The Dumb Generation Since our existence, humans have become smarter through evolution. Advances in technologies allow us to discover new ideas through science and other methods, allowing us to be smarter. However, these advances may also become harmful in the present and possibly the future. New technologies such as cell phones and computers have made life much simpler, but has also taken away the need for critical thinking. Instead of books and newspapers, all we really need is a metal brick and a few taps to get all the information we ever needed in our lives. This represents the current generations, such as the Millennials and Generation Z. The newest generation is the dumbest generation because of how they are very inept and ignorant.
Mark Bauerlein seems to believe that is the dumbest generation because research has shown that knowledge skills and intellectual habits have gone down, and although some people agree with him, others don’t. I believe this generation isn’t the dumbest because there are other things that need to be considered when calling someone, a group of people, or even an entire generation stupid or dumb, rather than just knowledge skills and intellectual habits.
“We are gradually changing from a nation of calloused hands to a nation of agile brains.” – Marcel Just. (Begley 92) This quote really speaks to me. I find it to be very true as we are focusing more on developing new technology to do the work we might be doing with our hands. It is similar to the common expression “Work Smarter not Harder”. I think that this is what the internet is letting us do. However many authors and writers do not think this is the case. They believe that the internet is making us less intelligent as it is rewiring our brain to think in order of internet articles rather than books. I on the contrary believe the internet is giving us an easy opportunity to learn which is therefore making us more intelligent.
In chapter one of The Dumbest Generation, Mike Bauerlein makes several statements about our generation and comes to a conclusion that helps set the groundwork for the entire book. His analysis of today’s youth states that the current generation is lacking when it comes to intellectual knowledge. He provides evidence that states that today’s under-thirty population in the United States does not have adequate knowledge, and their lack of knowledge with affect them greatly in their adulthood years.
Along with the progression of society, major advances have been made in hundreds of different fields — particularly technology. Controversy has risen, and debates ensued over whether today's young Americans are really “the dumbest generation,” due to their “money, media, e-gadgets, and career plans” [Source A]. While advances have been made, they have brought with them resources to benefit off of, and ultimately assist in the overall intellect and intelligence of the human race.
A few years ago, I decided to learn sign language. It was not a project for a class, a requirement to graduate, or a fact that everyone knew. I just wanted to learn sign language, so I did what many twenty-first century millennials do and downloaded an app. The app showed me diagrams to learn basic phrases, videos to perfect the movements, and lessons to learn more efficiently. The technology of the app made learning sign language easy, and I could use it wherever I went. I thought that I was smart for using technology to learn specific things, but Mark Bauerlein, the author of a 2008 book called The Dumbest Generation, would disagree. According to Bauerlein, twenty-first century teenagers possess “low knowledge levels” when compared to past generations because of the increased use of technology. However, Bauerlein is mistaken. This generation is not “the dumbest generation” because we focus on different topics, we write more often, and we know that every generation has been called “the dumbest”.
Which generation really takes the title of the dumbest generation? Is it people under the age of 30? How does age have a part in this statement? And why is there even a dumbest generation?
Dumbest Generation Synthesis Essay People of the Millennial Era would consider their generation to be the smartest . With all the technological advances and the upgrades on the way society functions it would seem clear that they are the most intelligent . According to social critic , author , and professor Mark Bauerlein , those under the age of 30 make up the “dumbest” generation in modern history .After his publication of his book, “ The Dumbest Generation,’’ it was brought to America’s attention that anyone after Generation X are apart of the dumbest generation .
The Dumbest Generation There is so much information and technology available to the under 30 generation, however this comes with a cost. In The Dumbest Generation, authors share their opinions on if the under 30 generation is the dumbest and why. This generation has proved itself to be the dumbest because of an over reliance on the abundance of new technology surrounding them, instead of using their knowledge to think on their own. Technology has given the under 30 generation an easy way out, which has resulted in the loss of vital skills that are crucial in everyday life. The under 30 generation is significantly dumber than previous generations, making it the dumbest generation.
Americans today look back and realize how much technology has advanced. The big question is whether this technology is affecting our way of thinking. Or like some authors politicians and older generations say “ dumb.” So why is it that we are considered the dumbest generation, won’t we just grow up and call the next generation dumb? Older generations (over 30) believe that people under 30 are the dumbest generation, but if you think about it that’s what each generation has said about the previous, making it a pointless and incorrect statement said by the elderly.
The generation of people under the age of 30 are not the dumbest generation. Due to the increase in use of technology people believe that it is causing are generation to lack intelligence. But technological advances like video games, having access to the web and having the ability to research online have improved students academic results and social skills. Throughout are generation video games have provided us with many skills that have benefited are generation in multiple ways.
Hank Moody once said “People seem to be getting dumber and dumber. You know, I mean we have all this amazing technology…” Unfortunately, this is a common way of thinking; assuming that society as a whole is just becoming dumber as time progresses. However, contrary to popular belief, people are not dumbing down. In fact, just the opposite is true, and in his book Everything Bad is Good
Technology is enhancing our knowledge, not making us dumber. In source 2, science columnist Sharon Begley explains how technology does not negatively affect the youths intelligence. Begley addressed that “There is no empirical evidence that being immersed in instant messaging, texting, iPods, video games, and all things online impairs
People are not really getting smarter essentially because we rely and depend too much on technology. To further explain, technology has made our lives a bit too easy, we are no longer thinking critically and actually using our brains to function rather we rely on a computer to do the thinking for us. Smartphones and computers for example, have spell check to correct any misspelled words and the problem with this is that individuals are no longer concern with learning how to spell words because they know that their gadgets have a feature that has their back when a word is misspelled. Also, past generations of students were able to look at a text and comprehend it without the use of technology, however in today’s generation if a student is having
Are we to busy searching the web to realize how dumb we are becoming? We live in the age of technology, where there is easy access to the Internet. Nicholas Carr, the author of “Does the Internet Make you Dumber?” stated a good question that is relevant to our generation. Since we have easy access to the Internet, it is making us dumber instead of smarter. I believe individuals have taken advantage of the Internet and it is costing them their thinking skills. Sometimes individual don’t realize the impact that the internet has on our brain and education. The author states that the internet comes with distractions, many information, and it models our brains.
Technology is not all to blame for the stereotypes about Generation Z. Despite the negative comments about Generation Z being lazy and unaware, they are not at all. In fact, because most of them are technologically inclined and virtually updated, they are not apathetic, they’re just being teenagers who were raised in a different environment. This is why there is such a thing as generations in this world. If there weren’t any changes in the world, we wouldn’t even be able to tell if a new generation has come. Every generation has its benefits for a better and more advanced living.