Do people no longer actually question what they're told anymore?

Question

I had a rather... "interesting", let's call it, experience here on GAG just a short while ago. One of my questions was apparently far too much for some people to handle, and they became highly annoyed (one might even say "triggered") by it. I honestly do not know why, because all I did was ask a simple question that I would have thought that anyone with any amount of sense would naturally ask (it was about the choice of aircraft used to bring down the supposed "Chinese spy balloon").

Anyway, for some people this was just a bit too much, and apparently they had never thought to seriously question this whole, extremely suspicious, story. Virtually nothing about it makes much sense, but of course if I point that out to anyone that apparently just means that either A), I'm "unpatriotic", or B) I'm not a Yank, and therefore I'm just "an ignorant foreigner, and shouldn't say anything about this, because I'm not qualified to question the official narrative", or some other such rubbish.

Well, I'm not like that. Never have been, and never will be. Everything should be questioned, especially stories like this that are being given extra coverage by the mainstream media, even though, objectively speaking, it's not really all that much to get excited about. A strange balloon is seen over U. S. airspace. So what? During the 'Cold War' Soviet bombers and other aircraft appeared over U. S. airspace, and they sent over theirs to the USSR. It was common practice then, and everyone on both sides accepted it, but I guess times have changed (a LOT) since, and now people are afraid of their own damn shadows, and so when a "Chinese spy balloon" appears over the horizon, in the minds of some it's time to start shooting.

Anyway, this is what so many were afraid of.

Wow, so scary. Yep, this is worth starting a war with China over.

I posted an image of party balloons as a joke, and at least one silly person thought I actually believed a party balloon had been shot down :D

Lliam · Accepted Answer

I agree with you.

First, question EVERYTHING.

Second, few stories are more absurd that this one about a balloon. The powers that be pushed the idea on the American people that it was an existential threat. 🤣🤣🤣 What a joke. But the TV watching public are as gullible as children.

Why would the Chinese government send a spy "balloon"? They have satellites and other technology just like us.
Next, they'll be launching a fleet of paper lanterns to attack us.

We spy on China and other countries constantly. Then we act like victims at the thought of anyone but us or our allies doing it. Are we upset that our "good friend" Israel steals more secrets from us than anyone else?

But does anyone use balloons? Seriously? 🤣 No, and it makes no sense for any other country to do so, either.

We have no idea who launched that thing or what it was carrying. Why should we believe that it was a "spy" balloon and not a weather balloon.

The lame-ass fear porn propaganda and the utter stupidity of people astounds me.

So we used a $200million jet that costs millions in fuel and man hours to fly to fire a $400K missile at a fucking balloon? Thank God for all the stalwart and courageous American heroes who protect us from such threats. (sarc.)

In the meantime, out skies are constantly criss-crossed by jets spewing toxic chemicals for the supposed purpose of weather modification and the government is silent. Don't worry. Nothing to see here."

I have no patience for anyone who believes government spokes persons or talking heads in the media.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Surveillance balloons have been used since the Civil War, through WW1, WW2, and yes, balloons are still used by the military for meteorological, scientific, and wait for it—surveillance purposes.

Amazingly, at the time we had spy planes flying back and forth over each other’s territory, neither country had the same nuclear missile capabilities then as they do now. Also, and I’m amazed that I have to say this but obviously people are ignorant, bu spy pilots have been shot down, captured, interrogated, and bandied about as a political embarrassment. More than once.

I worked with nuclear missiles in the military. I literally worked in the area that the ballooon flew over. It is restricted air space. Why? For security reasons, obviously.

Also, on the off chance we do have to nuke Moscow, you don’t want to hit a plane full of passengers flying overhead.

And that balloon couldn’t be shot down over Montana! God no! It may fall onto a cow!

It’s path took it by not ONE nuclear missile base, but several of them.

“But they can already see it with satellites! l

Yes. But satellites have a fixed orbit. They just go around and around. They are very expensive, and very expensive to move. Also we know where their satellites are.

A balloon can be deployed by any guy in a van, who just drives out to the middle of nowhere, to release the balloon at a location calculated by military meteorologists to bear take advantage of the westerly wind patterns.

And Biden let this thing fly all across the country. Gathering data and embarrassing us. Showing the Chinese we won’t even take down a balloon.

