Are People Getting Smarter or Dumber?

[Estocavio]

Some are getting dumber, some are getting smarter. Incidentally im not getting dumber, as it would be misanthropic to call me any degree of dumb in the first place, therefore i must be smart; and getting smarter.

 

[UnusualStranger]

People are not getting smarter or dumber. All that is going on is an increase in the AMOUNT of dumb people.

There is something very simple about idiocy. It is so simple to go with it that many people don't see the point in struggling to be more. In fact, as another stated above, being smart now seems to be far more consuming than it should be.

I don't remember where it came from but the saying "I would rather be a happy fool than a depressed genius." seems to be very fitting for what I am trying to say.

 

[dmase]

The dumb people never get into a position where they can influence humanity thank god.

Australia would like a word with you. >_>

America gets him next. <_<

 

[theSovietConnection]

I don't think people are getting any smarter or dumber. With the advent of the internet, we see many more stupid people from various areas of the world we'd otherwise never have known about. I also believe stupid people just seem to become more vocal, or get more recognition on TV.

 

[Eldritch Warlord]

Being an optimist I like to think that people are in general getting smarter and that the reason that the stupid people continue to look even more stupid is because the smart/average people are so much smarter in comparison.

Doesn't stop me from questioning how these people even have the necessary intelligence to function in human society when I encounter them though.

 

[Souplex]

I think we are getting smarter.
The dumb people never get into a position where they can influence humanity thank god.

I respectfully disagree.

 

[crimsonshrouds]

I don't think people are getting any smarter or dumber. With the advent of the internet, we see many more stupid people from various areas of the world we'd otherwise never have known about. I also believe stupid people just seem to become more vocal, or get more recognition on TV.

Thank you, I didn't even have to type it.

 

[Souplex]

I take it you don't read XKCD?

Spoiler

Using XKCD to prove humanity's intelligence seems kind of counterproductive. Idiocracy never said anything aboot class, just intelligence.

 

[Sewblon]

I read somewhere that average I.Qs have actually been increasing Since the 1920s, which would make sense because of the accelerated dissemination of information due to the radio, television and internet.

 

[Irridium]

Ever see the movie "Idiocracy"?
Yeah, that.

I really hate to think that, but judging by my time in school, where most people didn't do well because "thinking is hard and stuff...", yeah. I'm scared.

Granted that could have just been a special case, since where I used to live wasn't exactly brimming with intelligence, so who knows.

For the most part, dumber. The smarter people don't reproduce as often, while the less intelligent end up having many children.

I hear this all the time, but I've never read anything that shows an overwhelming genetic link to intelligence.

Stupid people would raise their children, causing their children to take after them, and also become stupid. Its not genetics, its just kids and babies take after the people they're around most. And if most of them are stupid people, then... yeah.

I don't think people are getting any smarter or dumber. With the advent of the internet, we see many more stupid people from various areas of the world we'd otherwise never have known about. I also believe stupid people just seem to become more vocal, or get more recognition on TV.

This could also be the answer. Hell it could be all of the above for all I know.

 

[Stuntcrab]

I just hope we get out of it

Let the debate weather: dumber too smarter or smarter too dumber

 

[Loop Stricken]

Personally, when watching the new generation of people, I can say with a fair amount of confidence that humans are indefinitely getting dumber for the most part.
So what about the Escapist? What do you all think?

I think you incorrectly used the word 'indefinitely'. Tut tut.

But I agree with your sentiment even though I stopped reading after such a terrible faux pas.

 

[Julianking93]

Personally, when watching the new generation of people, I can say with a fair amount of confidence that humans are indefinitely getting dumber for the most part.
So what about the Escapist? What do you all think?

I think you incorrectly used the word 'indefinitely'. Tut tut.

But I agree with your sentiment even though I stopped reading after such a terrible faux pas.

Woops. Didn't mean to put the "in" part on there. Just definitely.

 

[jpoon]

The general public is being dumbed down severely. I think a lot of it is because of the school system and the shit that people watch and do daily. A very small minority of children actually read books and strive to expand their knowledge/understanding of the world around them. It's quite sad that we really seem to be heading towards an eventual Idiocracy of global scale.

 

[oppp7]

I'd post an opinion here, but I'm already in a bad mood and people saying everyone's an idiot rubs me the wrong way, so I don't trust myself.

You know what? Fuck it, here goes.

No I don't think people are getting dumber. And I have no idea why people are getting this idea. Lets look at the demographics that are the "ignorant masses," shall we?
College fratboys: They like partying and drinking. This makes them idiots because...?
Conservatives: They have always existed. Hell, way back when they were racists, so todays Conservatives are arguably better than those of older times.
Street gangsters: They are a product of their living conditions. Many of them didn't have an education or family. Think about all the things that you've had that they didn't and try to think of them in the same light. But are they getting stupider for this? Well, they used to be slaves who couldn't even read, so there's some progress at least(for the blacks anyways).
Normally when I come across this kind of "everyone's an idiot" theology it's due to the person being bitter about bullying and generally being unpopular in real life. And having your opinion clouded by this kind of thing makes your argument(which wasn't backed up by anything to begin with) a little less than reasonable.

 

[Loop Stricken]

Eh, percentage-wise there's probably about the same amount of morons as there ever were. It's just that with an increased population it amounts to stupid people doing stupid things being far more visible than ever before.

SQUEEE AVATAR KAWAII!! ^____^

 

[James Raynor]

It depends on what the subject, some get smarter in some areas, and some get dumber in other areas.

 

[ThrobbingEgo]

I take it you don't read XKCD?

Spoiler

Using XKCD to prove humanity's intelligence seems kind of counterproductive. Idiocracy never said anything aboot class, just intelligence.

If you had just said "webcomic" and not "XKCD," you'd almost have a persuasive argument. Randall Munroe's a smart guy who just happens to write webcomics.

 

[Dags90]

Stupid people would raise their children, causing their children to take after them, and also become stupid. Its not genetics, its just kids and babies take after the people they're around most. And if most of them are stupid people, then... yeah.

Kids do not entirely turn out exactly like the one/two people they're around most, and most kids spend substantial amounts of time in school actively being taught and influenced by people who are not their parents. Psychology is itself an extremely "soft" science and is open to speculation and interpretation, but I've never heard of "kids will resemble their parents" ever. Influenced by? Yes. I can think of several people I know who actively try not to be like their parents, because of their parents influence.

I can't help but associate the statement of "stupid people are reproducing more" with a thinly veiled racial sentiment.