Dumbing down reality

I think there isn't enough time to cover the subjects in enough depth now - in your teacher's day there wouldn't have been subjects like Expressive Arts, IT, Business Studies, two lots of languages and whatever else. However, I also think there's been a big shift in what people think is necessary to teach children. My 5 yo daughter was telling her friend recently about tectonics and types of metamorphic rocks - her friend was interested, but her friend's parents didn't want their daughter's head "filling with rubbish". When I was really young my nan was angry with my dad for teaching me about clouds and heat transfer for exactly the same reason, so it isn't a 'new' concept. I think this (and other experiences we've had) show that children are willing to learn, but some adults just don't see the point.

My 7 yo is constantly getting into trouble because I've taught her to have an open mind and she doesn't buy into all the Christian festivity shananigans her school teach her and will happily argue that Christian festivals were set up to detract from other religions etc (don't even get her started on the pope!). Recently her class had to do a project on any famous person they wanted and 90% of the children chose something like Rhianna or One Direction, which was really quite sad, but not surprising when the media are spoonfeeding our children this kind of glib trash as an ideal. Considering that by age 7 most of our children are lost to the concept of transient celebrity, it might be hard for teachers to actually get them interested in subjects that aren't related to football or glamour modelling!

I also think that advertising has a massive impact on our children - they all mimic what they see/hear - and when it's stuff like "you're worth it" and all that nonsense, and seems to primarily be geared towards looking perfect or eating from macdonalds. Unless you bring up your children to question everything they are told/shown and encourage them to actually get to know themselves, they will be a product of all the trash that's thrown at them and will potentially be self centered, unaware of others/their surroundings, and with no concept of anything.

So yeah, between lack of time to teach proper subjects, an adult mindset that thinks many things are irrelevant, and a media that is telling kids to just think about themselves and look good, I think we are ending up de-clevering ourselves! Humans will be overthrown by ants before 2200!

I'd also like to point out that I don't judge people on how they bring up their children - everyway you do it you win on some things and lose out on others - and I don't consider myself 'above' parent's who raise their kids differently to me for precisely that reason.

Kids are no different to what we were. if you want pointers that have changed though:
- technology allows us to communicate with people of the same ilk and ignore people who challenge our moral set. The moral checks from a random society (based in who you live near) is simply lost.
- the car has allowed us to become trapped in a world where we no longer need to know our neighbours
- the ubiquitous headphones has made many teenagers deaf. when I am at work answering another person phone, I am absolutely gobsmacked at the number of people with phone to MAX volume

Look there is nothing going on in America that is not new. All that is new is your so called alertness that society is being walked off a cliff.

This is new? Just occurring now? For the first time ever?? I think anyone that thinks this, underestimates what reality is and just what is really going on.

As of this very moment we all subscribe to a calendar, our current year is 2012. I can assure that for all 2k12 of those years, things have been the same if not much, much worse. The same tactics your now aware of today, were employed back then. There will always be intellect. Just like every high school has smoking hot girls. Remember the scale of what your witnessing. It's amazingly fascinating. I live at the bottom of a rabbit hole. The folks that are in control today? They are professionals of something I have no clue. That does not happen over night. They have been doing this a very, very long time.

Be thankful are time has not come. America allowed some okay lives for certain periods. Do remember that every generation suffered horrible war, women really never had rights, same as the brothas, this is a false paradigm utopia of mind scramble. We should be lucky that for a few years now, there has been peace. Time to breathe, cause things in this reality are real!. There unkind and unrelenting. Do not let the fake golden parachute that was America cloud your judgement. Your still outside the castle, living by the moat.

Originally posted by Consequence
It's not a conspiracy.

Life is easier now than it was before.
There is also a point of not making education harder than it needs to be. That way we have more time to do progress, not reinvent everything. However, this requires more discipline from the individuals, which is clearly lacking in many, and only a smaller part can handle it.

