Are we becoming less intelligent?

Sitting in my classes yesterday, I realized just how unintelligent we as Americans are becoming. I'm not referring to a lack of academic knowledge (issue as that may be) but the simple lack of common sense. The other day, I watched someone burn out of the school parking lot, right in front of a conveniently placed sheriff's deputy. I asked myself, "did he not notice the 'Fayette County Sheriff' writing on the side of the long brown cruiser?" It's not just we callow youth either. Most fraud schemes rely on people consistently believing (against all common knowledge) that they can get something for nothing. In short, you can't win the Spanish national lottery if you can't find Spain on a map. But, human nature as it is, billions of dollars flow out of the country to Nigeria and places farther afield. I can understand if someone were truly cheated blind, such as if they bought a car off of eBay and no such car ever existed, but to think that you could send someone thousands of dollars in a country you never knew existed and have them repay you tenfold is absurd.

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Submitted by Nitpickers on Wed, 11/14/2007 - 11:11am.

I hardly see how humans could become less intelligent over time, assuming the definition of intelligence is the ability to learn quickly.
Our brains currently retain much more information, by necessity, than they ever have.
Common sense and how to do many old skills have nearly disappeared, but they are hardly necessary for survival anymore.
I can use hand tools expertly, I can farm is necessary, I can even hunt down food if necessary, I can "fix" things not requiring special tools. Many can not today--but that doesn't make them unintelligent. We are pretty much satisfied today if we can teach them just what they need to know for the task at hand.
Those who do stupid things in spite of their intelligence have other problems, and they are now more obvious due to the quantity of us existing ---three hundred million here as opposed to one hundred million sixty years ago.
Also, the ability to learn by mass media and electronics now has almost limitless ability to teach some things. Not common sense however.

Submitted by GA Red Bug on Thu, 11/15/2007 - 12:40pm.

A specie can change in any direction, Growth is the best case scenairo, but not a law of nature. Many things impact ... environment and mate choice being greatest, What are your ideals do you aspire to, seek out; what poisons, diseases, obsticles does the human species have to adapt to as it evolves?

Submitted by GA Red Bug on Thu, 11/15/2007 - 12:35pm.

A specie can change in any direction, Growth is the best case scenairo, but not a law of nature. Many things impact ... environment and mate choice being greatest, What are your ideals, what poisons, diseases, obsticals does the human species have to adapt to as it evolves?

TonyF's picture
Submitted by TonyF on Wed, 11/14/2007 - 7:28am.

"Idiocracy"? The basic premise, scary but at the same time thought provoking, is the "dumbing-down" of the world. This is pure ficticious speculation in a humorous vein but, if you see the flic, you might say "hmmmmmm". Take a look and you'll see what I mean.

O wad some Power the giftie gie us,To see oursels as ithers see us!
(R. Burns)
If we could see ourselves as others see us, we would vanish on the spot.
(E. M. Cioran)


muddle's picture
Submitted by muddle on Wed, 11/14/2007 - 11:21am.

Is the premise of the movie that the intelligent people in the society practice effective birth control but the dumb people keep having babies? So, over time, the "stupid gene" is prevalent?

Someone was telling me about this movie. Sounds funny.


TonyF's picture
Submitted by TonyF on Wed, 11/14/2007 - 12:25pm.

It's actually fairly funny, if you don't consider the possibilities.
then it becomes a horror flic. You watch it and you'll see what I mean. "It could happen" (It may be happening as we speak) The writing was above par, the characters speak like the majority of our bloggers write. Tell me that aint scary!

O wad some Power the giftie gie us,To see oursels as ithers see us!
(R. Burns)
If we could see ourselves as others see us, we would vanish on the spot.
(E. M. Cioran)


muddle's picture
Submitted by muddle on Thu, 11/15/2007 - 9:29am.

Natural selection--or perhaps an unconscious artificial selection--at work.

Carl Sagan related the story of the Heike--or "Samurai"--crabs. The backs of these critters display a series of bumps and creases that, taken together, strongly resemble the scowling face of a samurai. It seems that, long ago, Japanese fishermen had noticed that, every once in a while, a netted crab would vaguely resemble a samurai warrior. A superstition arose: when you catch one of these, toss it back for good luck. Looking like a samurai thus had reproductive advantage. So there was an unconscious but relentless selection pressure placed upon this species so that now, a thousand years later, the crabs commonly and strongly bear this resemblance.

Thought experiment:

Suppose that, due to some cultural quirk, women in a society become enamored with Paul McCartney. In this case, guys who bear a resemblance to Paul thus have an advantage in sexual selection--success in finding a mate. Over a period of many generations, will everyone look like Paul McCartney? Eye-wink


AF A-10's picture
Submitted by AF A-10 on Wed, 11/14/2007 - 1:16pm.

I loved the way they replaced water with "better stuff." And the court room scene and the charges against the main character were hillarious! "messin" up stuff. Welcome to Costco. I love you.

