Internet making us more non-smart?

[ddon]

This struck a nerve. Since there seems to be some pretty smart people on the board, wondering if anyone had thoughts on this.

Warning: wall of text.

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200807/google

 

[Spleen]

yeah that was one BIG wall of text, but i get the general jist of it... and yes... "im afraid i cant let you do that dave"...

I agree

 

[invader]

its old news really - alot of people have been moaning about this for well over a decade. its not so much the internet but rather what people want, its how you choose to exist; the same as with everything in life. the only unfortunate thing is that a majority of people are stupid and they are the ones being catered for (or exploited; depending on how much of a lefty you are) and the ones doing the catering are actually very smart...

 

[Facetious]

From Article -

Now my concentration often starts to drift after two or three pages. I get fidgety, lose the thread, begin looking for something else to do. I feel as if I’m always dragging my wayward brain back to the text. The deep reading that used to come naturally has become a struggle. . . ]

. . .


Most of the proprietors of the commercial Internet have a financial stake in collecting the crumbs of data we leave behind as we flit from link to link—the more crumbs, the better. The last thing these companies want is to encourage leisurely reading or slow, concentrated thought. It’s in their economic interest to drive us to distraction. . . .]

Uhhhh, Yeah !!!

good post don !

 

[squallumz]

make us more non-smart eh? case and point.

 

[Aces&Jacks]

make us more non-smart eh? case and point.

I was thinking the same thing.

 

[PlasmaTwa2]

Well, it must be true. I read three posts of this topic and I drifted away.

 

[ddon]

make us more non-smart eh? case and point.

That was my attempt at a joke, guess it was pretty bad one lol.

 

[Violator79]

That was my attempt at a joke, guess it was pretty bad one lol.

Nah it's not bad, but next time try saying "more dumb."

 

[Eric Lindros]

At least here on this forum I can upgrade my English and that doesn't make me dumber.

 

[Philbert]

Unintelligent vs dumb...
Merely having this discussion denotes a level of intelligence; dumb is an achievement, one must make the effort to deny infusion of data into the concious and subconcious mind...reading drivel is a surefire way to achieve a good sleep.
I only read on FreeOnes, and mostly the captions on the girl's photos!
Hmmmm...what was I talking about? Oh, yeah...:rofl:

"Non-Smart" is a perfect description of the somnulent effect of reading the majority of drivel posted online...some info is really deep, most is endless detail unconnected to a valid point.
Good phraseology, ddon.

 

[neighborboy]

Daisy, daisy...

 

[Friday on my mind]

"I can feel it"

 

[D-rock]

To be honest, I have picked up more information on the Internet than I would have ever dreamed possible without it. Maybe it's just the way the person uses it, but it has probably made me more intelligent and informed. I also can't even begin to count all the vast little tidbits of things I picked up using it over the years.

 

[senob44]

This is very true and in fact the reason I haven't been around so much online lately. All my Freeones activity dumbed me down all the way to the point I decided to move to WISCONSIN!!! :eek: :eek:

 

[tunsty]

Internet making us more non-smart?


On the contrary... five minutes on Wikipedia and I'm an expert on everything from flower arranging to String theory.

(if there is such a thing. Hang on, I'd better visit Wiki again)

 

[BlueBalls]

"Thats unpossible"

 

[mongo18]

As Michael Scott from "The Office" said (roughly), "wikipedia is the greatest thing. Anyone from anywhere can write whatever they want about anything, so you know you're getting the very best information."

 

[Violator79]

"Thats unpossible"

"Me fail English?"

 

[BlueBalls]

"Me fail English?"

"My cat's breath smells like cat food"