Dumbing down ?

Dumbing down ? (Full Version)

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Aneirin -> Dumbing down ? (6/6/2011 2:42:37 AM)
Prompted by the comment of another reader on these forums who remarked that where most Americans derive their understanding of anything is from sources that are increasingly dumbed down, and the fact that I and my team in the pub quizzes I attend regularly seem to be failing due to the quiz content of late, I am considering the very real possibility that not only are Americans being dumbed down, but all of us in the western world are too. In fact, the evidence for “dumbing down” is everywhere: newspapers that once ran foreign news now feature celebrity gossip, pictures of scantily dressed young ladies, and football; television has replaced high-quality drama with gardening, cookery, and other “lifestyle” programmes; bonkbusters have taken over the publishing world and pop cd’s and internet connections have taken over the libraries. In the dumbed-down world of reality TV and asinine soaps, the masses live in a perpetual present occupied by celebrity culture, fashion, a TV culture of diminished quality and range, an idealisation of mediocrity, and pop videos and brands. Speed and immediacy are the great imperatives, meaning that complex ideas are reduced to sound bites, high culture is represented by The Three Tenors and J K Rowling, people spend their spare time reading text messages instead of Dostoevsky, and listening to rap bands rather than Bartok and Stravinsky. A culture that values Footballers' Wives more than Frescobaldi or Flaubert is being enthusiastically promoted as democratic and “anti-elitist” leading to the dumbing-down of culture into nothing more than a footnote to market-dominated consumer culture and a poverty of thought and expression. Yes, Poverty of thought and expression ! As indicated by some of our younger BSc qualified quiz team members who seem unable to recall knowledge without googling it first on the Android, but that's cheating, so their input is useless. (And that is quiz questions pertaining to their own field of expertise, i.e., what they do for a living) James McAvoy: UK films are dumbing down for US audience – and partronising them in processYet; .........The primary foci in film production now tends to be different: a focus on shock-value and superficial thrill, and increasingly plot is subservient to special effects to the extent that the screenplay often appears to be an afterthought and only the thinnest and flimsiest structure on which to hang the all important special effects. In the new film world the audience is increasingly often invited to gratify their more basic instincts of aggression, revenge, violence, greed, etc., to the detriment of any complexity of plot or character, or any interest in anything that is not merely black or white. The target audience of Hollywood film has also changed, in increasingly many cases, from those past adolescence to productions aimed at the teenage market. Film culture is becoming less mature What has this to do with politics you may ask, it has everything to do with politics, because we derive much of our information from the tv set and other forms of modern media, and if our 'entertainment' is as it is, what then can we expect of our people and there our governments ? As Napolean was once reported to have said; man is more easily governed by his vices rather than his virtues Neo-liberal ideology is probably partly to blame for these changes in society and personal relationships, based as it is on the doctrine of individual utility-maximization leading to an explosion of unrestrained selfishness. So is consumer-capitalism and the “entertainment” focus of the media. The vast business of selling to which huge sums are devoted; the decline of communal experience as we have become atomised consumers sitting in front of our screens; mirrored by a decline in political engagement as problems become individual rather than afflicting groups. Our lives are now almost entirely mediated and played back to us; we no longer experience the world directly, it is presented to us as a representation. This is a recipe for the psychological phenomenon of dissociation. Social and literary critics are suggesting we are now entering a post intellectual era, reversing four hundred years of intellectual evolution. Oh and a news article that struck me lately; Boy sells kidney to buy Ipad and some humour; The Dumbing down of America But in finality; The television screens may be bright and our comfortable homes may be warm; but outside it is beginning to grow dark and cold ~William Lederer A Nation of Sheep So, what are your thoughts, or have I just wasted my time ?

ExquisiteStings -> RE: Dumbing down ? (6/6/2011 3:20:04 AM)
My thoughts? I totally agree with all you've said. The television set has become the babysitter for children rather than having them go out, be creative and find their own adventures. Like sheep is totally correct, or for want of a better way of putting it, zombies whose main target is our brains, "WE WANT BRAINSSSSSSSS!"

