Knowledge for Idiots

[attackfighter]

So based on experience, the typical 'enlightened' first world proletariat will watch a bunch of documentaries in order to educate himself on various subjects, so that he may better play his role in democracy. One documentary will conclusively prove that fast food is unhealthy, by having someone gorge himself on fast food. Another will have sinister violin music accompanied by a deadpan reading of various reasons why the burning world trade towers could not have collapsed on their own. The makers of these documentaries have the appearances of fat pretentious retards, and with their obscene fortunes they are essentially modern day dukes and kings.

The average person who does not care to go out of his way to seek education will simply absorb his education through osmosis from movies and video games. Epic portrayals of Hitler and the American armed forces in Inglorious Basterds will teach them about the World Wars, while Prometheus enlightens them on the subject of space travel/philosophy.

Then in the final category you have the sort of people who read wikipedia and internet blogs in order to discover for themselves that global warming is a sham and various other profound facts.

Could it be said that the greatest intellectuals are found in modern times?! I say yes.

 

[Paul in Saudi]

So if only everyone was more like you and less like themselves the world would be a better place?

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

The sort of people who read wikipedia and internet blogs in order to get their inside info on scientific matters are morons.

 

[El_Machinae]

That's nothing. When I was a toddler, I asked my parents "why is the sky blue?". They didn't know. They still don't know. No clue.

How many parents do you know that can answer that quintessential childhood question?

 

[Kyriakos]

So if only everyone was more like you and less like themselves the world would be a better place?

/thread

 

[bhsup]

I pretty much view keywords such as "proletariat" as valid cause to disregard the entire statement in which they are found.

 

[Kaitzilla]

That's nothing. When I was a toddler, I asked my parents "why is the sky blue?". They didn't know. They still don't know. No clue.

How many parents do you know that can answer that quintessential childhood question?

My grandmother settled on, "Because it wants to be"

 

[Goodfella]

retards

This word is by many considered a slur on the same level as the N word or the F word for homosexuals. Unless you enjoy conveying to others that you're a jackass, I suggest not using it. Though based on the overwhelming majority of you're posts on this forum, I suspect you're not concerned about that.

 

[Kyriakos]

^Well, his OP is possibly the most blatant we had here for a while.

 

[attackfighter]

I pretty much view keywords such as "proletariat" as valid cause to disregard the entire statement in which they are found.

Guess you disregard your own statement.

 

[dusters]

That's nothing. When I was a toddler, I asked my parents "why is the sky blue?". They didn't know. They still don't know. No clue.

How many parents do you know that can answer that quintessential childhood question?

It's physics, man. They teach this stuff in 8th grade. Much too late. At least i can answer all the questions somebody who's not next Da Vinci is asking.

 

[Narz]

Morgan Spurlock is a cool human being, anyone who doesn't think so is lame. He's not making any definitive claims, if you need a documentary to realize fast food is bad you need to take some deep breathes are pay attention to your body after you eat that crap. It's not rocket science.

I agree with the OP though that people who find a few internet links & documentaries to "understand" certain ideas/concepts are lazy & misguided. Even in the information age there's nothing like books. I try to read at least two a month on my interests (mostly positive psychology stuff) & I still am aware how little I know.

 

[warpus]

It's blue because there's a canopy of water overtop, right?

A documentary told me so.

 

[Chukchi Husky]

I guess this means that I'm more of an idiot than I thought.

 

[dusters]

this is a good thread, it inspired me to seek ways how to explain complex stuff to children i'm currently teaching

anyone can help with "how to explain string theory in under 5 min to 10 year old" ?

 

[warpus]

anyone can help with "how to explain string theory in under 5 min to 10 year old" ?

Depends on their understanding of the standard model and/or quantum physics.

If they don't understand any of it, tell them it's like cutting up bread until there are atoms, and then eventually strings. It's not really correct, but they're 10 years old.

 

[dusters]

Well, you can easily explain how universe was created if you give a child understanding of M-theory, so that's where i'm starting.

The particular girl knows that things contain certain wave-like qualities, therefore it's a good start for quantum physics.

 

[timtofly]

It's blue because there's a canopy of water overtop, right?

A documentary told me so.

Without that canopy there would be no rain. See Mars.

 

[classical_hero]

That's nothing. When I was a toddler, I asked my parents "why is the sky blue?". They didn't know. They still don't know. No clue.

How many parents do you know that can answer that quintessential childhood question?

Have you learnt the answer by now?

 

[Mouthwash]

So based on experience, the typical 'enlightened' first world proletariat will watch a bunch of documentaries in order to educate himself on various subjects, so that he may better play his role in democracy. One documentary will conclusively prove that fast food is unhealthy, by having someone gorge himself on fast food. Another will have sinister violin music accompanied by a deadpan reading of various reasons why the burning world trade towers could not have collapsed on their own. The makers of these documentaries have the appearances of fat pretentious retards, and with their obscene fortunes they are essentially modern day dukes and kings.

The average person who does not care to go out of his way to seek education will simply absorb his education through osmosis from movies and video games. Epic portrayals of Hitler and the American armed forces in Inglorious Basterds will teach them about the World Wars, while Prometheus enlightens them on the subject of space travel/philosophy.

Then in the final category you have the sort of people who read wikipedia and internet blogs in order to discover for themselves that global warming is a sham and various other profound facts.

Could it be said that the greatest intellectuals are found in modern times?! I say yes.

I'd lay the real failure at the feet of school. Bureaucratic pressures have resulted in a schoolday that attempts to slice "learning" up into bite-sized chunks that are forcefed through a smattering of factoids every day. Due to the impossibility of acquiring any skills this way, schools have shoved off the heavy lifting on the students themselves by introducing "school at home" piecemeal (i.e. homework). This represents a basic, profound failure of education. Teachers no longer need even attempt to have us practice or apply these skills in any meaningful way; why bother when they have us jot down basic theory and demand that we practice at home?

Social networking and media are often the only way people acquire an actual education, and that sort of education is for obvious reasons harmful.