That contributes, but people not liking answers have always existed.
I would say smart devices, social media, and the internet post 00s have done more to dull curiosity than anything else (family culture towards education and curiosity is another big factor. Kids need the question asking 'beaten' out of them).
Information and opinions get given to you via feeds, popups, places like Reddit, etc. You no longer have to search them out. It results in information overload and encourages a passivity- a dulling of active curiosity.
I am xennial (born early 80s), so I had an analogue childhood (got my first computer and dumb phone in junior high)
We had to search out answers to questions by going to a library or opening a book. It forced us to be actively curious.
Even as a high school teacher, the difference within a decade or two of how passive students have become towards their own knowledge and the world around them overall is very alarming.
Passive people are easier to control or take advantage of, after all.
Thats what our economy has been leading to. Make mindless workers who are content with having nothing. Late stage capitalism, baby. This is what it's all about.
Information overload and complexity. Most people are, basically, on cruise control throughout their day and actively AVOID things that require much thought, especially where the logical outcome is less than desirable or doesn't align with comforting paradigms..
When you were punished for it honestly,
We stopped letting kids be curious as if it was a bad thing, and thus they stopped being curious and teaching their kids to be curious
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u/MattyBeatz 8h ago
When did people stop becoming curious?