Is it cool to be Stoopid?

[billay]

Dumb and Dumber: Are Americans Hostile to Knowledge?

 

By PATRICIA COHEN

Published: February 14, 2008

A popular video on YouTube shows Kellie Pickler, the adorable platinum blonde from “American Idol,” appearing on the Fox game show “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” during celebrity week. Selected from a third-grade geography curriculum, the $25,000 question asked: “Budapest is the capital of what European country?”

 

Ms. Pickler threw up both hands and looked at the large blackboard perplexed. “I thought Europe was a country,” she said. Playing it safe, she chose to copy the answer offered by one of the genuine fifth graders: Hungary. “Hungry?” she said, eyes widening in disbelief. “That’s a country? I’ve heard of Turkey. But Hungry? I’ve never heard of it.”

 

Such, uh, lack of global awareness is the kind of thing that drives Susan Jacoby, author of “The Age of American Unreason,” up a wall. Ms. Jacoby is one of a number of writers with new books that bemoan the state of American culture.

 

Joining the circle of curmudgeons this season is Eric G. Wilson, whose “Against Happiness” warns that the “American obsession with happiness” could “well lead to a sudden extinction of the creative impulse, that could result in an extermination as horrible as those foreshadowed by global warming and environmental crisis and nuclear proliferation.”

 

Then there is Lee Siegel’s “Against the Machine: Being Human in the Age of the Electronic Mob,” which inveighs against the Internet for encouraging solipsism, debased discourse and arrant commercialization. Mr. Siegel, one might remember, was suspended by The New Republic for using a fake online persona in order to trash critics of his blog (“you couldn’t tie Siegel’s shoelaces”) and to praise himself (“brave, brilliant”).

 

Ms. Jacoby, whose book came out on Tuesday, doesn’t zero in on a particular technology or emotion, but rather on what she feels is a generalized hostility to knowledge. She is well aware that some may tag her a crank. “I expect to get bashed,” said Ms. Jacoby, 62, either as an older person who upbraids the young for plummeting standards and values, or as a secularist whose defense of scientific rationalism is a way to disparage religion.

 

Ms. Jacoby, however, is quick to point out that her indictment is not limited by age or ideology. Yes, she knows that eggheads, nerds, bookworms, longhairs, pointy heads, highbrows and know-it-alls have been mocked and dismissed throughout American history. And liberal and conservative writers, from Richard Hofstadter to Allan Bloom, have regularly analyzed the phenomenon and offered advice.

 

T. J. Jackson Lears, a cultural historian who edits the quarterly review Raritan, said, “The tendency to this sort of lamentation is perennial in American history,” adding that in periods “when political problems seem intractable or somehow frozen, there is a turn toward cultural issues.”

 

But now, Ms. Jacoby said, something different is happening: anti-intellectualism (the attitude that “too much learning can be a dangerous thing”) and anti-rationalism (“the idea that there is no such things as evidence or fact, just opinion”) have fused in a particularly insidious way.

 

Not only are citizens ignorant about essential scientific, civic and cultural knowledge, she said, but they also don’t think it matters.

 

She pointed to a 2006 National Geographic poll that found nearly half of 18- to 24-year-olds don’t think it is necessary or important to know where countries in the news are located. So more than three years into the Iraq war, only 23 percent of those with some college could locate Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Israel on a map.

 

Ms. Jacoby, dressed in a bright red turtleneck with lipstick to match, was sitting, appropriately, in that temple of knowledge, the New York Public Library’s majestic Beaux Arts building on Fifth Avenue. The author of seven other books, she was a fellow at the library when she first got the idea for this book back in 2001, on 9/11.

 

Walking home to her Upper East Side apartment, she said, overwhelmed and confused, she stopped at a bar. As she sipped her bloody mary, she quietly listened to two men, neatly dressed in suits. For a second she thought they were going to compare that day’s horrifying attack to the Japanese bombing in 1941 that blew America into World War II:

 

“This is just like Pearl Harbor,” one of the men said.

 

The other asked, “What is Pearl Harbor?”

 

“That was when the Vietnamese dropped bombs in a harbor, and it started the Vietnam War,” the first man replied.

 

At that moment, Ms. Jacoby said, “I decided to write this book.”

 

Ms. Jacoby doesn’t expect to revolutionize the nation’s educational system or cause millions of Americans to switch off “American Idol” and pick up Schopenhauer. But she would like to start a conversation about why the United States seems particularly vulnerable to such a virulent strain of anti-intellectualism. After all, “the empire of infotainment doesn’t stop at the American border,” she said, yet students in many other countries consistently outperform American students in science, math and reading on comparative tests.

 

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In part, she lays the blame on a failing educational system. “Although people are going to school more and more years, there’s no evidence that they know more,” she said.

 

Ms. Jacoby also blames religious fundamentalism’s antipathy toward science, as she grieves over surveys that show that nearly two-thirds of Americans want creationism to be taught along with evolution.

