I agree entirely with Runa. If gamers haven't gotten worse over the years, because it really is just how people are, the widening communication capabilities of the average joe has given ignorance and oppression a stronger voice. Maybe you've heard of the concept of Group Think, where the decision making process degrades as the size of the group increases? That goes the same for the internet. dsgrue3, you mentioned the Dunning Kruger effect in another thread, this is happening but on a large scale.
People are writing their thoughts all over the internet and reading opinion. Reading and writing is a rather solo individual experience, even if others are involved in the dialogue it is far different that talking to someone in person. These interactions are hardly conversational and if people are addressed for misconception or falsehoods they can easily dismiss it, ignore it, or deny it and suffer little to no repercussion. This is exactly the Dunning Kruger effect of the unskilled overestimating their capacities due to the lack of mistake acknowledgement. Place that upon the worlds greatest source of information and we are developing a culture of ignoramuses. They believe what they want to believe instead of seeking truth.
Bias opinion has always existed, but never have we been able to spread opinion on such a large scale. It is affecting the market, politics, everything. Misinformation on the internet is having a profound effect on our world yet the individual, blinded by the Dunning Kruger effect don't buy that they have any effect.
Before the PS3 everyone was nice to me :(
