Are we as a species becoming stupid

[Ilunga]

5 hours ago, 6of1_halfdozenofother said:

 

I think it's a function of the audience, the prevailing hot-button issue(s), and the degree of engagement between the previous two.

 

Had you posted this topic in a HK forum pre-2014, you'd probably get lots of posts on how to monetize things (of the "make money fast" variety), or posts trying to associate IQ with incomes (with an indirect linkage to real estate).  However, there might still be posts on the politics of the day, like how the government tried to pull a fast one and change the education curricula (ie. from a system that worked to one that seemed to focus on brainwashing - or dumbing down - the population), or how unresponsive or oblivious the government was to the grassroot needs of the people (such as minimum wage, housing crunch, lack of employment opportunity).  Fewer, but not completely gone.

 

Of course, there's also the function of some non-western countries being authoritarian.  Try posting this in China, and I'm sure the "little pinks" and "$0.50"ers will say that stupid people only exist outside of China's borders.  They wouldn't know any better, because the ccp has been feeding them $&!# the last few decades.

I agree with most of your post however I would like to point out that it is not only the CCP who feeds their population BS,most governments/leaders do.

[Boudrias]

18 hours ago, Jimmy McGill said:

 

whats really ironic is Orwell was a socialist, as lefty as they come. 

He must have been confused when he was hanging out with the Italian fascist. In retrospect maybe there wasn’t that much difference.

[JM_]

30 minutes ago, Boudrias said:

He must have been confused when he was hanging out with the Italian fascist. In retrospect maybe there wasn’t that much difference.

 

not really at the extreme ends, they often come together on things like protectionism e.g.. I just find it funny when social conservatives quote Orwell and Ayn Rand.