Why Everyone Is So Dumb Nowadays

Prometheus 6 wrote an interesting post back in April on intelligence. He followed it up a few days ago with a podcast(?) on the subject. Pro seems to have a problem with the anti-intelligence streak which is sweeping the planet. As a person who has been called, among other things, an anti-intellectual by folks who think it's important to read the NYT everyday, I read the post and listened to the podcast with interest.

First, I think that he's using the wrong word. In my view, there isn't an anti-intelligence movement going on. I think the real problem is the lack of knowledge sweeping the fucking planet.

Knowledge is the awareness and understanding of facts, truths or information gained in the form of experience or learning. Knowledge is an appreciation of the possession of interconnected details which, in isolation, are of lesser value.

Intelligence is a general mental capability that involves the ability to reason, plan, solve problems, think abstractly, comprehend ideas and language, and learn. In psychology, the study of intelligence is related to the study of personality.

Of course the words are used practically interchangeably so I'm just nit-picking.

But I think his theory is wrong. This is what he thinks is the reason for anti-intellectualism:

The problem, you see, is that we humans want predictability. We want a nice, stable set of rules to operate under. But intelligence screw up any chance of stability. Intelligence changes the ground on which operations take place. And we're all past masters of ignoring the observations of other in order to maintain our stable set of rules but it's hard when the source of the new is internal.

Nah Bro'. Here's what's really happening.

 

The reason for the rise in so-called anti-intellectualism is because that the intelligentsia has failed us.
They say stupid things all the time. Smart motherfuckers, in general, are out of touch with the streets. With what is really going on and what's really important to the average Joe.

What's the point of being intelligent? Everyone has access to the same sources. Everyone can read the same books, view the same websites,  Why do you think no who matters cares about the New York Times and other old media? Because the same noise is everywhere.

Pro is not seeing people getting dumber. You are seeing intelligence becoming a commodity. It's no where near as valuable as it once was. So people are treating it exactly what's it worth. Not much. It's there. I'll grab it when I need it but first let me check out that 'Ghetto Fights' video.

Now I could go on into what happens after what comes next. How it will change the values and mores of the culture. How it will make gurus more important than experts. Singers more important than record companies. And usher in a society where value isn't placed on University Degrees but creativity. But that would be dumb.

Comments

[Rich]

Well, since you've called out my blog, let me respond. You mention that there's no point in being intelligent because everyone has access to the same information. I have to disagree- the point of intelligence is the ability to sift through most of the crap the mainstream media puts out there and find the real story between the lines. In my opinion, the real reason that people are "so dumb nowadays" is beacuse the media pawns off crap like Scott Peterson and the runaway bride as news. I agree with you to some extent that the intelligencia has failed America by generally being too snobish and wonkish, but I am disappointed that you chose to lump my blog with the source of the problem- the whole mission of my blog was to have a policy discussion for regular people who are interested in policy/politics but without all the pretention of most think tanks today. Maybe by reading my blog, I seem like some kind of dork, but I'm just a regular dude who likes to get drunk at Yankee games and get into fights. Secondly, despite the distasteful personal characteristics of those who make up the intelligencia, without them, the whole country would be screwed. After all, you run a blog, which would be totally impossible without an army of losers somewhere crunching numbers. The same applies to any time you've ever recieved health care, or driven a car. So basically, please reconsider some of your positions- there's nothing wrong with people persuing what they're interested in.

[PrinceC]

Rich,
You missed some of the point of my post. I was using your blog as an example of the future. Please read the last paragraph again. I did not include your site in the part where I was talking about the intelligensia. I never found your site snobbish. It is written for regular folks unlike the link I used where I put down the intelligensia.

What I guess I didn't make clear is that if intellegence/knowledge are just commodities then they have very little value in society. That's why everyone seems dumb. Because we all know the same shit. We all have the same "intelligence".

When I got to the last paragraph I was trying to show what that meant. Things like your blog. Bands telling record companies what to do, etc. I see blogs like yours as the fucking future.

Sorry if that offends you.

[Rich]

Hey Prince C,

Sorry about the misunderstanding- I didn't read your tone properly. Now I see your point, and of course, I totally agree. I think the blog phenominon was born because to fill gaps in the mainstream media, because the intelligencia has failed us. I shouldn't have jumped the gun- I can be a little hotheaded sometimes (hence the drunken baseball fights).
My apologies again, keep up the good work,

Rich

[P6]

I hear what you're saying, and I agree there's a shortage of knowlege. But when I wrote I was talking specifically about intellect, exactly as you've defined it.