Comments on: Is The Web “Dumbing” Everything Down? http://blog.cre8asite.net/archives/437 Building Better Web Sites Together, For A Better World Fri, 16 May 2008 22:47:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Mike http://blog.cre8asite.net/archives/437#comment-103454 Mike Tue, 02 Oct 2007 18:39:32 +0000 http://blog.cre8asite.net/archives/437#comment-103454 I would like to suggest that the web is merely revealing dumbness which previously had no public outlet. The dumbness has always been here (gawd, do I remember high school gym class...), but you had to GO SOMEWHERE to experience it -- try the local redneck bar, for example. It didn't come into the house in the daily paper, or even on TV (before reality shows). There was a CNN news broadcast a while back that stated "Over half of the high school graduating class is now reading at a below average level." Everything is going to hell in a handbasket, probably always has been, some kind of entropy of intelligence. The net is only a sign of the times. I would like to suggest that the web is merely revealing dumbness which previously had no public outlet. The dumbness has always been here (gawd, do I remember high school gym class…), but you had to GO SOMEWHERE to experience it — try the local redneck bar, for example. It didn’t come into the house in the daily paper, or even on TV (before reality shows).

There was a CNN news broadcast a while back that stated “Over half of the high school graduating class is now reading at a below average level.”

Everything is going to hell in a handbasket, probably always has been, some kind of entropy of intelligence. The net is only a sign of the times.

]]> By: Kim Krause Berg http://blog.cre8asite.net/archives/437#comment-101506 Kim Krause Berg Tue, 24 Jul 2007 14:41:12 +0000 http://blog.cre8asite.net/archives/437#comment-101506 I'm totally on board with this. I've concluded that the answer is YES, because there is more opportunity for exposure due to the Internet. Thus, anyone can participate, even if they're unskilled or uneducated. Opinion outweighs accuracy. I dislike it because I come from a different time. Young people...this stupid crap is all they know because it's all they're being taught and exposed to. I hope some of them will someday rise up and demand more for themselves. I’m totally on board with this. I’ve concluded that the answer is YES, because there is more opportunity for exposure due to the Internet. Thus, anyone can participate, even if they’re unskilled or uneducated.

Opinion outweighs accuracy. I dislike it because I come from a different time. Young people…this stupid crap is all they know because it’s all they’re being taught and exposed to.

I hope some of them will someday rise up and demand more for themselves.

]]> By: Miriam http://blog.cre8asite.net/archives/437#comment-101501 Miriam Tue, 24 Jul 2007 08:10:20 +0000 http://blog.cre8asite.net/archives/437#comment-101501 Michael, What a good and thoughtful post. I really enjoyed this. I think, for so many people, the concept of 'fact' has lost its meaning. Is what we read on Wikipedia pure fact? No. How about what we see on the news? Probably not all of it. How about what is written in history books? Again, no. Who discovered America? The Chinese or Columbus? Are the Olmecs truly the first civilization of South America? You will find published, professional books taking widely different stances on issues like these, each author claiming their story is factual, rather than biased or hypothetical. Who are we to believe? If people place absolute faith in what they read on the Internet, in newspapers, in books, or what they see on TV, they are probably not thinking very rationally. It is a great worry...the credulity of the general public. But, this has always been the case...long before modern times. Remember the whole problem about the world being round vs. flat? Apparently, it's neither. It's some sort of slightly lopsided sphere or something like that...at least...that's what the fact-sayers are saying today. The point is...facts change and with them, people's beliefs alter. If this means we end up with a portion of society believing that Vikings discovered America because someone says they did on Wikipedia...well, it won't be much different than all of the versions of reality past peoples have believed in. Really good post, Michael. Thanks! Miriam Michael,
What a good and thoughtful post. I really enjoyed this.

I think, for so many people, the concept of ‘fact’ has lost its meaning. Is what we read on Wikipedia pure fact? No. How about what we see on the news? Probably not all of it. How about what is written in history books? Again, no.

Who discovered America? The Chinese or Columbus? Are the Olmecs truly the first civilization of South America? You will find published, professional books taking widely different stances on issues like these, each author claiming their story is factual, rather than biased or hypothetical.

Who are we to believe?

If people place absolute faith in what they read on the Internet, in newspapers, in books, or what they see on TV, they are probably not thinking very rationally. It is a great worry…the credulity of the general public. But, this has always been the case…long before modern times. Remember the whole problem about the world being round vs. flat? Apparently, it’s neither. It’s some sort of slightly lopsided sphere or something like that…at least…that’s what the fact-sayers are saying today.

The point is…facts change and with them, people’s beliefs alter. If this means we end up with a portion of society believing that Vikings discovered America because someone says they did on Wikipedia…well, it won’t be much different than all of the versions of reality past peoples have believed in.

Really good post, Michael. Thanks!
Miriam

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