Are We Getting Smarter Or Stupider?

[anthony]

I am having a "blah" day today, could feel the way coming over, so I know to chill and take it easy... out come the movies, the pillow and a DVD day, I like to call it.

So I watched Saving Private Ryan first, followed by Forrest Gump second. The humility displayed mimicking 30 & 40 years ago compared today, the WWW, the technology, the stress, etc etc... I really do just wonder, have we gotten so smart technologically, that we're stupider in the sense of being a human being!

Contact between people is a lost art, we are stressed driving in traffic to get somewhere, mobile phones and things beeping at us constantly, sitting in front of computers.... I wonder if we actually have more wrong now than right.

I'm only 39, so I remember well without the www and the mobile phone revolution, and it was nicer.

Maybe just thinking too much, who knows. Blah day, thinking tends to happen on those days, as I spend less time focused on others problems or project.

What do you think?

 

[ronin47]

Personally I don't spend much time thinking about the "good old days" and how things used to be because truly we can't turn back the clock. A history teacher once told me that he never understood people who reminisce so much about the past because in truth there was just as much bad in said "good old days" as there is today, people just seem to only remember the good stuff for some reason. Maybe people are developing intellectually as a whole, maybe we're degenerating. Though, by the way, social intelligence and academic (for lack of a better word) intelligence are not the same thing. But then again, could you define intelligence? Give me a definition for smart and then I will tell you if people are getting smarter or stupider.

 

[Cheshire]

On my more pessimistic days I think the disconnection and the lack of human interaction is just another means of governmental control.. the less "real" contact we have with people, the more numbed our response become to things, the more we can distance ourselves from events, and therefore the less we care about all the bad stuff that goes on in the world - or maybe we just feel more like there's nothing we can do about it.

That aside, for me personally, I've always been a bit of a hermit. Even before my current PTSD issues I've never overly enjoyed interacting with people in person as I always feel awkward and uncertain, but online? I have no problem. I feel more myself when I can talk to people online, simply because I don't feel like they're looking at me and judging me, and in feeling more myself I feel more connected and essentially more human because of it.

I generally agree though, technology and the abundance of means to communicate with people without actually being in physical contact or proximity with them has dulled us in so many ways.

 

[Nicolette]

I think society is becoming less "personable" as in less tolerant of people and expecting the correct interpretation through more of the written word in what they deem to be the act of being more "sociable". I don't think it's intelligence that is the problem - it is technology as we think by sending a message or posting on a website we are communicating quicker and definitely to more people, however the interaction of human communication with gestures, expressions and feeling are lost.

I miss just sitting and talking to someone face to face but yet life is so hectic and we spread ourselves too thin trying to "do it all".

 

[anni]

I don't know. I do think there's something in this. It's not the fond memories of this 53 year old making me wistful for the 'good old days' when I say that current generations are not as encouraged as previous ones to be self-reliant and capable. Sure, there were things which sucked then-disease was much less controlled across the board, travel and communication primitive compared to what's available currently- tons of positives in life in 2011. But. I can see where those 2 movies would depress one. There are enough exceptions that I'm sure I'll hear about it by saying this but if you take the typical teenager these days, say a boy ( as opposed to one raised in the eras of these movies ) , put them side by side with the typical teen from the 50's and 60' or even the 70's, and you'll see a vast difference. One can change a tire, work on a car engine, has a list of chores in the home, a working knowledge of tools and how to use them, an after school job, free time spent outside, and a habitual respect for their parents and teachers-self reliant and capable. The other doesn't and isn't as much. They're just not as a whole as capable, as hands-on equipped, it seems to me, however well versed they may be with technology-admittedly 'the way of the future'. This isn't an insult, it just seems to be the way it is. I'm not a sociologist but yes, there does seem to be a noticable difference which isn't a positive one if the result is generations each less well equipped to navigate the world in which they live than the last one. Surely there is a way to meld both into one capable, successful citizen of this century.

 

[KP the nut]

I am having a "blah" day today, could feel the way coming over, so I know to chill and take it easy... out come the movies, the pillow and a DVD day, I like to call it.

Also having one of those days. I feel as if I've had my stuffing removed - so, different movies and a pillow

 

[Tinyflame]

I think we've never been more connected electronically and less 'humanly': people will text and e-mail but not say 'hi' when they pass each other in the morning, let alone get to the heart of matters.

Even 'Forrest Gump", always never liked that movie (no offence intended!) in so far as they always seem to infer that to be 'kind' you have to be somehow 'slow' or 'naive'. Yet the kindest people I've met have been through so much, like the people here!

I am however thankful for the technology AND kindness that makes 'connecting' in a place like here possible.

I think a lot of 'true connecting' depends on how much each person chooses to reveal, on how much they take a risk to 'care' or be vulnerable, in a way. And some people just connect better with others, but that's the beauty of it- everyone is unique.

'Rest', Anthony. And thanks for the 'mood emoticons', especially :)

 

[KP the nut]

I now work (well, whilst I still have a job) in a community leader type role. I worked with people on a daily basis, helping them to break down barriers to education, employment and social opportunities.

I strongly believe it is easy to not interact, to constantly use technology and it is down to individuals to slow down. To look at our enviroments and communities and to try and make it better. We are all quick to criticise, to tell authorities, councils etc what is wrong. But we need to be community activists, to get involved in helping people, to care about where we live.

Values are changing and not all for the good. Where is the respect for one another? I am lucky I live in a quiet backwater where people still speak to one another and are prepared to help one another.

I don't think technology is all to blame. Parents not raising children with values, expecting schools and the state to raise them instead. Yes, there are good parents who teach respect and values with love - of course, I am an amazing Mom but we are in the minority.

Oh I could go off and have a soapbox moment, it must be the 'blah day' as Anthony says. I don't usually debate.

 

[ronin47]

On the flip side though, it wasn't that long ago that forums like these would not be possible. In that sense there would actually be less community and dialogue between people.

 

[Brontie]

I don’t know about pre-comp being nicer but it certainly cost me a small fortune in books. I’ve always been information hungry. I love the WWW and my computer is probably the only thing I would rush out to replace if anything happened to it. I think I could live without my phone. I already live without TV and news papers.

 

[intothelight]

Longing for a front porch, so I can sit and chat with friends in person. People just don't have time any more.

Life is just too busy now.

 

[Abbi]

Tech is a double edged sword. Isn't that always true. I mean when man gained control of fire, what an improvement till he burnt his cave out. :p

So many benefits but this is my pet peeve...with so much technology: email, pagers, texting, cell phones, IM - there is the expectation in many that people are "on" 24/7. Too much "contact" so little humanity.

You cant really get a day away from it all without too much effort or guilt.