Do you think mindlessnes has become the social norm?

Especially with huge number of people seem conflating "everyone is entitled to their own opinion" with the completely insane idea that all opinions are equal.

I remember practicing debate skills at school-- I thought it was pretty silly at the time. Why defend a position you don't hold? But it forced an investigation of facts, of precedent, of a fuller comprehension of the issue at hand. And a willingness to fully consider an opposing point of view. But best of all, it required that we identify and choose reliable sources.