Dumb Down
Has the advancement of technology contributed to the decrease of intellect or in other words, are you “dumber” than you were 10 years ago because of spell check?
What prompts my question is a book I’m reading, okay skimming, entitled Dumbing Down. The authors have concluded that:
National intelligence is plummeting and our society is essentially a consumer’s society where leisure time is used, no longer for self-perfection or acquisition of more social status, but for more consumption and more entertainment.
The results? We have been dumb downed and the effects can be seen in every aspect of our lives, but not limited to, such as in education, politics, journalism, literature, film and religion.
From my every other chapter understanding of this book we are a people no longer challenged or required to think. We don’t read and we live in a simple, user-friendly, push button society. We spend an exhaustible amount of time engaging in or watching asinine, bizarre and third rate entertainment while being spoon fed deficient information.
I thought the book was a little harsh, but it did communicate some valid points.
Has spell check ruined my life? You’re darn right it has, I can’t spell worth a darn anymore and I refuse to learn another phone number when I can just program it into my phone. Whose fault is it? Mine. We all have to assume personal responsibility when it comes to the choices we make and how we choose to spend our time. If we are “dumb” as a result, we have no one to blame, but ourselves. Maybe.
Are being duped by “some deliberate commercial strategy, an active procedure with goals of its own rather than a passive experience?” What do you think?
What most people don’t seem to realize is that there is just as much money to be made out of the wreckage of a civilization as from the upbuilding of one. Rhett Butler
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My name is Valerie aka Natural and I will be writing about whatever is on my mind. I love teaching, dialogue, sharing and making people laugh. I never know what I'll share here but this is me, Thinking Out Loud.
I now have to stop and think sometimes quite hard.. when I have to speel something or add or subtract…I think it’s true..
I think our skill set has changed, that’s for sure. I certainly don’t buy into a romanticized view of the past where everyone was smart and literate and watched challenging films and read intellectual books. (If the book has good evidence otherwise, I’d love to know!) Seriously, low culture has always been prevalent–that’s nothing new.
Regardless, you’ve got a great point in that we are responsible for how we spend our time. I think a healthy mix of challenging materials and silly, escapist fluff is ideal. (I love me some MXC!)
Saras last blog post..Your Life Is a Sculpture. Keep Chipping Away.
I concur sandy too easy maybe that’s helping alzeimers along??
I personally have more time to daydream, to spend time on tasks that I want done instead of tasks that need to be done. I have more time to spend on understanding things about life I always wondered about.
I certainly don’t feel dumber, I feel much smarter, both intellectually and spiritually.
Maybe we just know less about more subjects now, whereas before people knew more about less subjects. You know, the brain is a muscle, and if you don’t use it you lose it. So I try doing math in my head just to make sure that I still “have it”, instead of punching the numbers into my calculator right away.
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I agree with Sara: not necessarily dumber, but there’s been a change in skills b/c of technology. People today are faster, and are exposed to more information so are more knowledgeable than past generations. It’s a shallower type of knowledge for sure, but it covers more areas.
vereds last blog post..Are Bloggers Allowed To Have A Life?
You raised valid points and I think the problem of being ‘dumber’ that human being stop about wondering and pondering or in other words processing what he/she recives from the world arround.
Hichams last blog post..Grow Up!
Maybe some people are getting sharper and some are getting dumber. I know that the development of technology has enabled me to pursue things that have brought me more aliveness. For example I would never have written my books if it wasn’t for computers (and the internet) - I would NEVER have typed them.
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I haven’t succumbed to the dumbing down effect. Actually I work very hard against it in many ways. I don’t believe in spell check & never use it. I rely on either my brain or a physical dictionary.
Amerika’s being dumbed down at a frightening rate, there’s no doubt about that. As for an insidious plot, it might not be a conscious thing, but it’s happening all the same. Marketing aims at the lowest common denominator–unfortunately the sheeple seem willing to follow them down, as low as they want to go.
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Hi Natural,
I don’t feel dumber, but I do think we could be creating a society of dumber people by what we provide. With schools allowing calculators and spell checkers for homework, it makes me wonder if the children are learning.
Like Marelisa, I like to do math in my head. I also pride myself on remembering telephone numbers, and having a blog has made me learn even more, so that’s been a good thing. I like to keep exercising the brain.
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I agree to an extent. I could see where spell checker could make us dumb, but I’m such a spelling nazi (though my blog doesn’t reflect it) that I think its made me a better speller. As far as feeding our brain trivial information be it from TV, the internet, or magazine I agree with your thought of maybe that blame falls on ourselves. People can either watch reality programming or they can read Wikipedia for an hour. The choice is ours and ours alone.
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I think in general your book is probably right. I see it in the way kids are taught today - not to think but to regurgitate facts for a test. But I also agree with you - it’s our personal responsibility.
Andreas last blog post..Beach Day
When you look at all of the information we have to process in today’s society, I think we have to be judged on somewhat different standards than previous generations. Just look at the news- in no other time were we people so connected to events that happen a country or even a world away. Or look at our popular culture to see how diverse we are. That’s not an excuse for ignorance, though. I just wish we could still agree on the core liberal arts education so we at least have the same base from which to start. I think it was better when we all learned the “classics” instead of doing a broad literature survey to touch every socioeconomic base.
