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Forum: Internet Links Topic: Are we getting dumb? started by: Leisher Posted by Leisher on Nov. 14 2012,11:40
< Yes. >Seriously, the first 5 minutes of Idiocracy are coming true... Posted by Troy on Nov. 14 2012,11:51
That article makes use of the word "probably" in most of the important sentences. That's probably not scientific. I think we are just becoming more specialized. Posted by Leisher on Nov. 14 2012,11:54
Honestly, I think it's distractions.I think as a society, we ARE getting dumber, but I don't think I believe we're getting dumber as individuals. It's just that skills we used previously, and helped us judge intelligence, are no longer used or needed. Posted by GORDON on Nov. 14 2012,12:24
Specialization is for insects.
Posted by TheCatt on Nov. 14 2012,13:02
IQ across industrialized populations has been rising a pretty consistent 3 points / decade for 100 years. We're much, much smarter than we were 100 years ago. (Those fuckers barely even had electricity)Distractions is just another word for multi-tasking. Let's face it. The 0.01% of the smartest are the ones who make shit go, and make the world move forward. 1 billion people didn't make the Internet, a handful did. Those people seem to be doing quite fine, and I have no doubt that education will progress. My 5 yo's kindergarten class is filled with kids who can read, use large words, and do math with negative numbers. They can count by 2, 10, and 100s. And they're 5. Sure, they're not Doogie Howser, but my proudest accomplishment when 5 was being 2nd place in the watermelon seed-spitting contest. Technology is making education so much easier for people, especially the top few %s. Remember when you were interested in something as a kid and had to either a) read an outdated encyclopedia entry that may have had pictures, or b) go to the library to read outdated books that may have had pictures? My father's work was associated with a university, so I at least go to go to a "real" library in middle/high school, but still. Right now, the WHOLE FUCKInG WORLD OF KNOWLEDGE is at kids fingertips. And as Internets get faster, and resource become better (multimedia, live virtual simulations, etc), things will only get better, and better, and better. I'm bullish. Posted by TPRJones on Nov. 14 2012,14:21
Ditto, Catt.Intelligence is the ability to gather and integrate information into new and useful ideas and solutions to problems. On average we are smarter than ever, and the next generations are downright brilliant having grown up in an environment that is full of chances to do exactly that. They may not be able to jog around the block without passing out, but getting dumber is not one of their problems. Posted by GORDON on Nov. 14 2012,14:27
Lots of civilizations got really good at educating the populace, but still couldn't keep the society the education system floated upon from sinking.
Posted by Malcolm on Nov. 14 2012,14:36
(GORDON @ Nov. 14 2012,16:27) QUOTE Lots of civilizations got really good at educating the populace, but still couldn't keep the society the education system floated upon from sinking. Their cushions weren't as cushy as ours. Posted by TheCatt on Nov. 14 2012,14:45
I really think things are much, much better than they were in previous generations, and will continue to get better.Does the risk of some cataclysmic event go up? Sure, but overall, things will do well. Posted by GORDON on Nov. 14 2012,14:46
Was just thinking this morning.... we are certainly getting the "circus" part of the bread & circuses with this, "Look at the dangerous military general letting his side pussy read his emails."Remember Libya? Remember Hurricane Sandy, where a million or so peeps still have no power? Yeah, me neither. Posted by TheCatt on Nov. 14 2012,14:49
Meh, that's just how news works. But I'm not sure that's any different either.
Posted by GORDON on Nov. 14 2012,14:56
They never let Bush slide on this shit.
Posted by TheCatt on Nov. 14 2012,16:17
Oh, we got political again.
Posted by Malcolm on Nov. 14 2012,17:38
This depends on how you define "intelligence." I'm not convinced any IQ test really captures it quite well.If you mean the (a) sheer amount of info available to the average person increasing the resources they have instant access to, then yeah, we're skyrocketing. There've been times when the smartest dude in the village was the one with the most books. Now everyone has pretty much all the books, and way more, everywhere forever as long as they've got an internet connection. If you mean (b) our left brain ability to analyze complex things, deconstruct, understand, replicate, or mimic then, I also think we're getting better. If you mean our ability to apply successfully our technological tools from (a) to do (b), while I think we've improved a great deal (even in the past decade), it's nowhere fucking near where it should be. We misuse proper tools, and design, construct, and use far too many stupid ones. In other news, there's a theory that the more your intellect grows, the more prone you are to thinking that your brain can get you out of anything on the fly. All the bonuses you gain from learning also fuel your ego. Then you get careless which leads to stupid things. |