KostasKouvalis · Answer

I saw that, but decided not to comment, but I'm kind of tired of hearing about it too. They shot it down, good for them. But I agree the F-15 was a bit over the top. By the time they shot it down, it had already gathered whatever it was gonna gather. When i first saw it I thought it should be shot down, but even Fox News said that they can literarily get the same images with space satellites, so I kind of get what you're saying, and it's not like WE don't spy on other countries, but the U. S. is incredibly hypocritical. If anything, it was more of a message or test from the Chinese. I kind of disagreed with you at first, which is why I didn't originally comment, but after thinking it over a bit, you're right. It's kind of ridiculous how much fuss they made over it, but of course only trigger happy Americans would be willing to start a war over a balloon. And what could have they possibly picked up that was so sensitive that they didn't already know about.

You just reminded me of the scene from Indiana Jones 4 where the Russians broke into Area 51.

Anyways, to actually answer your question, part of it might be due to fear of backlash, another reason might simply be because they genuinely lack critical thinking skills. I personally don't think you've ever written anything too provocative and the fact that you DO question everything is why I love talking to you so much, even though I don't always agree with you 100% of time.

I like to question everything as well. I always want to know WHY things are the way they are or WHY people have the views, beliefs and policies they do. I didn't really start over questioning things though until I got to college. I especially question things that are contradictory.

I recently posted a question, "If Biden is such a bad leader why are people pouring over our southern border to come here?"

I mainly asked it as a troll question, but I do feel I have a point. Some people took it seriously and thought I was Leftist troll and started calling me names and blocking me.

But I'm the kind of person enjoys challenging people's logic. So I ask questions like, "Why do Muslims go to countries that are Islamaphobic?" "Why were White people in other countries protesting police brutality in America?" One of my favorites was when I asked a Leftist on Facebook after the California spillway broke, "If Trump's not your President, why are you asking him for money?" And her friend started cursing me out.

People do not like to have their logic challenged, and that goes for both sides. I once wrote a college paper about all the times the hypocritical U. S. instituted Communist policies. I'm gonna see if I still have it. That would make a great MyTake to troll the Rightists. :p

Sorry you have to read all that. This is why I told you to avoid certain topics with me because I'll start ranting.

lucasnabizada · Answer

First off let's differentiate what you are saying in the absolute versus the example you are bring to the table:

Firstly, YES you should question things, including mainstream sources of news but that's nothing that anyone would disagree with... This specific example however is bogus.

China has openly revendicated it and called shutting it down an 'overreaction'- we know what it is, and there is no uncertainty in that department, it's not just some Balloon that we have no idea about. It's not 'scary' in itself so much as it is overtly ballsy and scary in implications-

It means China feels like it is justified having visual surveillance over American citizens and soil... Now when you know this, it may not be concerning to you, but it is to me. Because like many things it's not a one and done, it's called testing your limits. We don't play with this, it's not a question of going to war, it's a question of maintaining both our credibility and our airspace sovereignty period-You may think it's all willy nilly but then again that's why we should be glad people with as little thoughts as you don't run this country or it would get run down to the ground quickly.

Makeushiver · Answer

Neil Young said; "keep on rockin in the free world": The 'net has done insoluble social damage to the point that people. only read what they know they already agree with. It's okay for me to do that since I'm not a Republican. When your major support comes from people who have no benefit whatsoever to their own situation- see, undereducated poorer, flyover states ( I'm sure that term is popular in those states) voting for someone who was never held to account; sexually, economically, behaviorally. I'm sure the republicans on here have the same or worse opinions about shitheads like me popping off. I do think Trump base were people motivated by hate- of the status quo, of the Eastern ( and west coast) liberal media, mindsets ] But to clarify, E#1 Reagan did not bring the USSR and Warsaw pact countries down- a Polish docks worker named Lech Walensa did; Reagan was the the reason cities are plagued by mean tally ill homeless as he was responsible for closing state hospitals. George Bush I and II have fervent thanks expressed to Mr Trump because, really what could be worse. Can you imagine if Trump were in office on (/11/2001?). If you want to see a downward trend in competency start w/ the greatest president this country had- a republican named Lincoln. If you're Southern, don't blame LincoPut Lincoln on the beginning ofrthe chart ln, you can blame Johson & Grant but Lincoln had very little to do with reconstruction you start with Lincoln on the Y axis and end with Trump you'll get a pretty good glimpse of Bear Stearns stoclk price from 2001-2010

genericname85 · Answer

truth be told, most people don't. in fact they will be angry at you if you don't believe what they've chosen to not question.

