They have to recalibrate the IQ test every so often, because what is average now would be above average in the past.
Walk around in 1968 and ask people where Vietnam is.
That isn't an example of raw intellectual ability, though. That's an example of fund of knowledge, which is very dependent on educational achievement and other social factors like parental support for education and reading.
my small self... like a book amongst the many on a shelf
They have to recalibrate the IQ test every so often, because what is average now would be above average in the past.
Walk around in 1968 and ask people where Vietnam is.
That isn't an example of raw intellectual ability, though. That's an example of fund of knowledge, which is very dependent on educational achievement and other social factors like parental support for education and reading.
The topic is dumbing down. If we get into the debate about defining what's smart and what's dumb, it will sidetrack the thread. It is an interesting topic, though. I just gave two examples to support my position that we're not getting dumber.
They have to recalibrate the IQ test every so often, because what is average now would be above average in the past.
Walk around in 1968 and ask people where Vietnam is.
That isn't an example of raw intellectual ability, though. That's an example of fund of knowledge, which is very dependent on educational achievement and other social factors like parental support for education and reading.
The topic is dumbing down. If we get into the debate about defining what's smart and what's dumb, it will sidetrack the thread. It is an interesting topic, though. I just gave two examples to support my position that we're not getting dumber.
I assumed you meant your example to relate to your statement about IQ scores. Maybe I was wrong, but was just pointing out that fund of knowledge and IQ are two very different things.
my small self... like a book amongst the many on a shelf
Do people think the general fund of knowledge is less?
By "people" did you mean me? . I'm not arguing the case that society has been dumbed down; I just value precision in how we discuss it.
It's a good question, though. People certainly know different information than they did 40 or even 20 years ago. Do they know more information, though? And, more to the point, so they know more information of substance or more information about trivial matters? I don't know.
my small self... like a book amongst the many on a shelf
Take school curriculums for example. When I was in high school in the 80's, the advanced kids took algebra in the 8th grade. Now the regular kids take it in the 8th grade.
Before this goes into the 'get off my lawn' ditch, does anyone have data showing that we're getting dumber over time?
I think jeffbr's post about where people believe chocolate milk comes from is a good start for some data
That's a single question. We need longitudinal data to support the hypothesis. Otherwise, looking at the answers to single questions and then drawing a conclusion that we're in a downward trend would be 'dumb'.
Oh I know. but geez, that is really disheartening to realize that people actually believe that.
Do people think the general fund of knowledge is less?
That a good question. I feel like people are getting dumber overall. But I don't have any proof. Like someone else said by just talking to people on the street, I feel like people are dumber. it's more of a common sense type of thing though, not really a lack of education. And that could be just a matter of getting older, you feel that people are getting dumber. I know my parents when they were the age that I am now, felt that people were getting dumber. Is it just our perception that comes with age and we become more cynical?
I do feel like, with the advancement of social media and how everything is right at our fingertips in this digital age, that people tend to be lazier. Most of the younger people (and by younger, I mean < 30) that I know, they seem to be pretty smart, but don't know as much about things that happened before they were alive. And this is just my observation, but I feel like it's not because they don't know, it's just more of a "if it hasn't happened in the last 24 hours, who cares". I feel like as a society now, we move on from things now and just forget them. Maybe it hasn't. Maybe I'm just turning into a crazy old man lol
Do people think the general fund of knowledge is less?
It's constantly getting bigger and bigger. But are we talking about society having massive amounts of data and knowledge or the general ability of people to use their brains? Just about anyone can access the data but how well are they able to extrapolate concrete reasonable action from abstract notions or, for that matter, count back change without a machine?
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
I think the huge advances in technology, which has paved the way for the explosion of social media, has allowed us for the first time to see how dumb and backwards a lot of Americans actually are. I think levels of intellect have remained constant over the years. The only difference is twenty years ago you would have to personally visit segments of the country which have fallen behind in education, jobs and social mobility. Now those same people are sitting on a picnic bench outside their trailer posting to social media sites and it can be shocking to read how backwards and behind the times they are.
