When, specifically, did our emotions/feelings become more important than anything else?

This question was asked by VanRIch on PT last night and I wanted to revisit it with the day crew for more thoughts.

"The only reasons I’ve seen from the left for why the voted for Biden are rooted in emotion or their feelings. And that would be the only reason because no one can honestly, HONESTLY, say that think Biden is a better president that will make the country better and truly cares about the American people. It’s absurd. People care more about the ‘rights’ of people that they’ve never met at the expense of the future of their own families. I get more and more completely fricking pissed off at the disgusting people in this country that support this administration* and the shite they’re trying to pull on us. I don’t know what can be done but I’m ready to join whatever someone figures out. This bullshite needs to end. Wake the frick up America."

Here was my response:

My opinion? It happened when we gave a voice to the historically voiceless. It began with Social Media. Literally anyone with an internet connection can now publicly call the President of the United States of America anything they want and the whole world can see it. Trump tweets and the first comment is "frick you pussy" It has completely shattered any sense of respect or societal norm. It gave a platform for the mentally ill, morally corrupt, and socially awkward. It normalized weirdness and it gave bravery to the introverts. When that happened, inevitably all the otherwise buried, twisted ideology came to light. Now more than ever, every idea, opinion, misconception or belief based in ignorance can be heard worldwide. Then herd mentality set in, one person said it, another echoed it and it became a movement. Gender equality, transphobia, white supremacy, take your pick. If enough people see it and hear it, it grows, no matter how absurd, there's always a handful of like minded people. Then there's those that support these ideas out of some sick sense of guilt or virtue signaling without regard to the greater picture. America became a country driven by feelings the moment the basement dwelling, introverted, uneducated, undisciplined, morally bankrupt population gained the ability to have thier voices heard. It started with the destruction of the nuclear household and the catalyst that exploded it was social media. I have no clue how to fix it and i think it will only get worse unfortunately.

Just my two cents