dagblog - Comments for "Technology...miraculous, convenient and boring."

“The tax which will be paid

chucktrotter — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 18:59:12 +0000

In reply to I remember when my dad would

“The tax which will be paid for the purpose of education is not more than the thousandth part of what will be paid to kings, priests and nobles who will rise up among us if we leave the people in ignorance”

Thomas Jefferson

Fixed, and good morning.

Donal — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 12:07:47 +0000

In reply to Tried to edit my comment,

Fixed, and good morning.

More than most Mr.

cmaukonen — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 04:10:40 +0000

In reply to I remember when my dad would

More than most Mr. Smith...more than most.

I remember when my dad would

MrSmith1 — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 03:34:41 +0000

In reply to Technology...miraculous, convenient and boring.

I remember when my dad would take tubes out of the TV and we would bring them to the hardware store to test them, and buy a new one if needed, and fix the TV ourselves! Can you imagine anyone doing that today? (I know, back in the olden days, TVs were simpler ...) But while things have gotten more complicated, technology has gotten simpler to use. Of course, Apple has challenged that notion by not including instruction manuals with their iPods just to drive the non-Apple people crazy. But never mind that.

But part of the ignorance is not stupidity or the lack of knowledge. Some of it is determined, purposeful not-knowing, Creationists, for example, don't want knowledge threatening their belief system. And then there's that large segment of the Repubs that consistently mock the educated and the 'elite'. I think they can only get away with that in a society in which an education isn't necessary, and therefore, is un-appreciated. Eh, but what do I know?

Tried to edit my comment,

LisB — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 00:18:06 +0000

In reply to I could not agree more Lis.

Tried to edit my comment, just now, but Dag won't let me. I meant to say that Maria, AS A CHILD, was required....

Oh well. You knew what I meant.

I could not agree more Lis.

cmaukonen — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 00:16:28 +0000

In reply to Two years ago I was

I could not agree more Lis. Great idea.

Two years ago I was

LisB — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 00:14:00 +0000

In reply to I think it is more so than in

Two years ago I was discussing Caroline Kennedy with a former coworker of mine, around the time that Caroline was recruited to help Obama, and my friend mentioned an interview of Maria Schriver that she'd seen. My coworker said that, as a child, Maria (and all of her cousins) were required to discuss at least three daily current events every evening at the dinner table. Not only just bring them up, per se, but form an opinion on each item and be ready to debate their opinion with their parents throughout the course of the meal.

My friend said "Every family should do that." While it sounds a bit extreme, I can't help but agree.

We don't have to be stupid.

Richard Day — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 00:08:36 +0000

In reply to I think it is more so than in

We don't have to be stupid. We choose to become stupid.

So much information at our fingertips

How much money did x congressman take from exxon in the last two years. Most of it is available.

But how this pc works....not a clue.

I think it is more so than in

cmaukonen — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 23:52:44 +0000

In reply to An interesting idea, but the

I think it is more so than in the past Genghis. I do remember when you could have a conversation with someone on the topics of the day that was reasonably intelligent and they were aware of what was going on in the world, the country and locally. Now...not so much. I do believe that we here in this country at least are becoming victims of our own success. Our technology is not making us stupid, it is allowing us to become stupid.

An interesting idea, but the

Michael Wolraich — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 23:46:45 +0000

In reply to Technology...miraculous, convenient and boring.

An interesting idea, but the premise that specialized societies tend to be more ignorant is pretty bizarre. Myths and misperceptions are rampant in the less-specialized developing world. And where's the evidence the U.S. is any more ignorant than it used to be? As for the "denial reflex," that's basic human psychology. See confirmation bias.

In other words, people are ignorant and closeminded. Welcome to humanity.