Are People Getting Dumber?

[dmase]

Everyone is pretty much dumber, my shrink tells me to stop thinking about it.

I think a portion of people are dummer because other people are telling them they are dummer therefore they act as they are told those people then go to shrinks and ask them "why is everybody else so dumb" and the shrink being the emotional whore that they are paid to be fulfills there every fantasy. Fantasy in this case being the belief that its them not me.

Sorry if you have some serious mental condition or you need that shrinks help for some misfortune but if your asking your shrink "why is everybody dumb" then your probably asking them "why is life so unfair" and "if people got to know me they would actually like me right doc". Emotional whore's response,"of course they would you have a lot to offer society but other people have issues that they need to work and they do so by using you, but you could always give those people my card and i could help them work through their problems too."

 

[Zersy]

I came to the realization today that people are getting dumber. There was a kid down the street from my house that used a gun to shoot out the window of a landscaping truck to steal shit. The sound of the shots brought the landscaping crew running around the house to see what happened and saw the kid standing by the truck with his gun. They called the police and the kid took off running but everyone in the neighborhood knows who he is so he won't get away. Now, if you don't know, in the US there are things called Mandatory Minimum Laws and under these laws if you discharge a gun while committing a felony it is an automatic life sentence and there is no way around it. So, he kid pretty much threw his entire life away for maybe a couple hundred dollars worth of stuff. Do you think this is an isolated incident of stupidity or do you think it reflects the world at large?

Define being smart ?

because to me it means you are literate and have common sense and know the differance between right and wrong

i think that kid had none of them

and im pretty sure that we are not getting dumber

 

[SimuLord]

People have always been stupid, and the few smart people have always hated the stupid ones. Trouble is, in this age of instant communication and short attention spans, you never really get to see enough of someone to determine that they are in fact stupid so lots of idiots can pretend to pass as smart people, making the smart people seem dumber.

Maybe put another way, it used to be that intellectuals could hold salons where people would have to defend their opinions and prepare their arguments. On the Internet, once you're cornered you just log out and live to slack your jaw another day.

 

[Cairo]

In my opinion, the peak of human brilliance was the 1950-60's. Since then we have been getting more stupid and lazy. This is just my opinion, and I respect anyone who has a different one.

I appreciate your level-headedness. That said, there was still institutionalized racism in America then, so I can't give those decades too much credit. Also, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flynn_effect is proof we are actually (and I'm as shocked as anyone) getting smarter. You could have fooled me, though. I've worked in food service.

 

[Zersy]

Define being smart ?

because to me it means you are literate and have common sense and know the differance between right and wrong

i think that kid had none of them

and im pretty sure that we are not getting dumber

Being smart is to be above average in intelligence. What you defined was just regular, obvious intelligence

Okay

but now how do you find out aboce Average intelligance ?

please don't say a I.Q. test because they can't show what a person is truly capable of

 

[Dr. UBAR]

Everyone is pretty much dumber, my shrink tells me to stop thinking about it.

I think a portion of people are dummer because other people are telling them they are dummer therefore they act as they are told those people then go to shrinks and ask them "why is everybody else so dumb" and the shrink being the emotional whore that they are paid to be fulfills there every fantasy. Fantasy in this case being the belief that its them not me.

Sorry if you have some serious mental condition or you need that shrinks help for some misfortune but if your asking your shrink "why is everybody dumb" then your probably asking them "why is life so unfair" and "if people got to know me they would actually like me right doc". Emotional whore's response,"of course they would you have a lot to offer society but other people have issues that they need to work and they do so by using you, but you could always give those people my card and i could help them work through their problems too."

The internet's lack of emotional display confuses many; let me explain. The shrink thing was basically saying that I get really angry at stupid people and anyone detrimental to society. I agree with your points and I mean no offense, I just had to note that I don't see a shrink and just get angry when I see stupid people.

 

[shadowice558]

i recently heard a little kid on the comp talking to his little friend.
i can't remember exactly but it was something like: "this guys a cop, he wants my name phone number and adress!"
he was actually stupid enough to give it...
i laughed for about 20mins straight.

 

[lenneth]

the Internet doesnt make you stupid it just makes your stupidity more accessible to others

 

[Zersy]

Define being smart ?

because to me it means you are literate and have common sense and know the differance between right and wrong

i think that kid had none of them

and im pretty sure that we are not getting dumber

Being smart is to be above average in intelligence. What you defined was just regular, obvious intelligence

Okay

but now how do you find out aboce Average intelligance ?

please don't say a I.Q. test because they can't show what a person is truly capable of

Umm, they actually do. REAL IQ tests do have pretty good accuracy. Not the shitty free ones you take online.

Just because you got lower than a 90 on an IQ test doesn't mean that it's not competent.

That does seem to make alot of sense.

But then how is Creativity Measured ?

 

[dmase]

wasn't offended at all Dr. UBAR i don't have a shrink either that wasn't meant to sound like that. I was making fun of people that do do that. I had assumed that you didn't have a shrink but wasn't quite sure. I just consider people that get "help" for petty stuff like that as ignorant.