Brown cows are larger than white cows and more violent (see dent on lower right brown cow milk). The question is, to which political party do the most of the violent brown cows belong?
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
Brown cows are larger than white cows and more violent (see dent on lower right brown cow milk). The question is, to which political party do the most of the violent brown cows belong?
Brown cows are larger than white cows and more violent (see dent on lower right brown cow milk). The question is, to which political party do the most of the violent brown cows belong?
That's mooist.
And there you go adding to the toxic discourse. Everyone knows that when you purposely use the word "moo" and add "ist" to it that you're subtly referring to the well established and respected moony religion and their adherents the moonies and using it in a derogatory nature. You're responsible for all bad things that happen. Shame on you!
Brown cows are larger than white cows and more violent (see dent on lower right brown cow milk). The question is, to which political party do the most of the violent brown cows belong?
That's mooist.
And there you go adding to the toxic discourse. Everyone knows that when you purposely use the word "moo" and add "ist" to it that you're subtly referring to the well established and respected moony religion and their adherents the moonies and using it in a derogatory nature. You're responsible for all bad things that happen. Shame on you!
I could use some moony. Brother, can you spare a dime?
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
The milk thing - what actually is the source for this? I (somewhat) understand how statistics work but how many people were asked this? Demographics, age, education?
I guess I just don't want to believe that so many people are so clueless. It doesn't make sense to me.
I hate to say it (because it wish it weren't true) but Cincy's suggestion too"Just walk around and talk to people" is what convinces me the U.S. as a nation is dumbing down. True, I don't have facts to support it but empirical evidence convinces me that we're not getting any smarter.
Convince me I'm wrong, please!
Sometimes things are just glaringly obvious, eh?
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
They have to recalibrate the IQ test every so often, because what is average now would be above average in the past.
Walk around in 1968 and ask people where Vietnam is.
That isn't an example of raw intellectual ability, though. That's an example of fund of knowledge, which is very dependent on educational achievement and other social factors like parental support for education and reading.
The topic is dumbing down. If we get into the debate about defining what's smart and what's dumb, it will sidetrack the thread. It is an interesting topic, though. I just gave two examples to support my position that we're not getting dumber.
I'm not sure what your first example was, but the Vietnam one doesn't hold water. People know that Vietnam exists because the war made it a part of US pop culture - i.e. Vietnam war movies, common cultural references, etc. I bet no more people would be able to point it out on an unmarked map, and many couldn't even explain to you in basic terms what the war was about back then, let alone tell you the most basic things about Vietnam as it is now. Back in '68 people had no reason to know much about Vietnam, but now that Americans were provided with a very good reason to know a lot about it, the majority doesn't know shit, besides what they learned from Platoon or Forrest Gump.
Post edited by PJ_Soul on
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
Comments
Walk around in 1968 and ask people where Vietnam is.
It's pretty funny when someone lectures about staying in school with a spelling error!
So there
It's a good question, though. People certainly know different information than they did 40 or even 20 years ago. Do they know more information, though? And, more to the point, so they know more information of substance or more information about trivial matters? I don't know.
Take school curriculums for example. When I was in high school in the 80's, the advanced kids took algebra in the 8th grade. Now the regular kids take it in the 8th grade.
I do feel like, with the advancement of social media and how everything is right at our fingertips in this digital age, that people tend to be lazier. Most of the younger people (and by younger, I mean < 30) that I know, they seem to be pretty smart, but don't know as much about things that happened before they were alive. And this is just my observation, but I feel like it's not because they don't know, it's just more of a "if it hasn't happened in the last 24 hours, who cares". I feel like as a society now, we move on from things now and just forget them. Maybe it hasn't. Maybe I'm just turning into a crazy old man lol
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
My urologist told me I have a powerful sample
*I did not source check.*
Libtardaplorable©. And proud of it.
Brilliantati©
The milk thing - what actually is the source for this? I (somewhat) understand how statistics work but how many people were asked this? Demographics, age, education?
I guess I just don't want to believe that so many people are so clueless. It doesn't make sense to me.