties.

In the realm of non-critical thinkers, “feelings” have now replaced facts. If something feels right, then it must be true—who cares about evidence? This mindset has given rise to people who argue passionately about topics without a single piece of supporting data. Their logic is: “If I feel strongly enough about it, it’s true.”

These are the people who make major life decisions and worldviews based on gut feelings. Forget facts, data, or research—if their gut tells them something, that’s all the proof they need. Feel like vaccines are bad? Must be true! Have a gut feeling that the Earth is flat? Well, say no more!

– “Example:” “I can’t explain it, but I just “know” this is right.” Translation: “I have no evidence whatsoever, but I’m going to double down on this opinion.”

While the lack of critical thinking is undoubtedly hilarious, there’s also a darker side to this phenomenon. When large numbers of people stop applying logic, reason, and evidence to their decision-making, it can have some pretty troubling consequences. Public health decisions, climate change policies, and even elections can be swayed by those who operate without a grasp on basic critical thinking skills.

So why is this happening? Some blame social media, where misinformation spreads faster than ever before. Others point to a decline in education systems that don’t prioritize teaching critical thinking skills. Whatever the cause, we’re left with an increasing number of people who confidently hold opinions that make the rest of us wonder how they managed to get dressed in the morning.

At the end of the day, the rise of people who lack basic critical thinking skills is both hilarious and alarming. From flat-earthers to anti-vaxxers, the Google Experts, and the conspiracy theorists, we live in a world where logic has taken a backseat to gut feelings, memes, and YouTube videos.

While it’s easy to laugh at the absurdity, we also need to address the root of the problem. If we don’t, the consequences could be far from funny. But until then, at least we can enjoy the daily hilarity that comes from watching these intellectual misadventures unfold.