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Me too Robert, once I had to think which way the circle went when writing the letter b. Talk about a senior moment.
Sara, a healthy mix of challenging materials and yes silly stuff is great. The authors just didn’t see that mix but a decline.
Sandy, I never thought about that, good point. The brain needs to be exercised and challenged.
Mamaflo, I have my senior moments.
Marelisa good way of looking at it. I still only add and subtract. Mostly subtract. I used to do calculations just for the heck of it, now I outsource 2nd grade homework. :/
Vered, there is a change in skill, some things are more efficient because of technology. no complaints here. some things are lost too.
hicham, it’s possible. i guess it becomes easy to ’stop thinking’ when you can push a button and get the same results.
robin, really? i started out writing on paper, but the computer has made things easier. i still don’t have any books yet. what’s up with that? Ellen Degeneres, one of my favorite comedians, wrote her first book in longhand. Someone had to type it. JK Rowlings still writes on paper, right?
Lana, I just may be rolling in it, sometimes. I’m on the fence about dumbing down. I see a decline and I see progress. I just want to know how come little Johnny doesn’t read well. I have a draft post on ways marketing manipulates the mind that I need to finish, you’re right about that!!!
Barbara, I feel different and then I got to thinking when did I ever become smart enough to even feel dumb. I used to know a lot more phone numbers and even zip codes (weird), now, I do a Yahoo search or scroll my contacts.
Topolk, I can’t spell ocassion no matter how many times I try. Occasion. ooh, got it right, let me spell check that first. Oh yeah, we choose the meals we feed our brain for sure.
Andrea, that book was bruuutal, but I read (skimmed) it enough to understand. Some points were valid and then I wondered if they were stuck in the past, but they also used modern examples to prove their point. It makes you think, I like hearing both sides.
Louise, that’s true as well. We might be victims of information overload.
I am very dumb thanks to Word & Spell check. I used to work hard at learing how to spell, but now that I dont have to, its more time to play, write & read!
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LOL, dang, right out the gate girl. It’s true Meleah, for me. I don’t even bother too much some times, I know spell checker is there. I need to go read out loud now, Must. Redeem. Myself. lol
Naturals last blog post..Houston, We May Still Have A Problem?
I remember when talk about subliminal advertsing became a subject for awhile. I was never convinced that it would work on me. Just like following fashion trends… if I liked it, I liked it and if I didn’t, I didn’t. I never allowed my tastes and choices be dictated to me by any corporation. Yes, technology has had benefits, I love Adobe Photoshop, but how many young people can pen a correctly written letter with proper penmanship. A lost art. there are entities out there that spend numerous hours attempting to manipulate and dumb people down. The weak minded are vulnerable. It is absurd that people are sleeping in front of stores to be the first to get the newest phone. It would be hilarious if it was not so pathetic. It’s only a freakin’ piece of plastic!!!
What about the low IQ indivisuals that bought into the car industry selling SUV’s and Hummers? Where did you small of minds think the exhaust fumes were going? Now that gas prices are so high you are having second thoughts but did you ever give a hoot about what it was doing to the atmosphere?
Truly intellignet people are outnumbered by the stupid ones on this planet and that is what the corporatists count on. So thank you, you idiots for making this world as screwed up as it is.
Sorry I’m late responding to your comment. Andrea I know it. I did some research on marketing/advertising and if I can get my head together, I will finish my draft post. It’s true and I wonder how many people are aware of how the mind can be manipulated through advertising.
Bigger doesn’t ALWAYS equal better. In some instances, yes, but there is always a higher price to pay.
Yes technology has its benefits, but it can be taken too far…..consumption of stuff, really. Thanks for stopping by, wish you left your blog info, would love to read something by you.
First, thanks for highlighting this topic. I’ll check out the book.
I think this phenomenon is very evident in today’s presidential politics. No matter who you support, there are substantive ideas from both parties, but they never want to talk about them because we are a society that would rather vote based on “issues” that more closely resemble tabloid fodder.
The result is a dumbed down election cycle in which whoever has more mud to sling ends up winning.
i don’t think we have become more dumber but we tend to def. use shortcuts more often then not. 10 years back, you would jump on physical dictionary to check words, these days, people just google it. Heh.
Hehe.. actually i feel dumber for every day. I keep forgetting things more often, and i feel that i can’t spell, or do math like i once did. Wonder if It’s a fact:)
I agree to an extent but in the same not I think that all of this is making a lot of people much smarter
its so sad how the entire country if not the whole world seem to have been dumbed down over night
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I always focus on myself doing things that could make me satisfied than others, being dumb sometimes is not good.
I think all these modern technologies have something to do with it and I agree with Andrea it’s our personal responsibility to get out of it.
i would have to say yes with spell check i can correct my grammar easily, i do not have to look up a word in a dictionary, but the question is do i know how to spell the word now.
if i do then it would not matter anymore. but i do agree, i rarely read and i want everything on demand
Jesse, you’re welcome. I thought the subject was interesting, as is the book, it made some valid points, a little harsh in its criticism in that it did see the progress in technology, etc. as well.