Oh, and conspiracy theories are usually good examples of people being too lazy to first learn what they are going to talk about. It's easier to make things up and believe that "science is a lie", or things of that nature.
Slightly humorous, considering the OP.

edit on 6-9-2012 by Consequence because: (no reason given)

edit on 6-9-2012 by Consequence because: (no reason given)

The was a time when those in power did not allow an education of the general public at all, they could not even be allowed to read. This method does give all the power to the few. I would not doubt the goal is to be in the situation again.

People who think outside the accepted science 'box" such as Tesla did are our greatest resource for advancement. The "lazy way" is to accept the science as always right and not look further.

reply to post by neocontrip


What you're saying is true, this has been going on for a long time. They have different tactics now than twenty years ago but some of them are still the same. I guess it won't be changing in the near future either. Not all the mind control and other things they are doing is bad, some of it is actually good. The food chemistry they are using is more of a calming chemistry to keep us from fighting with each other and the government.

I think this food chemistry often targets the meek people quieter people and makes them sick and fat just to dampen the tempers of the people who are violent. Their present tactics are causing the risk takers to take control of the Society. Take away the calming food and they become violent in nature. These are the people with high metabolism, they talk about this as ying and yang in the China and this has some other names in India. It appears to have something to do with excessive liver function and high stomach acid.

Originally posted by Char-Lee
The was a time when those in power did not allow an education of the general public at all, they could not even be allowed to read. This method does give all the power to the few. I would not doubt the goal is to be in the situation again.

Those in power are people like you and me. And the next generation consists of the sons and daughters of people like you and me. So I don't know why people like you and me would like that.

People who think outside the accepted science 'box" such as Tesla did are our greatest resource for advancement.

Tesla's lifetime happened to be during the golden age of advancements in electromagnetism, or, more accurately, it was a time when the knowledge was of on such a level that "anybody" could be doing useful experiments to find out more.
Could you please tell me where he thought "outside the box" and what it means, and which advancements did that give us?

The "lazy way" is to accept the science as always right and not look further.

What are you saying, exactly?
That in elementary school, science as we know it should not be taught out, but that children & young people, without the proper maturity, basic knowledge or no base to build on, should be considered scientists and during 2 hours a week, they should discuss what is wrong with the scientific models of today, without having the slightest clue on what those models are, and why?

The real reason for the "lazy way" is that it's the only wise way to give a foundation for people to base their further knowledge on. The feasibility these models have most often been "proven" in applied sciences. So, if it's good enough to build products from, it's good enough for a base for may it be a young product developer or an aspiring scientist.

Finally, if you are suggesting that scientists "accept the science as always right and not look further", you cannot be more wrong.

reply to post by LUXUS

Through research, I've come across a secret group called Bilderberg. The conspiracy behind this group that keeps coming up, is that this group, of which elite members of society gather, want to depopulize humanity. There could be a link in some way with what you are talking about, and this group, although that is going out on a limb you could say, but it may not be too far from the truth. Apparently, national leaders, and billionaires meet in this group once a year, but the meetings themselves, and what is discussed in those meetings, are very secretive. I've heard that they are poisoning our food, poisoning our water with flouride, which was first done by the NAZIs, and that the group themselves have the most power, and are higher than any government. Apparently they are threatened by the number of humans living. I just can't get this stuff off of my mind since I learned about it a few days ago. I really feel there is some truth to what I'm learning about this group, but it is hard to be sure.

Originally posted by Consequence

Originally posted by Char-Lee
The was a time when those in power did not allow an education of the general public at all, they could not even be allowed to read. This method does give all the power to the few. I would not doubt the goal is to be in the situation again.

Those in power are people like you and me. And the next generation consists of the sons and daughters of people like you and me. So I don't know why people like you and me would like that.

People who think outside the accepted science 'box" such as Tesla did are our greatest resource for advancement.

Tesla's lifetime happened to be during the golden age of advancements in electromagnetism, or, more accurately, it was a time when the knowledge was of on such a level that "anybody" could be doing useful experiments to find out more.
Could you please tell me where he thought "outside the box" and what it means, and which advancements did that give us?

The "lazy way" is to accept the science as always right and not look further.

What are you saying, exactly?
That in elementary school, science as we know it should not be taught out, but that children & young people, without the proper maturity, basic knowledge or no base to build on, should be considered scientists and during 2 hours a week, they should discuss what is wrong with the scientific models of today, without having the slightest clue on what those models are, and why?

