17) Capacity and Venture

Having enough time to process and ponder The Dumbest Generation from a previous post, I've formulated a theory on why the book is right, even though it's not the premise the book advocates. I respect the book for the perspective it's given me, but I hate it begrudgingly for failing to convince effectively. And if it can't convince a 16 year-old effectively, I don't think it would convince others.

And so I see the folly that proves my theory. The book claims that the younger generation of today is much dumber than the previous, due to their reliance and obsession with modern technologies. But what I see is not lack of intelligence, but a lack of effort.

In the beginning of the 20th century, when standardized schooling become more mainstream in America, the social norms at the time demanded that students learn without resistance. That was a time where you did not talk back to your parents.

By the time World War 2 rolled around, and the GI bill was introduced, education was necessary for success. Colleges and universities became a symbol of a respectable way of life for the American youth.

What do these times have in common that does not exist today? Effort.

In those two times, effort was an asset and not a liability. You had to try hard or realize your failure catching up behind you. There was little argument that the American dream demanded that the young never stop trying to exceed their parents. Social developments and generational shift has loosened the need to try your hardest for the many things that can be taken for granted.

The way I see it, it used to be full effort and little intelligence. Now it's full intelligence and little effort.

These days, technology has diminished the need for effort. You don't need to walk to the library to get a book and read it for a report. You can go online to copy and paste from Wikipedia. The information is easier to obtain, letting technological dependence make us lazy.

I scour the web daily and see insightful arguments in the realms of YouTube and online forums. They go in-depth about the world, ranging from politics to religion.

The problem is that such intelligence stays at the computer. I believe most are now more comfortable expressing themselves in ways that demand the least effort.

Intelligence has not regressed or stopped. It's just being expressed in unprecedented forms. That's why the evidence is more difficult to obtain.

And mostly because we're too lazy to find said evidence.