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Dumb and dumber

TheCock

Legend Member
Points
0
Do you think society is dumbing down thanks to technology and lifestyle?

example spell check, loosing the ability to spell because a computer does it for you.
 
G

Gentleman

Definitely, some people can't even drive down a road without a navman. They can't even read a map or a road sign. Lots of people can't spell correctly when they have to write with a pen. Same goes for calculations, always have their phone to help them.
 

Mrs Langtrees

Owner & Creator
Foundation Member
Points
959
we absorb about 2000 times more information than our counterparts 40 years ago so I guess we can't be dumber are we any happier I think is the important question.
 
A

Alecia the Foxx

To the contrary - I think those of us who overcame our technophobia (as I had to do) increased our productivity. And that is definitely not "dumb."
 
C

Contrarian

It's easy to confuse access to knowledge or having knowledge as someone being dumb or otherwise. I have to agree with the OP - many techonological things have reduced the cognitive and intellectual abilities for the brain to work. Like any muscle, the brain needs to be worked. That's ONE of the reasons why so many elderly people get the onset of dementia after retiring.

Many people in society now are innumerate, illiterate and are rapidly becoming incapable of simple or independent decisions without being led. Studies have shown that commercial tv programmes have the language of a 12 year old. And that's why intelligent people get bored with TV as a form of entertainment - and the reverse happens too - commercial TV then dulls or dumbs down people.

I know one family, when the internet first become a huge phenomena about 15 years ago here, who bought their teenager a PC for Christmas. They hardly saw her after that - she was always in her room chatting or mindlessly surfing the net. So many adults and teenagers now are incapable of social intercourse due to online gaming. They become adrenaline addicts, break into shops for online games and are devoid of showing genuine emotion, interacting with others and social intercourse in general.

If you can't read properly because all thinking is done for you then how will you read an instruction booklet to operate machinery to using a microwave. Remember, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. And that's why so many people believe "natural french" is safe or still indulge in unsafe sex.

Yes, technology when used well is good and doesn't dumb you down. The problem is when you allow it to use you. And therein lies the rub.
 

svengali

Foundation Member
Points
3
Yep!! Contrarian, you have hit the nail on the head.

Technology does not make people lazy or silly, it just makes it easier for them to get that way if they are so inclined.
 

homer

Doh!
Legend Member
Points
0
Life is easier with technology, soon using the brain is a thing of the past. We'll all evolve back into amoebas again, simple shapeless unicellular organism.
 

Happy2

Legend Member
Points
22
I wa s very impressed with my nephew (White lie Great Nephew) He got in touch to tell me he had played a full game of AFL and Hockey the previous night When I asked him which teams he played for it was Essendon & the Toronto Raptors Good ol playstation

When your to interested in technology to be a kid I find it sad As fourpot said it's to easy to be sedentary
And Spellcheck is not so great. You type in spellcheck and it tells you your wrong Nor can it spell Langtrees
 
J

JasRob

yup were totally dependent with the tech nowadays..can't even add small numbers without using calculator..
 

harmonious

Silver Member
Points
0
degredation in average intelligence is probably due to the government continuing to plunge our country into socialism eliminating the incentive to study and strive for excellence. why commit three plus years to tertiary education anymore? in what instances (the normal instances, disregard exceptions) does it pay to be a highly educated worker over an unskilled mining worker or menial worker on wealth redistribution hand outs.

the message is pretty clear. be uneducated, dont work too hard, the government will look after you. lets import all our technology and innovation. lets have nothing to be patriotic or proud about other than sports.

/rant
 
C

Contrarian

But surely harmonious, people were dumbed down way before the so called plunge into socialism? Many people were not above average intelligence and sliding down rapidly even during the times our country plunged into capitalism?
 
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