Are we on the path to become dumber?

[hattaresguy]

Originally Posted By: Viggen
To me when I think about people being dumber I tend to think about lack of independent and critical thinking, not so much about what anyone can recall, because it is true, you can always look it up again.

I have found that most folks today have little or no ability to think critically. It's pretty shocking and I'm not really THAT old. I've noticed this change over the past couple of decades or so.


Yep, they don't know how to think and string together ideas.

I blame it on a number of things. One the internet makes it so they don't really have to. Why think when the answers to your homework are all just a google search away?

I also blame it on the lack of reading books. Reading on a subject makes you think, and you retain the information better. No one reads anymore.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Originally Posted By: greenaccord02
Why would I remember trivia when I know that it will still be quickly easily found again, should I need it in the future? Instead of making myself retain something like that, I can move forward to my next question or problem.


Because, like any other part of the body, the brain needs to be exercised regularly in order to keep it in peak condition. By not forcing yourself to actually remember anything you're allowing yourself to become mentally lazy. I think this is exactly the mentality that much of the younger crowd has developed. The electronic gadgets and Internet have become a mental crutch-replacing critical thinking skills and real research for those who grew up in front of a video game.

Thomas Fuchs and Ludger Woessmann of Munich University did a study of 100,000 students in 31 countries using PISA tests to measure the skills. The study concluded that "Holding other family characteristics constant, students perform significantly worse if they have computers at home." By contrast, children with access to books in their homes performed better.

 

[fdcg27]

You have a good point.
The old days where people read newspapers full of conflcting opinion columns helped them to see that every argument has more than one side.
Today, people tend to select the website or television or radio opinion talk show that has some superficial appeal to the way they think they view the world.
Too many news programs and even newspaper articles tend to lard opinion into purportedly factual pieces.
It is always fun to listen to Rush with those who follow him.
So easy to poke holes in, and fun at, any of his arguments, or rants.
Which brings to mind another piece.
Does anyone else think that reasoned positions, with carefully developed arguments, have been replaced with mindless, name-calling rants in our media?
Is it any wonder that public debate has reached a nadir in our country?

 

[eljefino]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27
You have a good point.
The old days where people read newspapers full of conflcting opinion columns helped them to see that every argument has more than one side.
Today, people tend to select the website or television or radio opinion talk show that has some superficial appeal to the way they think they view the world.


... and that blames someone for every problem imaginable, and promises a never-quite-reachable happy ending if only so-and-so got his way.

 

[Cutehumor]

everyone is getting dumber, in fact, everyone spends so much time calling each other dumb behind each other's back. it's an endless cycle.

 

[greenaccord02]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27
You have a good point.
The old days where people read newspapers full of conflcting opinion columns helped them to see that every argument has more than one side.
Today, people tend to select the website or television or radio opinion talk show that has some superficial appeal to the way they think they view the world.
Too many news programs and even newspaper articles tend to lard opinion into purportedly factual pieces.
It is always fun to listen to Rush with those who follow him.
So easy to poke holes in, and fun at, any of his arguments, or rants.
Which brings to mind another piece.
Does anyone else think that reasoned positions, with carefully developed arguments, have been replaced with mindless, name-calling rants in our media?
Is it any wonder that public debate has reached a nadir in our country?


I know! We never see dissenting opinions any more! If there was only a place where people could interact in real time from all over the world and argue about things ranging say from politics to something silly like motor oil. Perhaps if this place was accessible by computer...

Somebody needs to get to work on this!

 

[Viggen]

Quote:
We never see dissenting opinions any more!


Actually one of the most startling thing I have noticed over the past 7 or 8 years or so on the internet is on forums like these when ever there is a person that is alone with a dissenting opinion he will be gang tackled and there usually will be a pile on by "the peanut gallery" and it can get pretty vicious. Not to mention that I have also often times seen that the supposed moderators instead of stopping the attacks will often join in on the attack and the dissenter will then get banned from the forums. OUTRAGEOUS! I know, it has happend to me personally.