Owner59 -> RE: Dumbing down ? (6/6/2011 5:41:15 AM)
This might explain the current popularity of running on not being smart or smarts not being cool . "I don`t want the elite candidate to run things,I want a guy I`d like to have a beer with to run the f`n country." "I`m not one of those "elitists",telling you what`s best or telling you how to live" etc. There used to be a time when intellect and smarts was what we were looking for.How the fuck did we get to a place where intellect and smarts was isn`t desirable and wanted. I get my news from NPR,the BBC and the "internetz". Don`t get me started on folks who know they`re pushing stupidity, indulging in willful ignorance,trying to trip others into believing it. And "neo-liberalism" has nothing to do with "dumbing down" anything/one.That was kinda of dumb to say.

pahunkboy -> RE: Dumbing down ? (6/6/2011 6:36:46 AM)
Anything to enhance CEO/shareholder value. Follow the money my good man, AN.

Hillwilliam -> RE: Dumbing down ? (6/6/2011 6:39:53 AM)
Unintelligent people are easier to control. I see a lot of evidence of that here.

willbeurdaddy -> RE: Dumbing down ? (6/6/2011 6:46:26 AM)
FR It hasnt changed that much. Reality shows are the natural evolution from the Jerry Springer's of the world and are cheap to produce. Movies are so much the same as they ever were that the vast majority are just recycling old movies, possibly flexing some new technology muscles. And, face it, there is a very large dumb audience they need to connect with. TV and movies contribute to the problem but aren't the root cause. It was a concern 40 years ago: "I am gross and perverted Im obsessed n deranged I have existed for years But very little had changed I am the tool of the government And industry too For I am destined to rule And regulate you I may be vile and pernicious But you can't look away I make you think Im delicious With the stuff that I say I am the best you can get Have you guessed me yet? I am the slime oozin out From your tv set You will obey me while I lead you And eat the garbage that I feed you Until the day that we don't need you Don't go for help...no one will heed you Your mind is totally controlled It has been stuffed into my mold And you will do as you are told Until the rights to you are sold That's right, folks.. Don't touch that dial Well, I am the slime from your video Oozin along on your livinroom floor I am the slime from your video Cant stop the slime, people, look at me go"

Hillwilliam -> RE: Dumbing down ? (6/6/2011 6:51:22 AM)
STOP THE PRESSES I agree with wilbur

tazzygirl -> RE: Dumbing down ? (6/6/2011 7:44:36 AM)
LOL Hill, it does happen from time to time. I find myself agreeing with willbe at times also.

Owner59 -> RE: Dumbing down ? (6/6/2011 7:46:12 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: tazzygirl LOL Hill, it does happen from time to time. I find myself agreeing with willbe at times also. Even a broken clock is correct twice a day.[:D]

tazzygirl -> RE: Dumbing down ? (6/6/2011 7:52:14 AM)
I stopped looking at the name to the post and started looking at just the post. You would be amazed at the changes. And not just in willbe's posts either.

SternSkipper -> RE: Dumbing down ? (6/6/2011 9:38:39 AM)
quote: "I don`t want the elite candidate to run things,I want a guy I`d like to have a beer with to run the f`n country." Ain't THAT fucking scary? I no longer even want to have a beer with the guy people say that shit about... let alone give the dude NUKES. quote: I get my news from NPR,the BBC and the "internetz". Just please tell me you laugh when you hear how life changing today's topi on "fresh air" is.

