Debate: are people getting thicker?

[Shinigami357]

aw, come on, do you have to have every single breakthrough mankind has made listed down? We have particle accelerators, levitation technology, stem cell research, facial reconstruction, DS flash cards, free internet porn, etc (but don't count the last 2, lolz

)

also, electricity was harnessed long ago. hell, franklin was still alive then. planes aren't exactly that old. the internet (i assume that's what you mean) is less than a few decades old.

the last time doctors cured anything would be... uh, do you remember SARS? avian flu?

1) The world's biggest particle accelerator didn't even work.
2) What levitation technology? I don't see flying cars anywhere.
3) A fair chunk of people still believe we should stop stem cell research. Hell, the former president thought it would offend God.
4) I don't really think facial reconstruction is as revolutionary as electricity or unlocking the DNA code.

As for the net being a couple of decades old, that's exactly the point I was trying to make. You can't invent one thing then just sit and do sod all for twenty years, which is what we as a species seem to be doing right now. We should be continuing to advance rather than sitting around with our thumbs up our arses. I will however admit that the continuing development of forensic science as a crime fighting medium does earn some points, that's made some pretty big advances over the years and hopefully will make crime virtually impossible.

And I don't think Avian Flu was ever a real threat if I'm perfectly honest. I think it was mostly a media construct to get our collective minds away from more serious issues, such as why the human race seems to be doing virtually fuck all.

1. uh, x-rays are also considered particle accelerators? last time i got x-rayed, the thing didn't explode and turn me into the thing, lol.
2. Magnetic LEVITATION train THIS
3. wait, someone listened to BUSH?!? OMG, pack your bags, we're goin back home to mars!!!
4. you wouldn't, but that guy (on ripley's i think) who got his face mauled by a grizzly prob would think facial reconstruction is the best thing since sliced bread.


Avian flu KILLED THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. That should be enough to make it a viable threat. The strain of the particular virus (?) didn't last long, but people died from that, so discounting it would be really shallow.

 

[Shinigami357]

Perhaps I was not sufficiently clear. Give me an example of a brand new, Earth-shattering invention. Something that did not build upon older ideas.

this is a misconception. it is nigh-on impossible to just invent something that wasn't at the very least based on a pre-existing concept. technology is really just humans finding better things to do their work for them (indeed, evolutionism theory says that human ancestors prob started with sticks and rocks, then on to tools, etc). technology doesn't have the "quantum jumps" where it ascends from one state to a higher one, there's always a progression.


PS

how do i merge posts? or multi-quote at least? i hate to double post, lolz.

 

[Blood Fetish]

this is a misconception. it is nigh-on impossible to just invent something that wasn't at the very least based on a pre-existing concept. technology is really just humans finding better things to do their work for them (indeed, evolutionism theory says that human ancestors prob started with sticks and rocks, then on to tools, etc). technology doesn't have the "quantum jumps" where it ascends from one state to a higher one, there's always a progression.

I realize this, and it was the focal point of my post. If you read my other posts you will see that I explicitly state continuous evolution as the march of progress.

 

[em2241992]

People seem to be getting quite alarmingly stupid. Not everyone, in fact I'm sure the smart people are getting smarter. But the dumb people just seem a lot dumber than they used to.

I completely agree. The one example that just irritates me the most is the racial tension in the US, that is nothing more than naive and foolish. For example, in my region in NY State, there is an argument over Police and Fire Dept. examination standards. It is believed that their are not enough minorities in these fields(by the minorities) simply because the tests are too hard, so to make it fair we should lower the test difficulty to allow more minorities. First, by lowering the standards of these exams, we are lowering the quality of support by these two institutions putting the public welfare in greater jeopardy, second if the tests are easier, there is no guarantee that more minorities would get it, dumber Caucasian's could end up passing as well.
This is just one example that comes to mind. This is a clear example of stupidity if you ask me. We should move forward as a society, not segregate ourselves because of issues such as this.