in fact i think today, the vast majority of people are fascists. and i mean that in the most pure way that fascism can be described. like a mordbid focus on having to align your personal action and morals with societal needs and giving all "individualism" some sort of negative label. like "racist, sexist, somethin-ist..." you name it.

like i hate playing the political spectrum. but many people specially on the left and far left consider "fascism" to be an exclusively far right wing thing, when in fact it is very much connected to that sort of "individualism free" far left thinking and not so much to "right wing individualist thinging". it's said fascism that brought slavery and holocausts... not right wing individualist thinking.

like the KKK originated from the democrat party. democrats fought FOR slavery, not against it in the civil war. hitler was a socialist (so left wing), not right. Stalin and Moussolini were communists (which is even left of fascism ideologically). so yeah. I don't know. to me it seems all the bad shit came from the political left. you're free to tell me if i'm wrong. i care bout truth, not about being right.

Leopard23 · Answer

This is from last year "US Military to Use High-Altitude Balloons Against China, Russia:"  Nobody questioned why china sll of a sudden sent a balloon.

Paul_in_Indy · Answer

If this was supposed to explain your thinking, I am not sure you succeeded. Taking both of your posts as a whole, I am at a loss s to what you are trying to say. I assumed the first was a joke; written as satire. This one seems even sillier…but you appear serious? I don’t know…

You do have evert right to sound crazy. We all do that from time to time. So, I’m cool with that.

And one should always question, examine, and consider.

…but I don’t know what this balloon thing has you do addled about! :)

WindAtMyBack · Answer

I remember the other question but didn't answer it or read the responses.

I'm very skeptical and tend to question everything. But to be honest there are no read flags why I should question the use of that plane. They had to use something. If they used something else would there have been more or less reason to question it?

Since you asked, OK I might be very mildly interested in why. But it's not a big deal. That plane was available. It was capable. So what is there to question?

Red_Arrow · Answer

lol. Your question was not too much for those giving opinions. But those opinions must have triggered you and you spouted absolute nonsense, starting with suggesting shooting it down with a sling shot.

Tracking showed it came from China, yet you found it amazing that we could tell it came from China. And you are still confused saying the story does not make any sense. I think you need to put your shirt back on and calm down.

OddBeMe · Answer

Ask away. That’s why Biden took awhile to get answers before shooting it down. Which some right wingers embarrassingly quibbled about.

But if you’re asking why a jet fighter for a balloon…. it was 66,000 ft. And the jet fire one round to puncture it and bring it down safely over water. I imagine now it’s being examined. The trajectory of the balloon just happened to float over several military bases…but whatevs.

Sovereignty will always be a geopolitical argument. I would say Gary Powers spy plane that was shot down in the 50s over Russia was legal. As are drones shot down over the mid east.

We all spy on each other. It’s not a huge issue.

Bricealan · Answer

Well, we should have flashed the Bat Signal, from the new tower in NYC and had Batman launch the Bat Plane and have him hook it like he did with The Jokers balloons that had the poison gas and just tow 'em away, or just tow 'em back over Beijing. and release 'em there! Simple solution!

FilmGuy93 · Answer

They really don’t question what they are told anymore; it’s scary. People just believe whatever they are told by whoever they find less evil

Reece12345 · Answer

Lol you're looking for common sense here? 🤣

Jersey2 · Answer

It will be interesting to hear what equipment was on it and what had the Chinese so worried about something being discovered. It’s interesting that Nena predicted this 40 years ago in a song, 99 balloons.

Guardian45 · Answer

I'm reminded of this:

driven159 · Answer

The only issue I have with the balloon is who was sleeping behind the wheel when it crossed are 14-mile restriction zone they can get better spy pictures from satellites with that said if we went to war against China what stops them from dropping chemical weapons from them and would we stop them or sleep behind the wheel agian

es20490446e · Answer

You can only know the answer by knowing what equipment the balloon has. And by gathering evidence. Anything else, that if the balloon is a spy or not, is just pure speculation.

NathanDavis · Answer

to question something or someone can come from two main and very different places... ignorance, and knowledge both do tend to rattle up the waters though... lol

gorydetails · Answer

Wait, you have a problem with a country defending its airspace?

LiamJHayden · Answer

I thought it was a perfectly legitimate question.

MementoMori777 · Answer

I don't trust anyone or anything here, I'm not surprised

Do people no longer actually question what they're told anymore?

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