Has Common Sense Left the Building? -

Once upon a time, “common sense” was our cultural North Star. Common sense refers to simple and reasonable actions that help us safely and respectfully get by, requiring no special training or expertise.

It was the shared compass that didn’t require advanced degrees or fact-checking apps to determine that fire burns, lies unravel, and hard work pays off.

These were understood truths – simple, not simplistic – rooted in shared human experience, generational wisdom, and a basic agreement on how the world worked.

Things like:

Letting people exit an elevator or bus before trying to enter, as a simple courtesy and safety measure.
Checking both ways before crossing the street to avoid accidents.
Not standing or congregating in doorways where it blocks others from passing.
Turning off the stove or oven immediately after cooking to prevent fires or accidents.
Not leaving valuables visible in a parked car to avoid theft.
Covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing to prevent spreading germs.
Cleaning up after yourself in shared spaces like kitchens or restrooms.
Keeping flammable materials away from open flames or heat sources.
Not interrupting someone when they are speaking as a sign of respect.
Locking doors and windows when leaving the house to ensure security.

Common sense isn’t only about everyday trivialities – it also extends to practical reasoning and critical thinking in more complex, real-world situations. Many of those are still intact, but the where “common sense” takes on a deeper role, demonstrating the intersection with analytical judgment, THAT is where we have taken a wrong turn:

Evaluating the credibility of a news story before sharing it, by checking sources and looking for potential bias rather than trusting the headline alone.

Comparing multiple solutions to a problem at work, weighing risks, benefits, and evidence before selecting a course of action, instead of choosing the first idea that sounds reasonable.

Questioning assumptions in a conversation – asking for evidence or clarification when claims don’t add up, rather than accepting them as truth for the sake of agreement.

Recognizing that “common sense” beliefs may conflict with scientific evidence, such as the idea that cold weather causes colds or that natural remedies work without testing their efficacy.

When organizing a neighborhood event, gathering opinions and experiences from a diverse group rather than only consulting familiar friends to avoid confirmation bias and ensure inclusiveness.

Before investing money, evaluating the risks instead of acting solely on gut feeling or popular trends.

In medical decision-making, questioning recommendations that don’t align with personal history and requesting second opinions.

Differentiating between actual correlation and causality in arguments – for example, noticing that just because two things occur together doesn’t mean one causes the other.

These examples reveal that true common sense, when combined with critical thinking, helps people make informed, responsible choices in complex situations – not just follow simple rules.

While those practices may seem self-evident, in a world saturated by opinions, narratives, algorithms, and emotional manipulation, one truth is becoming alarmingly evident: common sense isn’t all that common anymore. It’s not gone – but it is under siege. And perhaps more disturbingly, we’re no longer sure if we should be trusting it… or if we should be questioning it.

Welcome to the age of manufactured confusion, where clarity is rare, and certainty is sometimes weaponized or ridiculed.

But in today’s hyper-connected, content-flooded skeptical and questioning reality, common sense is drowned out by the sheer volume of competing truths. Modern platforms reward viral opinions over verifiable truths.

Opinion is presented with the same authority as expertise. And the firehose of information we drink from daily doesn’t nourish us – it numbs us.

We’ve replaced “what makes sense” with “what gets shared.”

So, Are We Thinking Less?

It’s easy – and tempting – to claim people have lost the ability to think…or to reason. But that may be too simplistic. It’s not that we can’t think critically; it’s that we’re not always incentivized to.

Why wrestle with ambiguity when someone online has a 30-second video that explains it all?

Why wrestle with multiple sides when the algorithm feeds us only the ones we already agree with?

Why wrestle with thoughts and decisions when AI will do it for us?

Rather than cultivating true reasoning skills, many people increasingly outsource their judgment to technology, seeking instant solutions rather than self-reflection.

The media – traditional and digital alike – doesn’t just inform us; it conditions us. It conditions us to react, not reflect. To respond, not to reason. To accept output, not think critically for ourselves.

And over time, this barrage doesn’t just influence what we believe – it begins to erode how we believe. We trade nuance for narratives. And in that exchange, common sense becomes a casualty.

Beyond that, even the simplest of things and even the most seemingly straightforward ideas are met with suspicion.

What used to be seen as reasonable (common sense) is now questioned for hidden agendas. In lies a dichotomy, that may not be entirely wrong. History teaches us that seemingly benign ideas can mask dangerous ideologies. But constant suspicion of every little thing, without a framework for discernment, becomes paranoia. And in that environment, no idea – no matter how rooted in truth – is safe from distortion.

I get it – there are some things, we should be questioning more, absolutely. Part of the crisis we face is that many still accept inherited ideas as truth without interrogation. “That’s how it’s always been” is not a valid reason to continue doing something. Some so-called “common sense” beliefs are relics of outdated worldviews, rooted in prejudice, exclusion, or ignorance. Blind tradition is not wisdom.

So here lies the paradox:
We must question more – but not everything deserves equal doubt.
We must reclaim reason – but not reject intuition.
We must seek truth – but recognize that it may change.

Discernment is no longer a luxury; it’s a survival skill.

We Must Rebuild Our Collective Common Sense

So how do we find our way back?

Slow Down the Consumption: Reflection takes time. Truth takes patience. In a world of scrolls and swipes, we must protect the sacred act of thinking things through for ourselves.
Value Lived Experience: Don’t let headlines or AI replace your own eyes and ears. What does your experience tell you? What do you observe in your community? Common sense starts with actual sense – what we see, hear, and feel directly.
Engage in Real Conversations: Algorithms trap us in echo chambers. Oftentimes, even reinforcing our delusions or supporting our own inconsistencies. Real dialogue breaks us out. Talk to people who think differently, not to win, but to understand.
Practice Intellectual Humility: Not everything we’ve believed is right. And not everything that challenges us is wrong. Wisdom is knowing the difference – and being open enough to admit when you’re not sure.
Ask Better Questions: The right answer is often hidden behind a better question. Instead of asking, “Is this true?” ask “Why do I believe this?”

So, is there a true “common sense” any longer or are we facing the end of common sense? I think not, but we are at a crossroads.

Will we surrender to noise, letting others think for us?

Or will we reclaim our reason, knowing that wisdom begins with both courage and curiosity?

Common sense begins with critical thinking, clarity is still possible – for those willing to pause, reflect, and choose sense over sensationalism.

Because in the end, common sense isn’t something we inherit – It’s something we choose to collectively cultivate.