 

[Blood Fetish]

While there is still plenty of bigotry in the US, it is far less than even 50 years ago. People are more tolerant, better educated, more literate, etc. In no possible way are people "thicker" now than they were in the past.

 

[zeromac]

People are just getting more stupider as we live in the information age

 

[Blood Fetish]

People are just getting more stupider as we live in the information age

What the hell does that mean? The rapid adoption of the Internet has greatly increased the general public's access to information. People as a whole are far more informed now than they have ever been.

 

[monkat]

People are just getting more stupider as we live in the information age

What the hell does that mean? The rapid adoption of the Internet has greatly increased the general public's access to information. People as a whole are far more informed now than they have ever been.

Intelligence is different from knowledge.

Although we have the world's information at our fingertips, it makes it effortless to learn things, so when it comes time to actually use and apply information, all you have are facts.

Instant gratification is never a good thing.

 

[Blood Fetish]

I strongly disagree with your assertion that instant access to knowledge and current events is never a good thing. The entire concept of a democracy requires an informed public to function.

 

[monkat]

I strongly disagree with your assertion that instant access to knowledge and current events is never a good thing. The entire concept of a democracy requires an informed public to function.

I'm so proud of my little Fetish here! He realized that 'never' almost never means 'never'! You must be all the rage in school! I mean, wow, talk about ahead of the curve - I bet you even know that hyperboles aren't literal, huh?

God, don't be a fucking nitpicker.

 

[Canonbeat234]

Damnit Tempers!! Why each time I want to blog about my topics, I see something that catches my eye!

On topic: I remember txting a good 2 hour lecture about why we are stump when it comes to being more than we are now. It comes to my conclusion that you have to care. No one is going to teach you how to be responsible nor to make a living.

 

[Blood Fetish]

I strongly disagree with your assertion that instant access to knowledge and current events is never a good thing. The entire concept of a democracy requires an informed public to function.

I'm so proud of my little Fetish here! He realized that 'never' almost never means 'never'! You must be all the rage in school! I mean, wow, talk about ahead of the curve - I bet you even know that hyperboles aren't literal, huh?

God, don't be a fucking nitpicker.

Don't get hostile with me because you worded your argument poorly. I would say instant access to information is a benefit in the vast majority of situations. I was not simply finding a single example to invalidate your use of the word "never", I was inferring that you were completely off-base.

 

[Uncle FEFL]

People are just getting more stupider as we live in the information age

More stupider...? Haha, I can't really talk shit though, using my analogy a page back or so as evidence to my own mistakes. My mistake would be funnier though, because I looked up the Wright brothers at most ten minutes before I made that post, lol.


That's not because we live in the age of information. In my opinion, it's the exact opposite. People are just wussies and are too easily persuaded and brainwashed to make any useful opinion for themselves.

Spoiler

"What subjects do you hate?"
"Science, math, and history mostly. O-oh and English sometimes, usually during grammar lessons, 'cuz i totaly knowz mi stuffs, yooo."

"OK. What subjects do you like?"
"Uh...P.E. because we don't really have to do shit! lolololol."

"*sigh* What do you like to do in your freetime?"
"Hangout."

"What's your opinion on being educated?"
"I don't know what you mean by that. School sucks though."

"What is your religion?"
"Christian. (Child was raised that way)

"If you're involved in politics, what is your opinion on it and why?"
"Republican/Democrat because my dad says Democrats/Republicans are pansies/idiots."

"Where's [insert country here] on this world map?"
"I dunno."

Kids are becoming more and more apathetic towards everything these days. I'm sure it's because things are easier nowadays, but not because we're in the information age itself. Throughout time each generation of people become more apathetic than the last.


PS: How do you add titles to spoilers? I always forget. >.

