Poll: Are the children of this generation less intelligent than us?

[Mookie_Magnus]

Okay, This happened five minutes ago.

I was searching through the forums on here and my 12-yr-old younger brother was on the floor, on his laptop, playing Halo. As he was closing it up, because we're about to go out and get some food, he asked me... and I'm not making this shit up...

'Micah(my real name), does "H" come before "O"?'

I just sat there and looked at him for a second. I said: "Uh.. Yeah."
Then he said: "No, not necessarily."
And then I had to say the alphabet for him and emphasize 'H' and 'O' as I said them.. and then he said "Oh yeah, duh. I just didn't want to say the alphabet."

It astonished me enough to post about it here... And My little brother is 'smart' He's even in classes in grade levels higher than he is.(He's in 6th grade and takes 7th and 8th grade classes)

I ask you Escapists... what has happened, and do you have any similar stories to tell?

 

[Yegargeburble]

Seems to be a bit of a one-sided poll, but yes, yes they are.

 

[APPCRASH]

By the quality of this poll, I would say yes.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

With technology, no.

With entertainment, no.

With stuff that does matter, yes.

 

[JoshasorousRex]

Well not really. But I'm not sure what you mean because it says (no text)

I don't think this is true and why is there only Yes and God Yes?? Maybe it's because you hit enter by accident

 

[ace_of_something]

OP this post is a testament to how true that is.

 

[Kogarian]

It'd be really ironic if you were from the older generation. What with not even creating the poll right and all.

But no, they're not. Same basic species. If anything, they're smarter, as the information age has seen expanded the knowlege basis. Besides, I don't think the current 'young' generation started any world wars, cold wars, et cetera. So that at least makes them better until their leaders screw it up.

 

[weeman3000]

I'm voting on a 'poll' which has two identical answers, so yes... this generation is screwed

Good job in proving a point =)

 

[Vault boy Eddie]

Judging by the new kids coming into my university, id say a resounding eff yes.

 

[RebelRising]

They have more access to knowledge, and are more conditioned for abstract thinking, but it will take a lot of work to filter it out and dispose of the garbage that has infested their minds.

I blame pop culture and standardized testing.

 

[cainx10a]

Nope.

In fact, they have to absorb way more information than the older generations had to, but even if the sources of said information, which is readily available, all require very little know-how to work with (Google, Wikipedia, IT), it also depends on how interested the children are to access them.

I don't believe children are becoming less and less intelligent, but the ease of access are surely making them lazier. From past experience as a college student, one of the major annoyance that Teachers now have when dealing with the way Students conduct research, is their over-reliance on IT, and online sources. Ease of access, and the luxuries in the 21st century all play a role in turning children into "spoiled brats", but it won't take away their capacity to absorb knowledge. But then again, there is the fact that lack of intelligence correlate with Poverty. (As in, proper schooling in the long run)

Finally, FIX YOUR DAMN POLL.

 

[JMeganSnow]

Hah, I like this poll.

I don't think the kids of this generation (of course, which generation is "this" one, exactly?) are less intelligent. I think they have no clue how to think. But judging from the number of 40+ people who cannot figure out how to swipe their own credit card at KMart, they're not any *dumber* than any of the rest of the population.

 

[Beffudled Sheep]

They have more access to knowledge, and are more conditioned for abstract thinking, but it will take a lot of work to filter it out and dispose of the garbage that has infested their minds.

I blame pop culture and standardized testing.

I also blame pop culture and standardized testing. I voted yes because I can't not vote and you only had two options.

Edit: Oh now I see. I had a 15 year old ask me where babies came from. I had a 16 year old not know why sex exists, and I had a 14 year old not know why women have breasts.

 

[chefassassin2]

I don't think the chi;ldren of the current generation are neccessarily less intelligent. I think that they are just as smart as anyone else, but socially, yes they are. I'm only 29, working at a college campus, and the only people I have conversations with are the other people my age or older. The current students are extremely bright when it comes to technology, but can't even hold a conversation without answering texts, their phones, or even taking both earbuds out of their ears. Drives me insane.

 

[theSovietConnection]

They are getting dumber, I was in my old high school and some random girl who I later found out was in grade 10 thought I was Muslim because of my goatee

 

[Baneat]

NO, every generation does this, it's not like evolution made them stupid in a single generation! It would take hundreds of years for any noticeable effect. You don't realise how dumb you were BECAUSE YOU WERE THAT DUMB!

 

[Nova Tendril]

Don't judge the intelligence of young children. I did many stupid things back when I was that age that made me look like a bloody idiot. Of course that's hardly a representation of how I behave now.

Lighten up, this generation is not dumber. They are just different from previous generations (as all generations are).

 

[Mizaki]

So there's two threads supporting this ridiculous notion? Sigh.

 

[Gitsnik]

It'd be really ironic if you were from the older generation. What with not even creating the poll right and all.

But no, they're not. Same basic species. If anything, they're smarter, as the information age has seen expanded the knowlege basis. Besides, I don't think the current 'young' generation started any world wars, cold wars, et cetera. So that at least makes them better until their leaders screw it up.

They war on the internet, attacking power grids and spy networks and using bot nets and crap like that.

The internet has gone the way of the mafia - us old people (or in my case - trained under the old people) are careful, we show respect and only attack where and when necessary. The new kids just blow shit up because they think it's cool or that someone slighted them.

I'm not voting though, I think most people older than me are idiots too