I suspect that the real reason is the lulzys. The lulzys did there thing, had their lulz, but then the greater population jumped into the Internet.

The greater population adopted some of this culture, not realizing it was lulz, but a way of life.

Now here we are. Psychos everywhere.

What makes for a valid argument these days is to use baseless claims. And reason, since it’s not used for their arguments, is attacked relentlessly.