The real reason for the "lazy way" is that it's the only wise way to give a foundation for people to base their further knowledge on. The feasibility these models have most often been "proven" in applied sciences. So, if it's good enough to build products from, it's good enough for a base for may it be a young product developer or an aspiring scientist.

Finally, if you are suggesting that scientists "accept the science as always right and not look further", you cannot be more wrong.

Your one of those people I presume who still believe "anyone" can be president in the USA.
Looking beyond the science does not ignore science.

I agree, S & F OP.

Originally posted by UnlimitedSky
reply to post by LUXUS

 

4. There are so many examples of unaware, sleeping people on the roads!! People drive without communicating with each other. If I need to change lanes in heavy traffic, I love trying to catch someone's eye in the lane to which I want to go, so that I can ask them, literally if I can please have a space. You will be surprised at how many people simply sit and stare, unaware. There are literally millions of examples of people on the roads who are unaware of life around them. Try communicating while driving, and you will be surprised at how good it makes you feel when a stranger has crossed your path and there was a moment of strong connection. Saying thank you and please while driving, smiling and achieving a moment of pleasure through communication with a stranger that you most probably will never see again, makes you feel great!

As a newspaper delivery person, I drive every day for work and it seems like everybody on the road is just oblivious to their surroundings. I mean I'm travelling down a road coming to a crossroad. Someone is waiting to turn right onto my road. Then I put my left blinker on and move over to the turn lane and they just sit there like I'm just messing with them or something . I don't understand it at all. I've never heard about tests getting easier though. That's a very interesting angle.

ETA: I do take offense though to the fact it's only affecting "young" people. I'm a young person myself and I do admit there are a lot of my generation who would classify as stupid or ignorant, but there are also a lot of us who are awake/awakening. I think (would like to believe) that a lot of my generation see faults with the system we're currently living in. Hopefully we can fix what you "geezers" broke.

reply to post by LUXUS


It's funny you should mention that. There are new reports out that say pedestrians hit by traffic has increased quite a bit here in MN and around the country.

Star Tribune

Originally posted by Char-Lee
Your one of those people I presume who still believe "anyone" can be president in the USA.

Anyone in the sense that you must be successful in politics and be liked by the people. You know, the way you get elected.

Looking beyond the science does not ignore science.

That is true, but means nothing in this context.
I'd much rather hear you explain what Tesla gave us because he "looked beyond science"?

Originally posted by Consequence

Originally posted by Char-Lee
Your one of those people I presume who still believe "anyone" can be president in the USA.

Anyone in the sense that you must be successful in politics and be liked by the people. You know, the way you get elected.

Looking beyond the science does not ignore science.

That is true, but means nothing in this context.
I'd much rather hear you explain what Tesla gave us because he "looked beyond science"?

I don't think I need to explain, I am sure you know how far he went outside the accepted. We need visionaries like Arthur C. Clark

Originally posted by Char-Lee
I don't think I need to explain, I am sure you know how far he went outside the accepted.

Yes, but unlike you, I don't know how that helped the advancement of science. Please do explain.

I personally don't know of any persons, but supposedly there is a onslaught of autism that is affecting many kids these days. No-one knows what is the cause. Scary time to be a teenager or a young adult, just starting out in the world.

In addition, there is a conspiracy to dumb-down the public:

The topic came up in this thread: Are all doctors foreign born, or is it just me?

Originally posted by g0dhims3lf
This is just a prime example of Incentives for immoral behavior. If the teacher financially benefits from the grades of their students then they justify their means for the end result. Making the tests easier to pass makes it easier on the teacher. Makes perfectly logical sense, we all want to benefit ourselves; the problem is most do not think long term. Short term egoism does not take into account the affect this trend will cause to future generations whether it be your kids, grandkids or even a friends kids. There is a long term injustice being done for peoples short term benefits.

And you don't think that the long-term degradation was considered by TPTB? hmmmm, interesting......

So anyway.... It's an old story at this point. This song was revolutionary at its time- the 70s, and put into words and music what many were thinking for a long time:

Sadly, nothing has changed for the better in the school system, except for getting worse.

