Voices from within the academy are now raising the alarm [10] about the decline of literacy [11] under the relentless assault of totalized digital immersion—finally catching up to what CounterVortex [12] blogger and ranter Bill Weinberg has been saying for years [13] (although sneering denialism [14] about the problem remains fashionable). Worldwide, the humanities are being abandoned [15] in favor of STEM, while social media overtakes [16] "legacy media" as a source of "news"—or (as is more often the case) sinister propaganda [17]. In Episode 333 [18] of the CounterVortex podcast [19], Bill takes stock of this grave and still under-appreciated threat to the survival of democracy and humanity itself [20]—and looks for signs of practical resistance [21].
Listen on SoundCloud [18] or via Patreon [23].
Books discussed:
The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains [24] by Nicholas G. Carr, Norton 2020
Knowing What We Know: The Transmission of Knowledge from Ancient Wisdom to Modern Magic [25] by Simon Winchester, Harper Collins 2023
The Reticular Society [25] by Ian Alan Paul, PM Press 2026
Production by Chris Rywalt [26]
We ask listeners to support us with a small monthly donation via Patreon [27] or PayPal [28].
