Are we really this dumb?

Very interesting post. Some of the responses are great like the 20/20 'Stupid in America' piece and others are quite lame but I've only read the first page. Nonetheless I have some insight into this matter:

Most who are conscious enough to enjoy ATS are well aware of the "dumbing down" which has occurred in America and many realize that its the result of a conscious social engineering over the past 100 years.

Years ago I read 'the 7 Lesson School Teacher' by John Taylor Gatto. An essay(available on the net these days) which caused me to research his other works wherein the grand historical conspiracy of obvious Social Engineering is presented.

How could anyone but the ignorant miss the overpowering slack jawed stupidity in America which has developed over the past 40 years; or the trend away from education and toward social sameness and political correctness?

Gatto was the NY State and City School Teacher of the Year for 3 years running and 'the 7 Lesson School Teacher' is his speech to the NYS Legislature telling them that everyone only learns CCIIPOE:

1. Confusion
2. Class Position
3. Indifference
4. Intellectual Dependency
5. Provisional Self-Esteem
6. that One Can't Hide
7. Emotional Dependency

Can anyone miss the reality of schools which more and more resemble prisons with inmates trudging from class to class but learning nothing except a mind-numbing routine to prepare than for Wars, WalMart and mediocrity. Their destiny.

Even IQ's are declining. Remember that the average IQ of 100 points means that half the population is under 100 and half is over 100. With 80 pretty close to retarded and 120 near superior.

Picture your position on that Bell-curve because it'll separate you from the Mass of other men for life and also suggests the reason behind gridlock in the US and the probability of successful change within the system.

The biggest problem is that the products of the system have little insight into the failures of the system. And so-called "educators" are products of the system, and thus, part of the problem.

The teachers are largely uneducated under-achievers that have never been anywhere, and never done anything; and never will.

Furthermore, does anyone believe that all of these idiots will raise anything but more idiots? And plenty of them? Genetically we are destroying our future with massive levels of inbreeding.

And finally, I recommend a little game to amuse those who aspire to consciousness: Begin every personal encounter by asking yourself "what is this persons IQ" and the answer should be obvious very quickly.

Make an effort to see through the educational Bull squat and if that doesn't scare you nothing will.







[edit on 11-1-2010 by Brown Bear]

Originally posted by spookfish
reply to post by SpacePunk

 

'For all in tents and purposes' and 'for all intense and purposes'.

[edit on 7-1-2010 by spookfish]

Errrr.... its "intents"

reply to post by neo5842


Yes, you are right in your estimation of the human situation...we are really this dumb. It is parhaps only the greatness in us which over millions in years of evolution parhaps that somehow rises up to see just how bent and manipulated we really are. Of course, that being way too late to make any type of intelligent estimation of who was really behind us for being so dumb and what the real intentions or function of such a world and society were really meant for. Obviously, you haven't seen nothing yet, because it really looks like we are about to get more stupid in the next two years as we approach the year 2012. Now there are many threads and things which I refuse to comment on simply due to the discussing nature and truth of that which they express. But this thread kept poping up so I kew then in order to have my own peace of mind, it was better that I give my two cents and move on to more dumber things.

How is it that we often entertain ourselves by poking fun at the redundence of life. This is not the best way of poking fun at ourseves or how vunerable or guliable people really are in terms of our addiction to solid foods, material possessions and sex seem to be more dumb as th three most deadly sins which have the world by the balls, of course if the world had balls, none of us could overcome these three monsters even if we knew that there was no required belief or reference to devils and temptation! I mean, all of us are not religious nor follow along with God, Satan, Hell, Fire and brimstone but nowadays, certain leaders and political figures want us to believe that it's actually alien control is the more better nonsense.

Personally for me the untimate act of dumbness was when the so called terroist attacked the world trade center (no way in hell such idiots could have pulled off such an massive and secret operation) before the eyes of the worlds people and none realized that the "government inside the government" was just flapping their wings and for the world's people it was business as usual when infact it should have been a world-wide revolution of people verses the government. Three former presidents appear on national television and tells everybody go back to work. We just wanted to regain control of the money's world system, etc., etc. Yelsin did the same thing with tanks in Russia. We used guided Air Force 747's as missles and no seems to see this as dumb. Basically, all this little rat-tat-tat bull# seems to go alone with the territory, don't you think. The human situation is much deeper and far out then most of us or any average normal hard working citizen can imagine. It's better if you take the blue pill and go back to sleep. For even then, what you just experienced was only a mini-nightmare so go back to sleep and tomorrow everything will be business as usual.

reply to post by neo5842


ROTFL!!!! Sadly, some are this stupid. Just think of all those "here's your sign" jokes. Some of those are frpm real events!

reply to post by unicorn1


you give 4.20 for a 3.20 item so they can give you £1 back ??????
why give the extra £1 in the first place ?????????

reply to post by neo5842

Only already dumbed can be dumb down, and its a good process since these people get all the fake flu vaccines and die leaving more resources to smart ones;

Originally posted by Brown Bear
Even IQ's are declining. Remember that the average IQ of 100 points means that half the population is under 100 and half is over 100. With 80 pretty close to retarded and 120 near superior.