 

Ms. Jacoby doesn’t leave liberals out of her analysis, mentioning the New Left’s attacks on universities in the 1960s, the decision to consign African-American and women’s studies to an “academic ghetto” instead of integrating them into the core curriculum, ponderous musings on rock music and pop culture courses on everything from sitcoms to fat that trivialize college-level learning.

 

Avoiding the liberal or conservative label in this particular argument, she prefers to call herself a “cultural conservationist.”

 

For all her scholarly interests, though, Ms. Jacoby said she recognized just how hard it is to tune out the 24/7 entertainment culture. A few years ago she participated in the annual campaign to turn off the television for a week. “I was stunned at how difficult it was for me,” she said.

 

The surprise at her own dependency on electronic and visual media made her realize just how pervasive the culture of distraction is and how susceptible everyone is — even curmudgeons.

 

To some degree I would be inclined to blame such a phenomenon more on perception than reality. Pop culture certainly serves up the lowest common denominator for our entertainment. On shows such as 5th Grader, it's more entertaining to see how stupid the worst of us are. Its the same with reality shows, as a species, we simply feel better about ourselves when we can look down on people. But the preponderance of such media does highlight the segment of the population which does not value ideas and intellectualism.

 

I certainly have gotten the sense, however that there's a more insidious, politically correct aspect to it however. Much the same way that those with money are not supposed to highlight the disparity between themselves and those without, the same goes for intellect. It's not politically correct to point out that there are degrees of intelligence and intellect for fear of causing some emotional harm. Equality deands that those of us who are not as smart as other are entitled to feel so. The result is that knowledge and ideas are shunned as that which disturb this precious balance of ignorance. Science, unfortunately, has become a bully. "Believe me or else!" and ignorance is a protected entity with rights of its own.

 

What happened to the days when people appreciated the more intellectually endowed? When intelligence was respected as a tool for success. Maybe I have some rose-colored glasses view of the "good old days" but I certainly have a sense that there was a day when people deferred to people who "knew better than they did" and everybody was better off as a result?

[detlef]

To some degree I would be inclined to blame such a phenomenon more on perception than reality. Pop culture certainly serves up the lowest common denominator for our entertainment. On shows such as 5th Grader, it's more entertaining to see how stupid the worst of us are. Its the same with reality shows, as a species, we simply feel better about ourselves when we can look down on people. But the preponderance of such media does highlight the segment of the population which does not value ideas and intellectualism.

 

I certainly have gotten the sense, however that there's a more insidious, politically correct aspect to it however. Much the same way that those with money are not supposed to highlight the disparity between themselves and those without, the same goes for intellect. It's not politically correct to point out that there are degrees of intelligence and intellect for fear of causing some emotional harm. Equality deands that those of us who are not as smart as other are entitled to feel so. The result is that knowledge and ideas are shunned as that which disturb this precious balance of ignorance. Science, unfortunately, has become a bully. "Believe me or else!" and ignorance is a protected entity with rights of its own.

 

What happened to the days when people appreciated the more intellectually endowed? When intelligence was respected as a tool for success. Maybe I have some rose-colored glasses view of the "good old days" but I certainly have a sense that there was a day when people deferred to people who "knew better than they did" and everybody was better off as a result?

That is just awful. While "brainiacs" have always been the brunt of jokes, it seems as if we've lowered the standard to what qualifies someone as such to some pretty freaking low standards.

 

Perhaps twenty years ago, somebody would play the "I'm not a geek" card in regards to the absurdity of being expected to know, say some obscure element in the periodic table. Now it seems that realizing that Hungary is a country is also too much to expect.

[evil_gop_liars]

I blame it all on Al Gore's invention. When the only thing that separates information and misinformation is a half inch of pixels. Opinion and anecdotal evidence have replaced fact and we are to lazy and/or busy to educate ourselves.

[AtomicCEO]

I think there have always been dummies, only in the last 10 years or so did TV networks realize it's cheaper to put stupid people on TV than to write intelligent programming.

 

I blame the writers strike.

[whomper]

This is the "Jackass" era.

[nuke'em ttg]

and at the other end of the Spectrum........here's a show i'd like to see

 

Big John

 

VS

 

the Schwab

 

[Yukon Cornelius]

yup .. at least with the population of kids i work with

[Bill Swerski]

[chrisrock] I don't know that $hit. Keepin' it real! [/chrisrock]

[SheikYerbuti]

This is the "Jackass" era.

 

One of my favorite shows. .. .

 

[TimC]

I don't really know.

[Perchoutofwater]

It all goes back to TV, DVD's, and video games. Kids no longer read or go outside and play when they are bored. It has resulted in a stupid and obese generation.

[The Holy Roller]

So the producers of Smarter Than A 5th Grader decided to heck with all those smartazz 5th graders and hard questions. Let's just cut to the chase. They came up with The Moran of the Year Show and the winner would get $1,000,000 cash, a trip around the world, fame, late show appearances, etc.

 

The big day comes and all the morans in the world are invited to this hugh studio for the competition. On the stage is an item covered by a sheet. The MC tells the morans that the first one to indentify the hidden item after the sheet is removed will be the Moran of the Year! With great anticipation the sheet is removed and it's a bicycle.

