4% of Americans believe Stephen King, not Melville, wrote Moby Dick. We are a nation of dumb fuks. It's a wonder we're as well off as we are.

Not to mention computers, smart phones, Ipods and pretty much any new electronic technology out there.

I'm thinking about finding a Twentypercenter and inviting him to my next party just for the sheer entertainment value of the stupid/crazy that will come out of his mouth. Like that The Bible was written by Jesus himself...

Mowsley, you busy next Saturday?

there you go again, you have no knowledge of me or what i believe, yet you still make claims that would indicate you do. typical.

Geez, I bet some here still have the time flashing on their VCR's.

It's not supposed to be flashing?

Aunty,

I wasn't referring just to the younger generation. I have a couple young adult kids, but they always have been atypical, genius or near-genius types. Along with modern technology, they have their cultural literacy down better than most of my peers and definitely know that Melville wrote Moby Dick and all the other American classic authors and most British while solving calculus equations between tunes on their Ipods and checking restaurant reviews on their Iphones. Those are not the type I was referring to. It's not about sharing my same values or opinions. It's about demonstrating an ability to think logically and analytically. I encounter or read about Americans nearly every day that are almost as stupid as George Bush. That's what I meant in saying we are a nation of dumb fuks.

Sg

Chances are, your seniors were saying the same thing about you and me when we were growing up, Salmo.

Let's face it, not many kids care that Melville wrote Moby Dick because it has little relevance in their world. Fortunately, just like in every previous generation, there will be those that want to know because they think and desire knowledge for the sake of knowledge.

I know it seems like things are getting worse, but that's been said since the beginnings of civilization.

Aunty's right...................yer just old!

Funny thing about organized religion............it always costs money. Spirituality is free. But you gotta bottle it and sell it to make that cash!

It is all about brilliant marketing. Some slick, closet-blowjob-receiving pastor convinces his flock they will burn for eternity in a place he can't prove exists if they don't give him cash. If they DO give him cash, he will promise they go to ANOTHER place he also cannot prove exists, but which has far better looking chicks and better fishing. It is about the CASH and capitalizing on stupidity.

Of course they have to charge, how else are they going to pay the settlements on the child molestation cases.

What's mobydick?


A particularly virulent STD primarily associated with the Grays Harbor, Long Beach area.

Jeesh, don't they teach you anything at your school?

Aunty,

"It's not about sharing my same values or opinions. It's about demonstrating an ability to think logically and analytically."

That's what I see as missing, and it's missing among way too many people from all age groups. I never aimed my assessment at just the youngest generation of Americans. Ignorance abounds among Americans of all ages, and it makes me wonder how the country has done as well as it has. I don't really care that everyone doesn't know Melville wrote Moby Dick. It's the lack of Americans able to demonstrate logical thought and analytical reasoning that disturbs me.

Sg

Jeopardy is a game that tends to make me feel like a dum fuk....

There is some serious odd ball [censored] that people retain as knowledge and why they retain it is beyond me....

Keith

Do you feel it's different in other countries? Or is it just the human race?

Keith

I still think we need more people that can win Jeopardy in this world.....

Keith

I'll take Muslims for 500.00 Alex.

Aunty,

Cut back on the caffiene already. I said the issue isn't specifically the Moby Dick question. It's about demonstrable logical thought and analytical reasoning, but maybe I should have included reading comprehension since you're still stuck on the Moby Dick question.

And BTW, more likely than not it was a multiple choice question, so that respondents don't have to overload their memories with author's names. And in that context I would expect most males with half a brain to also get the Pride and Prejudice author correct as well using, bingo!, logic and analytical reasoning. If the respondent has ever heard either of the book titles, it was likely in the context of "old" books. Similarly, when presented with a choice of author's names, pick the "old" one (Melville and Austin) as opposed to the "new" (King and Steel). This ain't rocket science, or I wouldn't get it.

Stlhdr1,

Yeah, cuz Jeopardy is where it's at! I hate the show, but sometimes enjoy listening to the questions just to see how many I know.

Sg

Go ahead and sit in on an Introduction to Calculus class at UW, and by the end of the hour, you'll get to figuring out that there are still plenty of smart people out there.

I don't believe people are getting dumber. I believe that since there are more people, there are more dumb people.