But all is not gloom and doom. There is hope. He- Jesus is coming, and will rule the nations with a rod of iron. He will set it all straight.

Originally posted by whyamIhere
We as a group used to search for knowledge...

Now we just want to be entertained.

Learning is hard work.

S&F

haha well put man, couldnt have said it better myself!

The world is changing my friend, and we need to adopt to its updates or we will be left behind, it sounds like you lived a very privileged life indeed.

reply to post by LUXUS

Thanks OP for opening up this topic. Two items close to my heart as well.

Being involved in teaching some things as well, I try hard to ensure that the standard stays the same and has stayed the same for the many years I have been at this. I am very much a Janus type, and looking back is always a good way of checking the way I move forward. Yes, it is necessary to apply some updating corrections, but it is a better approach than simply continuing to add to that imperceptible (in the short term) erosion that heading on with no rear vision brings. This is indeed a path to becoming dumber as entropy will always make this trend head downwards.

Sorry to say, but technology might make lives easier, but it certainly erodes our abilities to think for ourselves. Why remember anything when you can save it is some tech device. My quip is that we are making technology smarter so we can become dumber - and as far as I can see from my students, it is working rather well.

Their sense of deduction is fading to dangerous levels as they need not think about anything from spelling to formulae, as they are able to Google anything within seconds. But one discipline (you may recognise) that I teach, requires that I have all I need inside me, for that time I need it and no aids are available. Without doubt, exercising mind and body is necessary to resist dumbing down.

Point two, even if this is linked to point 1, is that lack of awareness. For example, people drive (like the trolleys in supermarkets you speak of) as if they are the only one's using the roads. Maybe this is sheer arrogance, ignorance, I'm OK Jack, etc, but certainly it is also simple lack of understanding of their influences on others, and a total lack of awareness of the act of driving.

The favoured GPS makes it unnecessary for us to think about where we are when driving, as it tells us step by step what to do. I prefer to have to look at the landmarks that define my path and in the process, see what is all around and experience the reality of the journey.

I actually wrote a reply post for this thread a while back but a power failure lost me my text - and perhaps that was providence making me to wait for the image below to appear. My comments are not relevant to that specific incident, but it does provide an amusing opportunity to illustrate what I have experienced when driving with those who depend completely on their GPS's.

".... but the GPS definitely said, turn left in 20 metres ..."

Thanks to the real BBC report, check it out @
Brazil lorry driver rescued from bridge death plunge

reply to post by whyamIhere

There is a fascinating youtube video that is an interview with the late Norman Dodd. He was an attorney who was employed by the head of a congressional commitee in the 1930's to investigate the activities of charitable foundations. (Carnegie, Ford, Rockefeller) He found out that the were involved in a conspiricy to control and alter education on a national level. Now the charter school thing is a privatization manuver that will surely lead to the elimination of most valuable, socially advanced education. Social engineering is going on in education, the media, and government programs. Homeland security is a vast area of anti-democratic methods of control and subversion. The main element of subversion is to put it forward in such a way that for all but those who are initiated in the methods of higher propaganda it is not possible to discerne it's true purpose or it's true origin. Another eye opening youtube video is a lecture by an Soviet defector, a journalist, son of one of Stalin's top generals. Journalism in Soviet Russia was definitively Orwellian and this guy, Yuri Bezmenov, explains subversive tactics used against the U.S. He says it's like judo, you do not make a frontal assault on a larger opponent, you lead him by using his own force to bring him down. So for instance, you lend aid and support to the elements within a society that are decadent and destructive. They may be liberal or conservative in nature. Undermining the educational system would be something that the Russians have a lot of experience with. Finally it is my sincere belief that the government designs television programming in a big way. One very interesting example is Rupert Murdoch's daughter's TV production company and the "reality shows" she creates. She is married to Matthew Freud the great grandson of Sigmund, who owns a major PR firm. It was Freud's nephew, Edward Bernays who is credited with inventing modern public relations, or as I like to think of it, 'industrial grade lying', the backbone of Amerikan political policy.