 

"It's a sandwich!" "It's a bird!" "It's a bus!" and on and on for 15 minutes before someone finally guesses "It's a bicycle!" The band immediately began playing da da da da daaaah da-da-da-dah...the winner is brought on stage and the show is a HUGH success.

 

So the next year the producers decide to do Moran of the Year again. Same set up, same morans. Except this year they have as the hidden object...a tricycle! The big unveiling comes and immediately someone yells "It's a bicycle!" "That was last year you moran" the announcer says. More guesses are then shouted until, about 15 minutes later, someone guesses "It's a tricycle?". The band plays da da da da dah..... The winner comes up and again the TV ratings are out of sight.

 

Well why not? Year three. The producers can charge whatever they want for advertising. The show is now an international extravaganza. Dave Letterman is the MC. So once again all the world's morans troop back into the auditorium and there on the stage, hidden underneath the sheet is, oh heck, you know, one of those things with only one wheel.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Da da da da daaaaaaaaaaaah!!

[whomper]

One of my favorite shows. .. .

 

 

 

I loved the 2 movies dont get me wrong .

[Coffeeman]

"Then there is Lee Siegel’s “Against the Machine: Being Human in the Age of the Electronic Mob,” which inveighs against the Internet for encouraging solipsism, debased discourse and arrant commercialization."

 

There are at least 3 words there - in 1 sentence! - that I've never even heard of before. Does that make me stoopid? Maybe so......

[bushwacked]

It all goes back to TV, DVD's, and video games. Kids no longer read or go outside and play when they are bored. It has resulted in a stupid and obese generation.

 

That and kids who are given things when they never had to work for it.

[Perchoutofwater]

That and kids who are given things when they never had to work for it.

 

You are correct on that. All kids should have to work, it build character, or at least that is what my father told me when he made me work every summer and Christmas break. I still remember the 120# jack hammer I used on my first day on the job when I was 13. It taught me the valuable lesson that I'd rather use my brain than my back.

[AtomicCEO]

Doesn't "Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader" at least prove that today's 5th graders are smart?

[BillyBalata]

Doesn't "Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader" at least prove that today's 5th graders are smart?

 

 

It just proves those things are still fresh in their minds and they haven't reached the pot smoking stage and forgotten it all...

[yo mama]

It's not politically correct to point out that there are degrees of intelligence and intellect for fear of causing some emotional harm.

See, I'm not an elitist prick: it's just that stoopid people are emotional pussies.

Edited February 14, 2008 by yo mama

[Ursa Majoris]

I certainly have a sense that there was a day when people deferred to people who "knew better than they did" and everybody was better off as a result?

Be careful not to confuse the intellectual deference you refer to with class deference, which is much more of what it was.

 

As to the rest of it, of course people are more stupid than they were - all you need to do is listen and then try to strike up a conversation to know it is true. I don't believe this is a segment of the population, this is absolutely endemic. Ignorance is both rampant and trendy.

[Coffeeman]

On shows such as 5th Grader, it's more entertaining to see how stupid the worst of us are. Its the same with reality shows, as a species, we simply feel better about ourselves when we can look down on people.

To focus on just the media aspect for a moment, you've touched upon one-half of a pet theory a good friend of mine holds: almost all movies or tv shows can be categorized into only 2 camps: either the 'Hero worship' or 'I'm superior' camps. Or some combination of the two. Sports, intellectual game shows (i.e. Jeopardy) etc. would fall into the former, or 'I wish I could do that' category. Lame game shows, Jerry Springer, etc. would be in the latter category.

 

And some dramas highlighting the trials and tribulations of wealthy folks (i.e. most of them) are a little of both: we may wish we had their lifestyle, but can also be smug in the 'holier than thou' aspect of avoiding some of the narcissism that they model.

 

I'm not sure if the pure news or National Geographic-type shows (Animal Planet) fit neatly into his categories, but I suppose on some level they might. My kids idolized the Croc Hunter, so he would count in the first one....

[Bill Swerski]

As to the rest of it, of course people are more stupid than they were - all you need to do is listen and then try to strike up a conversation to know it is true.

 

Or perhaps people today tend to be somewhat lacking in social and communication skills because they spend their free time watching TV and playing video games instead of interacting with people.

[Dutch Oven]

I couldn't read this thread. Could some one break it down for me in ten words or less? Thanks.

[Ursa Majoris]

Or perhaps people today tend to be somewhat lacking in social and communication skills because they spend their free time watching TV and playing video games instead of interacting with people.

Whatever the root cause, they're stupid.

[isleseeya]

There are extremely intelligent people , geniuses , born each day ...in our day and age with technology advancing the way it has , the discoveries and improvements , have come from intelligent people

 

 

at same time there are alot of unitilligent , lazy people who could care less to try and learn or improve themselves

 

I do not believe people are stupider today than they were 10 or 50 years ago ... or that there are more stupid people today than generations ago