Edwynn -> RE: Dumbing down ? (6/6/2011 4:28:34 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: ExquisiteStings My thoughts? I totally agree with all you've said. The television set has become the babysitter for children rather than having them go out, be creative and find their own adventures. Like sheep is totally correct, or for want of a better way of putting it, zombies whose main target is our brains, "WE WANT BRAINSSSSSSSS!" Oh, such a party pooper you are. "Oh c'mon, lighten up," "hey, get 'real,'" "why do you have to be so negative?", etc. ... So yes, even aside from all that, there seems to be a societal self-censorship about anything much that goes beyond large discussions about the latest sitcoms or Superbowl adverts, or world football (soccer) matches in much of the rest of the world. Just from the brief encounters I have had with 'the tube' in the last couple of decades, the direction towards 'stupid is not only cute, but provides opportunity for responses far too clever coming from anybody who's actually that stupid to come up with in the first place,' pervades the visual entertainment world, movies and TV both. And let's not forget the value of all the 'It's Payback Time!' cheap thrills proffered to allow the masses to be misdirected as to the cause of societal degeneration in the first place and simultaneous venting of the inescapable impotence inherent therein by way of vicarious vengeance upon meaningless and comedically contrived 'bad guys.'

Edwynn -> RE: Dumbing down ? (6/6/2011 4:41:31 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Owner59 And "neo-liberalism" has nothing to do with "dumbing down" anything/one.That was kinda of dumb to say. Are you sure you know what that term means? Hint: it has nothing whatsoever to do with the American political term 'liberal.'

SilverMark -> RE: Dumbing down ? (6/6/2011 4:50:31 PM)
The dumbing down argument has happened every year for the past 40 or so.(that I'm aware of) When I was younger TV was going to ruin our minds, now it's video games, computers and reallity tv. I am certain there is little aside from the opinions of those who see themselves as smarter than those they are portraying in the post as evidence.

Edwynn -> RE: Dumbing down ? (6/6/2011 5:00:47 PM)
"less dumb" is not equated to "more smart," lest the point be missed.

hardcybermaster -> RE: Dumbing down ? (6/6/2011 5:18:49 PM)
are people being dumbed down to or are there just more dumb people? Unfortunately I think it is probably both but I don't know which is the chicken and which is the egg.The mass media only wants to cater to the masses,more people watch,bigger advertising revenue,profits go up.happy days. I live in a middle class street and have mainly middle class friends but literally 200 yards away is a big council estate. My group of friends ( huge generalisations coming) have 1 or 2 kids and had them when they were in their late 20's or early 30;s. They look after those kids in a good way,take them out to fun places,read them bed time stories etc etc. However just up the road there are 15 year olds having kids. These mums have parents who are hopeless,so they will probably be hopeless parents too. They end up with 3 or 4 or more kids who get pregnant when they are 15 too. The clever/good/well brought up people are going to be over run by this mass of under parented/priviledged/educated people and that's the mass that the media want to grab. Scares the crap out of me

Edwynn -> RE: Dumbing down ? (6/6/2011 5:31:41 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: SilverMark The dumbing down argument has happened every year for the past 40 or so.(that I'm aware of) When I was younger TV was going to ruin our minds, now it's video games, computers and reallity tv. I am certain there is little aside from the opinions of those who see themselves as smarter than those they are portraying in the post as evidence. Aside from the last sentence, what you say is indeed valid, and that ball has been in play even further back than the 40 years you adduce. I recall in some history class a depiction of some ca. 1230 grad class falling asleep at their desks as the lecturer ventured forth. Anybody could have seen the downhill turn of events in that. But in fact, there is at least some correlation between downturn of scientific endeavor by way of societal (on some occasions religious) disincentive towards or misdirection away from that prospect. If we choose to consider that Game Boy is an advance beyond the Church, then so be it.

SilverMark -> RE: Dumbing down ? (6/6/2011 5:38:02 PM)
Church to a game boy comparisons prove that the last statement is indeed correct.

Termyn8or -> RE: Dumbing down ? (6/6/2011 5:45:24 PM)
You know An this is a very dangerous subject if I get started. I have watched it in person for about forty years. T^T

Edwynn -> RE: Dumbing down ? (6/6/2011 6:01:12 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: SilverMark Church to a game boy comparisons prove that the last statement is indeed correct. The response is not surprising. The intention of the statement was that something much further than beyond 'The Church' is needed here, and it it would be arguable to a thinking person whether computer games would in fact be taking society either further or possibly in retrograde direction in comparison. I'm not arguing for what has obviously not worked in the past. I'm just trying to beat down the next cult as it comes along.

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