The intelligence of the human race

[MaltaElvoret]

At work today, I had a large group of people walk through the door. They asked me what the best deal we had was and I told them. They then asked for what the regular price was, which I told them. So you have some context, I work at a bowling center. The special was 3 hours for $15, regular was $5 per game and $4 for shoes. The group had to stop and think about it. They literally had to stop for at least 10 minutes to figure out what was the better deal. I wouldn't mind so much if they had moved out of the way, but no. Instead they stood there like cows blocking the road for others.

Is it just me, or is the intelligence of the human race slowly declining? Maybe its just an American thing, but this is happening on a daily basis. Thank you for letting me rant. I would also like to hear some other experiences like this.

 

[FalloutJack]

Nah nah nah... You can't use over-arching terms on the whole human race. It's better say that the percentage that was already filled with 'Duh-heads' is getting worse. That's at least more accurate.

 

[Dags90]

Wait, people still bowl? Or just nerds?

I'm pretty sure most metrics have measured the average intelligence to be increasing, though IQ testing has always been contentious.

 

[Socks and Shoes]

Oh god, another one of these threads...

 

[legion431]

I think the younger generations are becoming stupider because their influenced by many things like poorly written TV shows and commercialism. So they will grow up, they'll breed a generation of half wits and the cycle will continue.

 

[Bezz_Ad]

I work at a customer service for a mobile company, actually from the US. So yeah, I can relate. Maaan, why can't people read bills...

 

[SloshedUberman]

I don't think that their is a larger percentage of dumb people. However, the population is increasing, so their is more dumb people. And you tend to see them in groups, because the smart people avoid the annoying ones that make it blindingly obvious.

 

[meticadpa]

IQ is actually increasing on average every year, believe it or not.

But that comes with standard of living being higher, amongst other things.

 

[Korusho]

It really doesn't mean we are in decline, we just have a higher concentration of population each year than we do the previous. Idiots stand out more than they used to.

 

[Janktrio]

Really? People actually think that we're getting stupider these days? Guys, the average IQ has increased 24 points from 1914. Also, the average IQ has stayed at about 100 for a long time. Meaning that IQ scores are constantly getting recalculated differently in order to keep the average IQ at 100 while education gets better and better. People are smarter these days, not dumber. If you got 100 IQ on a test 50 years ago you might be considered slightly mentally challenged now. http://www.cracked.com/article_18983_5-complaints-about-modern-life-that-are-statistically-b.s..html

 

[Socks and Shoes]

Idiots stand out more than they used to.

HAHA! Nice one, that made my laugh. XD

 

[MaltaElvoret]

Maybe I just notice the dumb people more often because they are the ones that cause problems. The smart ones just disappear into the crowd.

 

[Super Toast]

Oh god, another one of these threads...

This, oh so much. The average IQ score has only increased with time.

 

[Gennadios]

Is it just me, or is the intelligence of the human race slowly declining?

No, but civilization is slowly stratifying. You may have noticed people talking about widening gaps between rich and poor and all that s***.

Basically, people like to congregate with those of their own intelligence level, less effort to fit in, and less boring conversation that way. You got the pleasure of dealing with a bracket somewhat below yours.

Kind of comes with the territory of being in customer service unfortunately, you don't choose who your customers are or who you help, so you see all.

 

[Tomo Stryker]

But its those people that make you stop and wonder, "What the hell is wrong with humanity?". That is what gets me, but its the idiots that just make you hate to be human.

 

[Socks and Shoes]

widening gaps between rich and poor

Which are obviously much greater than the gaps between the rich and poor as of the 1800's.

 

[Socks and Shoes]

but its the idiots that just make you hate to be human.

Really? Because for me it's the arrogant "intellectuals" who look down on such people.