Like some have mentioned before, in the past before social networks, before the internet, you called someone who knew. Before that, you ask your dad or the local elder.

Similar to your theory in terms of hi-tech networking solutions diminishing critical thinking, I wrote a post on my blog earlier this year on GPS Navigation systems: http://lowtechtimes.com/2008/01/16/three-problems-with-gps-navigation- systems/

Shouldn’t people learn their own way around without having a voice tell them their every move?

Am I offbase? Did my neck blow a bubble?

There will always be some who prefer to find information themselves and there will always be some who ask others for the information. In the end we all still have to make our own decisions on what we think is right and wrong.

The internet in general allows us to have access to more information quickly than we’ve ever had before. With so many sources of information and answers the skill is in deciding which source to trust. That requires more than a single source.

You might sooner trust a person that has shown they are a good source. So if in the past Bob has shown to be an expert in automotive repair I might ask him my automotive repair question to save me time on that particular query. It might also be a subject where I’m not all that interested in learning more.

Bob then may ask me questions about web development because he knows I’ve put in the time there and he’s not interested in becoming the expert when it comes to web development.

We’re still all solving problems and thinking critically in general, but we can still lean on others for solutions in specific areas.

As our world of information expands, kids are expected to memorize/search for more and more facts and theories. Schools are spending less and less time on critical thinking/problem solving/creative thinking to accomodate the information overload.

So we have a generation that are very good at quickly finding discreet pieces of information and more limited in their ability to use higher order thinking.

Being in the real estate profession, most of my circle consists of other Realtors. This has proved very useful to me because real estate is local, that means that it is practiced differently in different markets. Interacting with other Realtors has given me ideas that might have taken me much longer to arrive at on my own. Are those ideas any less valuable because they came from someone else rather than through my own efforts? I don’t think so.

Unless you sit in a completely empty room, totally alone, ideas and inspiration are always coming from external sources. Social media just seems to increase the access to those sources of ideas and inspiration.

We’ve always relied on the availability of information from others. Even “Googling” a question is relying on information someone else has put together.

I’d also suspect you’re group of friends is somewhat different than most. As you mentioned, you move in marketing circles. For example, I’ll often ask a question on Twitter, that I could find the answer to elsewhere, but as a marketer there’s a benefit to engaging those that follow you.