Retry, that might be because of a lack of sleep
Been there.
Steve, good point. I see both sides, and I know I have came up with some great stuff/ideas from just being lazy…but not everyone is thinking, some people are just benefiting.
Alfred, doubt it happened overnight…maybe more like a slow drift, you don’t know it’s happening. it’s progressive. i think that’s also a point of the book…maybe the author is stuck in a certain time???
Promoman, that’s right. Whatever happens or whatever is created, we should be responsible for the knowledge we put (or don’t put) into our heads. The library is free…there is much to learn.
Andrew, my spelling sucks real bad and grammar, forget it. my fault. i love to read, love books, but i have gotten lazy, over time.
Just think back a few years ago when only the super rich had cell phones. I recently loss my phone of 3 years and my entire life shutdown. I didn’t know what to do and didn’t know where to go. I didn’t have my mother’s phone number in my brain. It took me almost 2 days to actually leave the house when I got a phone call telling me that they found my phone. thank god it happened on the weekend.
I think overall we have, but is it due to overall technology. I really don’t think so, I think it’s do to laziness and poverty. More people are broke nowadays and don’t have money to send their kids to the proper schools. The divorce rate has increased tremendously so kids are not having both parents around to help them learn. All this is adding up! If anything, I do think people are reading more because of the internet. I just think the newer generation are less smart because of poverty.
I completely agree. I think that our society and culture is not as intellectual and subject to reason as it used to be. Great blog!
This is an interesting point. There will always be argument on whether technology has made us dumber or not? The question I feel is, “Are we becoming overly dependent on technology?” I believe a lot of people would agree that we are becoming much more dependent on technology than we used to be.
I can personally attest to the part you mentioned about ‘… I refuse to learn another phone number when I can just program it into my phone.‘ Many would say, “Why should we try to remember when it can be programed into the phone. We can use our brain to remember something else more important.” True and false. True, human must be ready to forget about the fault of others and to learn to forgive. False, every time I lost my phone, I lost almost all my contacts … yeah I know there is something like backing up the contact list.
Instead of making us dumber, I think technology have made us lazier? This also reminds me of a quotation that goes something like this, “Applied knowledge is power.” Thus it really depends on individual, as in how one makes use of technology.
Maybe technology frees us up to learn different things. When my daughter was young, she struggled with spelling. Every week the teacher gave the students a list of words to memorize, they studied them all week and took a test on Friday. No matter how much studying she did, my daughter didn’t do well on the tests. I asked the teacher about it, and she said that some kids just aren’t ready, at that age, for spelling. I wondered why, in this spell-check world, should we torture kids with spelling tests. Almost everything I write is done on a computer. The only exceptions I can think of are things like grocery lists. Why spend hours and weeks and years learning to spell? You’ll absorb most of what you need by reading anyway. Spend the time learning Photoshop instead!
Susan, okay, wow. Don’t know what to say to that other than I’m glad your phone was found. Looks like you rely heavily on it. Thanks for sharing your story.
Erik, I think a little bit is because of laziness too, but there is no such thing as less smart to me if you have access to a free public library. I will never buy that. I never thought about the divorce rate though and kids not having another parent there to help them, good point. Thanks.
BK, maybe lazy in the sense that we only know of one way to do something. I remember when my internet went out and I needed to check my account balance. I was stumped for a minute, then I remembered I could use the phone, (cell phone). Before I relied so much on the internet, I always used the phone to do this. I guess we get used to whatever is available to us and the generation we are born into. What happens though when we don’t have this technology, we lose our phone, spell check doesn’t work, is there a plan B or are we stuck?
Palm Springs Mazda , some technology is supposed to free up our time, make things more efficient and I agree that some of it does just that. I don’t know how much of that free time is used to learn different things or just to spend more time sitting in front of the computer. My daughter has a spelling test every week and she does very well on them, but when it comes to spelling other words, she struggles more. My spelling sucks and I was in a spelling bee competition as a kid! I looked into the whys of spelling, (thanks for throwing that out there) and I found this explanation…all very interesting. We probably don’t need to learn how to spell and as long as we have spell checker, but we probably don’t have to learn how to do a lot of things because technology does it for us…I think I personally just want to know how, at least a little. Thanks for sharing.
http://dictionary2.classic.reference.com/help/faq/language/s37.html
However, it is important to remember that writing, spelling, and reading are all inextricably linked together. Reading encourages good spelling and writing. When reading, people use their knowledge of letters, sounds, and context to work out what words say. People who work at increasing their familiarity with spelling patterns are well on their way to developing automatic word recognition. Good spelling and word recognition skills then combine to allow the skilled reader to recognize new words based on their morphemes-the smallest word element that changes a word’s meaning-which is the primary way the student expands his or her vocabulary. If the student does not work at good spelling and letter-sound correspondence skills, that student will have trouble recognizing words quickly enough to completely comprehend the text.