is "the system" systematically surpressing intelligence, or are people just getting stupid?

Answer 1

Keeping people uneducated and living in fear is the easiest way to control the masses.

Answer 2

This is a really interesting question. I personally believe that the answer is both.
An example of the system surpressing intelligence:
Many moons ago, before the advent of the bar codes and the use of the "computer" age you had to know how to make change, ie: cost 49cents, give a 10spot, change would be 9.51, pretty simple. Now when you go to the store, fast food chains, etc, the machine provides the amount of change to give back. What this has accomplished, and I am sure all of you have seen this, is all the employee has to do is look up, read the amount and give the change back to the consumer. They don't have a clue should they have to count it back. In the above example it would be: 0.01 makes 50, and 50 (2quarters) make 1.00, then 2,3,4,5 (4 one dollar bills) and 5 is 10.00. (a little hard to write out) Even in the fast food places, you really don't have to read well, the registers have little pictures on them. I don't like to think of people being stupid, for stupid is really the definition of a lack of common sense. This is not a lack of common sense so much as it is being just plain lazy. This equates to a low standard of a work ethic: do as little as possible, for as much money as possible. The system years ago was designed to implement a degree of rationalization and due diligence of common sense. With the advent of civil rights in 1964, the standards were challenged that the minority population was not afforded the same educational level of the majority. Therefore the government began to regulate an "even playing field". This "playing field" ended up to what we have today in every federal and state test given in almost 90% of the cases: an 8th grade level.
The test (written) at the dmv, the test for employment with the post office, AKA civil service exam, the tests to get into public colleges are prime examples of this "8th grade" level.
As a result of this equal competition over the advent of technology, the "system" has downgraded the NEED to perform a little due diligence, or common sense in the workplace, and the academic field has increased the need to educate at a higher level, earlier.
An example: In high school during my time (not that long ago) algebra was an elective, only offered in your senior year. Today, algebra is being taught to 5th and 6th grade students. By the time they are in 9-10th grade, they have the opportunity to begin at entry level; trig and calculus. This is a direct result of the advancement of technology, but has implemented a strong decline to independant thinking and common sense.
As they will teach in economics 101, everything has it's trade off's.

Answer 3

I'm only 24 and I'm starting to notice people even a hand full of years younger than me are just fvcking retarded, people are becoming smart in other ways, I met a guy a few weeks ago that didn't know how to use a tape measure correctly only inches and 1/4 inches. Then he was talking to me about how sequential turbos work and I found out he wasn't dumb he just wouldn't know the difference between a 72mm turbo and an 88mm one. Kids now are tech savvy and I think they're better off that way at least for now.

Answer 4

The first one. Have you read "1984" by George Orwell, that will explain it all, if you don't like reading feel better knowing you only have to read about the first third of it to get the idea. Also if you don't like reading that much, well, you just answered your own question. Enjoy, and educate yourself-- it's all you can do.

Answer 5

No, actually it is suppressing "Natural Selection", and making it possible for the stupid to survive and breed (even thrive). They don't die off because of their stupidity, instead they're protected and given special treatment.

Answer 6

People rise to the level of challenge they must meet. The system (USA) doesn't challenge, so the level of intellect you encounter is subsequently less.

However, the potential is still there. I must so believe.

Answer 7

I think George Carlin said it best...."Garbage In, Garbage Out".... If you put garbage in your brain, you get garbage output......In other news, I don't watch a lot of tv.

Answer 8

yes and no

Answer 9

both