Who told you the average iq was 100?

The last time I heard/read it was around 80 and your wrong about 80 being retarded, its below 60!

The rest I can agree with but I felt the need to correct you on this issue so many don't unjustly start feeling an inferiority complex.

Originally posted by EarthCitizen07
Who told you the average iq was 100?

Average and median are different.

I don't know about the average IQ, but the median is ALWAYS 100. The IQ score is not objective, but relative to the median. So if most people keep lowering their IQ test results but person X keeps his the same, he will see a rise in his IQ without any change in performance, because the number is relative to the median.

reply to post by EarthCitizen07


I accept your agreement with my many other points even though you've exposed your ignorance on the average IQ among the primates (100) although I must admit that the "effective average" appears closer to your figure, and falling (80).

Please review your assertions as this is an EZ question to research.

reply to post by neo5842


I think it's more that most people don't try very hard to be smart, and entertainment helps them accomplish that.

Originally posted by truth_of_truth

this is funny kinda gets me mad but then i laugh, but the worst part is that these people reproduce lol

And then there are the Darwin Awards given to those we would least like to reproduce or those who improve on the world by rendering themselves unable to reproduce.



[edit on 13.1.2010 by HolgerTheDane]

Take This!

For those worried about IQ test results: don't be concerned! They are not very useful at depicting the average person's level of intelligence. They are more effective at identifying the "gifted" extremes that stand out well and above the others.

I've viewed hundreds of IQ tests myself and the vast majority of them use very questionable methods to calculate individual Intelligence Quotient Scores. For example, many have sections relating to word association and spelling. What if the subject has never heard or seen a word used in a sentence? What if the subject has the wrong definition of a word ingrained into them? Also almost every single one of them has sections on memory recall. While memory can indicate how well you can organise and store information, it does not give much insight into one's ability to reason or think critically. The sections where you have to recognise patterns is also problematic. They are usually based on mathematical sequences and series which comes down to one's proficiency in the field of mathematics.

I personally view intelligence more as having the ability to reason and problem solve when confronting unfamiliar situations (not unfamiliar concepts.)

[edit on 15/1/2010 by Dark Ghost]

Originally posted by silent thunder

Originally posted by EarthCitizen07
Who told you the average iq was 100?

Average and median are different.

I don't know about the average IQ, but the median is ALWAYS 100. The IQ score is not objective, but relative to the median. So if most people keep lowering their IQ test results but person X keeps his the same, he will see a rise in his IQ without any change in performance, because the number is relative to the median.

Good observation! I was of the impression that the terms *median* and *average* were synonymous but there is a difference between the two.

Average is dividing a sum by x# of participants but does not take into account the frequency of each score which can lead to skewed results if there is great fluctation with some scores.

But still I see a discrepancy in the logic of designating 100 as the median score for a standardised test. In other words it has become a fixed value rather than a variable.

not to revive a dead thread but i found this image and imediatly thought of this thread so i thought i would go ahead and post it here..


[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/4c312e90a0aa.gif[/atsimg]

A guilty please of mine is going to Not Always Right.com. It's part of my morning routine. It always makes me feel a little better about myself.

There was once a snail who was sick and tired of his reputation for being so slow. He decided to get some fast wheels to make up the difference. After shopping around a while, he decided that a Porsche 911 convertable was the car to get. So the snail goes to the nearest Porsche dealer and says he wants to buy the Porsche 911, but he wants it repainted "911-S".
The dealer asks, "Why 'S'?"

The snail replies, "'S' stands for snail. I want everybody who sees me roaring past to know who's driving."

Well, the dealer doesn't want to lose the unique opportunity to sell a Porsche 911 convertable to a snail, so he agrees to have the car repainted for a small fee.

The snail gets his new car and spent the rest of his days roaring his Porsche 911 happily down the highway at top speed.

And whenever anyone would see him zooming by, they'd say "Wow! Look at that S-car go!"

Originally posted by silent thunder

Originally posted by EarthCitizen07
Who told you the average iq was 100?

