People had encyclopedias and dictionaries in their homes. They read newspapers every day [and since there was a lot of coemption between papers they made sure of their facts.]
imho people today are more likely to fall for nonsense because they look for confirmation instead of accuracy.
Valmond@lemmy.world 5 days ago
Newspapers were full of crap then too, and remember those magazines with the craziest stuff, like the man who could smoke through his navel? People believed the weirdest things, like walking with a twig would help you find water pipes, because you’d “feel” them through the twig.
deafboy@lemmy.world 4 days ago
Not only they still do, it’s thought in schools and practiced by the water utility professionals in the field.
They’ve charged me a hundred bucks for their expertise, to which I’ve composed an angry email, asking whether the ministry of magic would be willing to cover the damage if we, somehow, despite their findings, manage to find the pipe where it’s not supposed to be, with the front part of the excavator. They advised us to dig carefully, not addressing the magic ritual part at all.