Kevin "Hack" King


TonyF's picture
Submitted by TonyF on Wed, 11/14/2007 - 1:32pm.

Can't you just see the world heading that way? What with internet english, online schools, and how about "Fudruckers"? It is a shame that what is acceptable now, was absolutely taboo 30 years ago. How about a Starbucks, sometime Hack? I'll buy.

O wad some Power the giftie gie us,To see oursels as ithers see us!
(R. Burns)
If we could see ourselves as others see us, we would vanish on the spot.
(E. M. Cioran)


AF A-10's picture
Submitted by AF A-10 on Wed, 11/14/2007 - 2:24pm.

Well, anytime I'm in Ga. I'll be around Friday mid-morning and possibly Sunday. I'm within striking distance of all of them: Avenue, HWY 54 by Publix in PTC, HW 85 south of Fayetteville. U name it.

Kevin "Hack" King


TonyF's picture
Submitted by TonyF on Thu, 11/15/2007 - 8:57am.

I'll be at the 85s store at 5:20 am Friday as I am M-F every week. Set the alarm and come on in. Sounds like a plan.
p.s. I'll be wearing blue.

O wad some Power the giftie gie us,To see oursels as ithers see us!
(R. Burns)
If we could see ourselves as others see us, we would vanish on the spot.
(E. M. Cioran)


hutch866's picture
Submitted by hutch866 on Wed, 11/14/2007 - 2:32pm.

Make it 85 s. of Fayetteville so I can go too.

I yam what I yam...Popeye


AF A-10's picture
Submitted by AF A-10 on Wed, 11/14/2007 - 2:35pm.

But our boys put up as good a fight as any other school did with you bruisers. What a season eh?? My son's 9th grade teem was 6 and 1. not too shabby.

Kevin "Hack" King

ps: How 'bout High noon?? friday at GA 85 starbuckey's


hutch866's picture
Submitted by hutch866 on Wed, 11/14/2007 - 9:29pm.

What you doing Freiday at noon, meet us at Starbucks on 85.

I yam what I yam...Popeye


Git Real's picture
Submitted by Git Real on Wed, 11/14/2007 - 9:56pm.

I can't compromise my cover. E-mail me and arrange the next one off of the blogs and I'll try to play. I've got a bounty out on my head. Shocked

**** GIT REAL TOUGH ON CRIME ****

"That man was Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Scott Ballard".

CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE STORY


hutch866's picture
Submitted by hutch866 on Wed, 11/14/2007 - 2:38pm.

Hell of a season so far, sounds good to me hey Tug, can you make it?

I yam what I yam...Popeye


AF A-10's picture
Submitted by AF A-10 on Wed, 11/14/2007 - 2:42pm.

Starbuck's, GA Hwy 85, 12:00 noon, friday 16th November with two to three very well-behaved gentlemen and possibly a wife or two? Are you in? PLEASSSEEEE????

Kevin "Hack" King


Emmyjune's picture
Submitted by Emmyjune on Wed, 11/14/2007 - 3:36pm.

Care to have a lady join?... (Other than the wives...) I'll ride with Tony. Eye-wink

**Become a Card-Carrying Member!**


AF A-10's picture
Submitted by AF A-10 on Wed, 11/14/2007 - 7:23pm.

I fear that we may spark a monthly event though. We must proceed with caution because just as Cyclist warns of the addictive nature of blogging, all bets are off when cafeine is added! Hope to see you there!

Kevin "Hack" King

ps: clicked on the link. I like it! that Robert Underwood is a scary looking character though.


Submitted by Nitpickers on Wed, 11/14/2007 - 11:40am.

I suppose we should eliminate dumbos as they are born to salvage the very brightest as breeders! Dumb people have no rights.
Hitler tried to start such a premise but fell on hard times.
Maybe the cloning people can go in that direction?
I would love to live only with a bunch of bright people! Man that would be neato!
Would be hard though on people with just PhDs, when some would have Uber PhDs. They wouldn't get to play together, I suppose?
The PhDs would probably have to do what manual labor was needed, wouldn't they? Who would get the best food and most money to spend?
I look forward to it.

Emily Baldwin's picture
Submitted by Emily Baldwin on Tue, 11/13/2007 - 11:25pm.

Hey tennfan,

I'd be interested to chat with you about doing a little writing for the paper, perhaps, if you are interested. I've been reading your posts and I am impressed with your writing as well as your intelligent discourse. I think the community would be keen to read a youth perspective. If this is something you might be interested in doing, send me an email at ebaldwin@thecitizen.com.

Hey, I'll even overlook your misguided allegiance Smiling

Go Dawgs!


Submitted by skyspy on Wed, 11/14/2007 - 7:57am.

Perfect choice.

Submitted by skyspy on Tue, 11/13/2007 - 10:00pm.

I get one of those e-mails every other day. I wonder if they only target Americans? It has been in the news for a couple of years and people still fall for it.

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