You missed what I think is baklava's main point: "The only things that have changed are access to such ideas and the volume of our records." Your argument that "The essay reflected that something has gone wrong in our culture" is a pretty bold statement that doesn't take into consideration the volume of and access to information we have today.

To me it seems you're contradicting yourself. What does this bold statement of yours tells you about trying to contribute to a problem one does not understand?