Are we the dumbest generation? I think each generation will say that they're not. As far as Mark Bauerleins's comments and what he thinks about THIS generation. . . .I don't totally disagree with him but I do disagree nonetheless. With him I think he just generalizes the whole thing which is completely unfair. I agree that yes. . .some of our generation waste their times on video games and social networks more than they should. Instead of learning information about what's going on in this country or even the world they rather spend time socializing. Even so MOST of our generations knows what's more important in life. I've met some really stupid people in my life. Some from each generation but I'm not gonna say "oh that generation is dumb" just because of one person. That's what I feel like he's doing.
I think since Mark doesn't like the way we use technology he thinks we're the dumbest generation. So what if we want to check our cell phones after class or only google stuff when we need to look up something real quick. If that's how we want to use the internet and our time who is he to say that we shouldn't do that. To me if we wanted to look up things about History or Politics we would. The only thing is some us really at this age don't care too much for it. If we're not interested in it, most likely we won't look it up. That's only for some of us though.
I do think however that no generation is dumber than the other. Each generation knows a little bit more than the next. We know more about technology than the older generations and they might know more about the government and the world than we do. So are we the dumbest generations just because we're deciding instead of looking up information about history and etc that we're also deciding to socialize too? If we spend time looking up IMPORTANT information why can't we have fun on the web too.
I think that you make a good point saying that each generation gets a little smarter. I agree with that. Advances in technology allow the future generations to have the edge on the previous generation. The information is all there but I do fee like some of us do not utilize it in ways we should. I am glad you are seeing the generalization as much as I am.
ReplyDeleteI think that you bring up a good point when you state that older generations know more about the government whereas our generation knows more about technology. I think that every generation knows a little something more than the previous generation on different topics. You can also find that difference just within one generation.
ReplyDeleteI feel like we are jumping down Bauerlein's throat because he calls us dumb but are not fully understanding what he is trying to relay to us. After reading the chat with Bauerlein article I now agree with Bauerlein that we are dumb in his sense of the definition. He is not calling us total idiots. When asked for his definition of dumb Bauerlein replied with "Dumb only in the sense of not making use of all the extraordinary opportunities, prosperity, schooling, culture, and, yes, technology, to become more learned, eloquent, and informed than previous , generations." I don't think that we are going out and making an effort to become "more learned." Yes you may say that more kids go to college nowadays but are you here so you can learn things or just so you can pass a test, get a degree and get a good job. I sat at the table this weekend and tried to remember my art notecards I had for last semester's art class, I couldn't even remember half of them. I couldn't remember them because I wasn't learning them to become a more rounded person I was learning them so I could pass a test.
ReplyDeleteSince I haven't read Mark Bauerlein's book I can't say for sure but I would like to see if he postulates what would occur if we lost the ability to access the information available to us. How likely is it that some disaster occurs such as the internet becoming unavailable for some period of time. He obviously makes the argument that we are reliant on this technology but how likely is it that these sources of knowledge become unavailable to us. I personally agree that it is better not to rely on technology as a large source of knowledge but I can't argue with someone who knows that this source of information is reliable and uses it to his or her full advantage. It essentially becomes like extra storage space for ones own capacity to store information. Imagine if we had the capability to enlarge our ability to remember information within our own minds but it was exactly as likely to become unavailable as the internet or any other technological source of information available to us. What would be the general opinion in this case?
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