Wondering why things went off the rails?

Before now, people always had guidance from the top regarding the 'correct' way to live, and how to present themselves in a socially satisfactory method. Because of the potentially devastating technologies which have been developed, it was necessary to know not just who could paint by numbers, but what each individual would do on their own without clear guidance. Through everyone's words and deeds through this trial, it can be learned what sort of world each person actually believes they are living in, and how each individual truly believes that it is best to act when wracked with uncertainty. This knowledge will help to shape a society going into the next age which will actually be capable of managing these new technologies without undue risk.