Page 1 of 1 [ 15 posts ] 

MisterCosgrove
Blue Jay
Blue Jay

User avatar

Joined: 14 Oct 2012
Age: 33
Gender: Male
Posts: 77
Location: Erie - 814

25 Nov 2012, 12:51 am

I notice that people are correct in the assumption that we're becoming an idiocracy in the US. But is it inevitable? What can we do then that's actually constructive? Do you think inevitable advances in technology are to blame? Or should we blame ourselves? By the way, I don't know if this goes against the rules of the forum, but if there is really a Hell, the people who truly belong there are the politicians and other powerful people who screw everything over.


_________________
CATS-
Caring, Aloof, Timely and Self-aware.
I love CATS. K.C. my cat 1994-Aug. 2012 R.I.P.


John_Browning
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 22 Mar 2009
Age: 43
Gender: Male
Posts: 4,456
Location: The shooting range

25 Nov 2012, 4:17 am

Technological dependency, growing up spoiled and entitled, growing up with too much mass media, and it helped result in president Mountain Dew-Herbert-Camacho getting a second term. Voting for someone because they are black or because they promise lots of free handouts is a good example of a government by the peons for the peons.


_________________
"Gun control is like trying to reduce drunk driving by making it tougher for sober people to own cars."
- Unknown

"A fear of weapons is a sign of ret*d sexual and emotional maturity."
-Sigmund Freud


The_Walrus
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator

User avatar

Joined: 27 Jan 2010
Age: 29
Gender: Male
Posts: 8,861
Location: London

25 Nov 2012, 5:01 am

Idiocracy is not happening. The evidence is that we are continually getting smarter.



GGPViper
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 23 Sep 2009
Gender: Male
Posts: 5,880

25 Nov 2012, 6:55 am

The_Walrus wrote:
Idiocracy is not happening. The evidence is that we are continually getting smarter.


There is some evidence that suggests that the Flynn effect no longer applies to developed countries.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flynn_effect

In my native country of Denmark, average intelligence is perhaps even decreasing (as mentioned in the above Wiki).



DerStadtschutz
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 5 Sep 2011
Age: 38
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,467

25 Nov 2012, 9:30 am

The_Walrus wrote:
Idiocracy is not happening. The evidence is that we are continually getting smarter.


fluoride: It's what teeth crave!



Fnord
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 6 May 2008
Gender: Male
Posts: 60,939
Location:      

25 Nov 2012, 11:07 am

Idiocracy (The personal traits exhibited by an individual; e.g., "idiosyncrasy"), being the opposite of Conformity (Appearance or actions in accord with prevailing social standards, attitudes, and practices), then I'd say that idiocracy is not inevitable.

However, if the definition is extended to encompass the idea of a government run by idiots, or with preference give to idiots in matters of hiring, housing, and jurisprudence, then I'd have to say that idiocracy has already happened, and we are only now beginning to realize it.



Misslizard
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 18 Jun 2012
Age: 60
Gender: Female
Posts: 20,481
Location: Aux Arcs

25 Nov 2012, 11:48 am

I thought you were talking about the movie.I see disturbing trends that make me think so,just look at how many people voted for Romney and listen to Fox.I would suggest neutering and spaying for them.Maybe a free clinic,offer them Do-nuts and a carton of ciggs and they will line up to be fixed.



Fnord
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 6 May 2008
Gender: Male
Posts: 60,939
Location:      

25 Nov 2012, 12:20 pm

When any schlemiel can hop around in front of a video camera and start a new dance craze ... when a putz can publicly dismiss 47% of the voters and still be shocked when he is not elected ... when an elected official has a say in laws governing women's reproductive rights without knowing how female reproduction works ... when a woman names a celebrity in a paternity suit and then refuses to produce a DNA sample that could confirm her claim ... when people who can't prove anything wonder why no one with any investigative authority will believe them ... when a woman whose sole claim to fame is having once posed nude for a national magazine is hailed as an expert on developmental disorders ... when a hack science-fiction writer can invent an entire religion and see it grow into a multi-billion dollar industry ... when people refuse the only advice that will help them solve their problems just so they can continue to draw attention to themselves with their whining ... when people refer to members of another group in the vilest of terms and then wonder why those people don't like them ... when people will believe in anything as long as it has no supporting evidence ... when only white males are generally considered sexist or racist ... when sympathy is given to child molesters while their victims are treated like criminals ... when all that it takes to get elected is to out-spend your opponent ... when a person responds to fact-based refutation of their most cherished beliefs by attacking the people who made the fact-based refutations ...


... Then I'd have to say that the Idiocracy is upon us.



TallyMan
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 30 Mar 2008
Gender: Male
Posts: 40,061

25 Nov 2012, 12:25 pm

MisterCosgrove wrote:
I notice that people are correct in the assumption that we're becoming an idiocracy in the US.


I thought America had the best politicians that money could buy? :wink:


_________________
I've left WP indefinitely.


Misslizard
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 18 Jun 2012
Age: 60
Gender: Female
Posts: 20,481
Location: Aux Arcs

25 Nov 2012, 12:52 pm

:lmao: :lmao: :lmao: :thumleft:



marshall
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 14 Apr 2007
Gender: Male
Posts: 10,752
Location: Turkey

25 Nov 2012, 2:15 pm

MisterCosgrove wrote:
I notice that people are correct in the assumption that we're becoming an idiocracy in the US. But is it inevitable? What can we do then that's actually constructive? Do you think inevitable advances in technology are to blame? Or should we blame ourselves? By the way, I don't know if this goes against the rules of the forum, but if there is really a Hell, the people who truly belong there are the politicians and other powerful people who screw everything over.

The problem is too many people are suckers for simple-minded ideology and act on what seems like "common sense" instead of seeing the true complexity and inter-connectedness of things. Unfortunately I can't fully explain it here because I don't want to deal with the ensuing butt-hurt retaliations coming from the tribal faction.



MisterCosgrove
Blue Jay
Blue Jay

User avatar

Joined: 14 Oct 2012
Age: 33
Gender: Male
Posts: 77
Location: Erie - 814

25 Nov 2012, 6:38 pm

Well, since most experts believe that technology is inevitable, wouldn't it logically follow that (over)dependence on it is inevitable? If that doesn't logically follow, then wouldn't technology itself also be not inevitable? Can somebody help me solve this logical puzzle?


_________________
CATS-
Caring, Aloof, Timely and Self-aware.
I love CATS. K.C. my cat 1994-Aug. 2012 R.I.P.


1000Knives
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 8 Jul 2011
Age: 33
Gender: Male
Posts: 5,036
Location: CT, USA

25 Nov 2012, 6:53 pm

Ow my balls.



Jacoby
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 10 Dec 2007
Age: 33
Gender: Male
Posts: 14,284
Location: Permanently banned by power tripping mods lol this forum is trash

25 Nov 2012, 6:56 pm

Certainly seems like it.

It is a great movie by the way, big fan of Mike Judge.



ruveyn
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 21 Sep 2008
Age: 88
Gender: Male
Posts: 31,502
Location: New Jersey

25 Nov 2012, 8:52 pm

MisterCosgrove wrote:
Well, since most experts believe that technology is inevitable, wouldn't it logically follow that (over)dependence on it is inevitable? If that doesn't logically follow, then wouldn't technology itself also be not inevitable? Can somebody help me solve this logical puzzle?


The history of Mankind is technological progress. It is not steady progress, but over the long haul humans figure out better and more clever inventions to obtain food, maintain health and fight wars.

ruveyn