 

[DeliciousRice]

It's not that people are getting stupider permanently, it's just that a majority of people - in the United States at least - don't bother or even dare pursue the knowledge that is available to them. In this new modern age being uneducated, uninformed, and lazy has become a side effect of being trendy. People are extremely focused in fitting into popular society above everything else. When, of course, someone actually bothers to become educated, they are often labeled as "nerdy" and most of the time have trouble blending into modern niches. Being social creatures, most people don't attempt to question the superficial nature of people in the 21st century in fear that they might be ostracized for criticizing the norm. Thus, a large portion of our society has joined a communist party run by the people to enslave the people. This party has an agenda that often forces their civilians to be either uninformed towards or simply not having any acceptance towards contradicting doctrines. The people who obey the norm to the greatest extent are seen often as popular, while the people who disobey and question, or attempt to be different, are generally forced into the bowels of society's untold class system. I find Stephen Hawking to be a great example of this. Despite being considered a genius in the field of theoretical physics, by simply expressing his opinion on the controversial topic of the creation of the universe, he was automatically demoted by a majority to be a crazed fool. Some of his critics even went as far to attack him for being confined to a wheelchair. Hawking was an example of a person who defied the religious aspect of the communist party - he stated that the existence of a god is unnecessary for the formation of the universe - but religious beliefs aren't the only part of life whose statuses are forcibly imposed by the great restriction of the 21st century. Anything from type of music interests to book preferences could have an accepted norm that most people are afraid to defy. It is because of this fear that radical, new changes in science and art are restricted and extremely rare. We are essentially stuck in an decade of forced complacency.

However I sincerely believe that we can break out of this cage. Society has always been known to alienate those who are different. From the beginning of known history, people being have always been forced into the norm, only to break free from the cage eventually. Two examples on the top of my head would be during the Roman era, the Jews were often persecuted for there beliefs, and during the dark ages, most of Europe was expected to obey the unquestionable Catholic Church. Despite these restrictions, the Jewish people were still able to live on with their beliefs, and the people of Europe were eventually able to break free form the grasp of the Vatican to form many denominations in religion. So while currently we are stuck in the age of the thick headed ideals of the 21st century, we probably will one day find the incentive to further progress. But no matter what we do, we can also probably never completely drop our "thick" members in society. The population of thick, ignorant people in society fluctuates during ages of knowledge and ages of darkness. If we plot their population on the xy axis, I would expect the result to be much like the graph of sin(x); while we are currently in a domain where their population increases, we will eventually hit a point in which their population will drop.

So in conclusion, yes, people are getting thicker as of now, but that will probably stop soon and reverse it's trend as time goes on.

 

[Zerousen]

People are just getting more stupider as we live in the information age
PS: How do you add titles to spoilers? I always forget. >.<

@ Uncle FEFL:CODE

Spoiler: (title here)

(hidden text here)

People are getting dumber, but then again, not everyone is. I lived in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and it was perfectly fine there, intelligent kids, kind people, but now I live in Georgia, and I hear more things about drugs and [censored] on the news, murders everywhere, when I barely hear such news in my area in Michigan.

 

[Mewgia]

People are just getting more stupider as we live in the information age

genius

 

[Infinite Zero]

More stupider...? Haha, I can't really talk shit though, using my analogy a page back or so as evidence to my own mistakes. My mistake would be funnier though, because I looked up the Wright brothers at most ten minutes before I made that post, lol.


That's not because we live in the age of information. In my opinion, it's the exact opposite. People are just wussies and are too easily persuaded and brainwashed to make any useful opinion for themselves.

Spoiler

"What subjects do you hate?"
"Science, math, and history mostly. O-oh and English sometimes, usually during grammar lessons, 'cuz i totaly knowz mi stuffs, yooo."

"OK. What subjects do you like?"
"Uh...P.E. because we don't really have to do shit! lolololol."

"*sigh* What do you like to do in your freetime?"
"Hangout."

"What's your opinion on being educated?"
"I don't know what you mean by that. School sucks though."