Average and median are different.

I don't know about the average IQ, but the median is ALWAYS 100. The IQ score is not objective, but relative to the median. So if most people keep lowering their IQ test results but person X keeps his the same, he will see a rise in his IQ without any change in performance, because the number is relative to the median.

That's why mine has risen over 10 points over the last 15 years? Sad.

reply to post by MadameGuillotine


Makes you wonder about authors like Edgar Allan Poe. 40 Years after Poe wrote "The Raven" along comes Edgar Stedman with his commentary.

poestories.com...

Did it take them that long to figure it out or is this some kind of value added frosting?

Seriously there is a conspiracy here worth pursuing.

George W Bush was president of this country... twice. REPRESENT

"For NASA, space is still a high priority."

"If you say you're going to do something and don't do it, that's trustworthiness."

"One word sums up probably the responsibility of any Governor, and that one word is "to be prepared"."

"Justice ought to be fair."

"A low voter turnout is an indication of fewer people going to the polls."

"If the terriers and bariffs are torn down, this economy will grow."

"Quite frankly, teachers are the only profession that teach our children."

"Reading is the basics for all learning."

"We are ready for any unforeseen event that may or may not occur."

"Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?"

"September the 4th, 2001, I stood in the ruins of the Twin Towers. It's a day I will never forget."

"It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing it."

"I have opinions of my own -strong opinionsbut I don't always agree with them."

"If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure."

"When the governor calls, I answer his phone."

"For every fatal shooting, there were roughly three non-fatal shootings. And, folks, this is unacceptable in America. It's just unacceptable. And we're going to do something about it."

"(The Taliban) have no disregard for human life"

"I can press when there needs to be pressed; I can hold hands when there needs to be... hold hands."

"The problem with the French is that they don't have a word for entrepreneur."

"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."

"It's a time of sorrow and sadness when we lose a loss of life."

"I have made good judgments in the past. I have made good judgments in the future."

"I'm honoured to shake the hand of a brave Iraqi citizen who had his hand cut off by Saddam Hussein."

"The vast majority of our imports come from outside the country."

"I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family."

"I recently met with the finance minister of the Palestinian Authority, was very impressed by his grasp of finances."

"Will the highways on the Internet become more few?"

"We're going to have the best educated American people in the world."

"Too many good docs are getting out of the business. Too many OB/GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across the country."

"General, I want to thank you for your service. And I appreciate the fact that you really snatched defeat out of the jaws of those who are trying to defeat us in Iraq."

"I think we agree, the past is over."

"America stands for liberty, for the pursuit of happiness, and for the unalienalienable right of life."

"There's an old saying in Tennessee I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee that says, fool me once, shame on shame on you. Fool me you can't get fooled again."

"I don't particularly like it when people put words in my mouth, either, by the way, unless I say it."

"One of the great things about books is sometimes there are some fantastic pictures."

"You wake up at the high school level and find out that the illiteracy level of our children are appalling."

"My job is a decision-making job, and as a result, I make a lot of decisions."

"Sometimes when you study history, you get stuck in the past."

"It's in our country's interests to find those who would do harm to us and get them out of harm's way."

"We have a firm commitment to NATO, we are a part of NATO. We have a firm commitment to Europe. We are a part of Europe"

"There is distrust in Washington. I am surprised, frankly, at the amount of distrust that exists in this town. And I'm sorry it's the case, and I'll work hard to try to elevate it."

"I'm looking forward to a good night's sleep on the soil of a friend."

"It's very important for folks to understand that when there's more trade, there's more commerce."

"I think it's really important for this great state of baseball to reach out to people of all walks of life to make sure that the sport is inclusive. The best way to do it is to convince little kids how to… the beauty of playing baseball."

"One year ago today, the time for excuse-making has come to an end."

"You know, when I campaigned here in 2000, I said, I want to be a war president. No president wants to be a war president, but I am one."

"I promise you I will listen to what has been said here, even though I wasn't here."

"You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test."

"(I will) keep good relations with the Grecians."

"I am here to make an announcement that this Thursday, ticket counters and airplanes will fly out of Ronald Reagan Airport."

"We had a chance to visit with Teresa Nelson who's a parent, and a mum or a dad."

"The future will be better tomorrow."

"I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully."

"I'm sure you can imagine it's an unimaginable honour to live here."

"I couldn't imagine somebody like Osama bin
Laden understanding the joy of Hanukkah."

"I stand by all the misstatements that I've made."

"They misunderestimated me."

"I've coined new words, like 'misunderstanding'."

"Public speaking is very easy."