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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsExactly zero people know that they largely lack critical thinking skills
Last edited Sat Sep 20, 2025, 09:14 PM - Edit history (1)
Debate for or against this assertion below if you like, but I feel it's axiomatic
No person in mind here, I got all Jack Handey just now and thought I'd share

Bernardo de La Paz
(58,848 posts)Note "lack" is not all-or-nothing. I have some critical thinking skills but would like more.
Who the f is Jack Handey and how does it pertain?
AZJonnie
(1,637 posts)Then you are someone I did not mean to include in the population.
I don't mean "you stipulate you don't have/know everything there is about the subject of critical thinking"
Xavier Breath
(6,150 posts)haele
(14,635 posts)And the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" type memes.
Typically a Hallmark card type background with the narrated saying written in script over it.
Bits like:
..."if Trees could Scream, would we be so cavalier about cutting them down? We might, if they screamed all the time for no good reason"...
Or
..."If a young child asked you why it was raining, it is a good answer to tell it 'Because God is Crying'. If the child asks you why God is Crying, the best answer is 'Probably because of something you did'"...
Bernardo de La Paz
(58,848 posts)AZJonnie
(1,637 posts)Children love it when you trick them. Like last week I told my little nephew I was talking him to Disneyland. Then I drove us to a burned-down shack. "Oh No", I said "Disneyland has burned down!" He cried and cried but deep down I think he knew it was a pretty good joke.
canetoad
(19,527 posts)"Philosophy: a Guide to Happiness" covered this in the episode "Seneca on Anger". Anger being the polar opposite to happiness.
Critical thinking plays a large part in this; the stoic thinks through EVERY action and its consequences. It this is carried out thoroughly, in theory nothing should go wrong with each venture to which this technique is applied.
lame54
(38,469 posts)"I'm so stupid."
ananda
(33,344 posts)you wouldn't exactly know that you don't have
them, since that would also take critical thinking.
I know. !@#$%
AZJonnie
(1,637 posts)Kind of a specific aspect of Dunning-Kruger.
Skittles
(167,731 posts)