"What is your religion?"
"Christian. (Child was raised that way)

"If you're involved in politics, what is your opinion on it and why?"
"Republican/Democrat because my dad says Democrats/Republicans are pansies/idiots."

"Where's [insert country here] on this world map?"
"I dunno."

Kids are becoming more and more apathetic towards everything these days. I'm sure it's because things are easier nowadays, but not because we're in the information age itself. Throughout time each generation of people become more apathetic than the last.

GAWD. The spoiler is real. I hear those EXACT words. A lot of teens don't care much about learning and the importance of education. We just spend only 12 years of studying in our lives and after those 12 years... it will be the result of what you did. (Less intelligence = Fuckin' low grades so it means less opportunities for that person)

I got off topic

IMO People are not as smart unlike before. But not ALL, there are still people who have lots of juice in their brains and make use of it.

 

[Shinigami357]

there are still people who have lots of juice in their brains and make use of it.

Bravo.

 

[Blood Fetish]

For everyone who claims the general public is not as smart as "before": on what are you basing this? Are you old enough to remember the intelligence of the populace in decades past, or are you basing this on historical accounts (news clips, history books, and the like). If the latter, then do you think these recounted stories give cover the million "common" people for every great historical figure such as a general, leader, scientist, etc?

 

[Blaze163]

The thing of it is that I can see a LOT of stupid people in my local area. I encounter even more of them at work. I'm not saying that this is new, I'm sure there were always stupid people in every point in human history. I will even concede that the smart people in the world are getting smarter. But that doesn't make up for the stupification of the masses. Here's some recent examples.

- Someone came into work a few days ago asking where we keep the building site hard hats. We're a branch of JJB Sports. Why the hell would we carry hard hats? I see a LOT of dumb people come into the store asking for things that it should be obvious we won't have. Like the guy who asks me for a pencil case.

- Based on the actions of my little brother, his friends, and the other children in the community, I can say with some certainty that either people are getting stupider or parents are getting lazier. I get tirades of hysterical abuse from one of the local kids because I don't have Halo Reach. Apparantly I'm too poor. Evidently failing to notice the £550 pay check in my pocket, eh? Parents these days let their kids run riot. My brother's ex's kids are in serious danger of being taken into care because they're constantly in trouble with the police.

- The constant and obvious butchery of the English language.

- Mankind's continuing obsession with celebrity culture. We're somehow content to be sat around waiting for news of who's sleeping with who in Hollywood, or even worse on some dumb soap opera. Focussing on problems constructed by the media to rob us of a few more coins rather than dealing with our own problems, or doing anything useful.

Maybe I should re-evaluate my position. Perhaps it's not so much a lack of intelligence I'm noticing so much as a lack of moral fibre. People becoming content to be nothings instead of striving to leave their mark on history. The general 'cant be bothered' attitude we seem to have adopted. To me that's a sign of decreased intellect, but perhaps I'm mistaken and it's a sign of moral decay.

Based on what I know of the previous generation, my dad's era, children were scolded when they did stupid things and acted up. Parents retained some control over their children and kept them on the straight and narrow, or at least mostly. Look at the youth of today. Gang culture, knives, abusive attitude and a total lack of respect for anything even though 'respect' is the word they seem to utter more than any other. Again, I'm sure there have always been problematic kids, but it seems to be reaching epidemic levels at the moment. ASBO's may as well come in different colours for different areas of the city, kids these days seem intent on collecting the whole set anyway.

These gangs of what police radio reports tend to call 'youths' are roaming the streets, causing chaos wherever they go, making this city in particular unsafe to walk around at night. I'm perfectly capable of defending myself under most circumstances but even I'll struggle against a gang of drugged up teens with knives, I have the scar to prove it. All this going on while the parents just give up, watching the latest banal mind numbing television (looking at you, Jeremy Kyle) while their daughters get pregnant before they find work. What the hell happened? Sure, this must have been going on before but why is it so prevalant now?