I agree that we each have enlightened and mass-mind moments, as it were. Sometimes we're all more existentially awake than at other times.

But social patterns emerge as our personal tendencies compound. Thus, I think it's pretty clear there have often been both mainstream cultures and intellectual countercultures within societies. I've written about this elsewhere (links below). You're right, though, that we shouldn't demonize from a naïve, tribal standpoint. I try to see the problems with both sides.

https://medium.com/grim-tidings/the-ancient-cold-war-between-intellectuals-and-the-unreflective-masses-d0a85e0e9cda?sk=9228151d6257df2ee31ab91cd361c014

https://medium.com/grim-tidings/mass-societys-triumph-over-intellectuals-6272ad9a56aa?sk=291ca2095e380cc886551debd1c0cd48

https://medium.com/interfaith-now/christendoms-betrayal-of-the-perennial-counterculture-27dd62b7ecf1?sk=cac1fc3ceb589b3a6a24164811848187

https://medium.com/an-idea/how-trendy-stoicism-assimilates-the-counterculture-be46d58c2e9d?sk=619e08c5404955082429b4c013547fa7