• Study: Why subsequent generations are dumber than the last

    From Adam H. Kerman@3:633/10 to All on Mon Jun 8 23:14:06 2026
    Humans can make progress with the previous generation teaching the next
    how to avoid mistakes and do better. This is no longer the case. The
    yuungest generation is achieving less.

    This man presents his findings.

    "You know what happened to the dumb kids? They didn't make it."

    https://www.youtube.com/shorts/pcaWPMic3KQ

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Rhino@3:633/10 to All on Tue Jun 9 10:07:12 2026
    On 2026-06-08 7:14 p.m., Adam H. Kerman wrote:
    Humans can make progress with the previous generation teaching the next
    how to avoid mistakes and do better. This is no longer the case. The
    yuungest generation is achieving less.

    This man presents his findings.

    "You know what happened to the dumb kids? They didn't make it."

    https://www.youtube.com/shorts/pcaWPMic3KQ

    Several years ago, I came across something that had been engraved on a building and then translated from the original language. The inscription
    said "The young people don't listen to their elders and the world is
    going to hell as a result" (or words to that effect). The date of the inscription was in the third millenium BC.

    I suppose EVERY older generation since the dawn of humanity has been
    puzzled by the youngest generation and what drives it. Yet somehow life
    has gone on....

    --
    Rhino

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From The True Melissa@3:633/10 to All on Tue Jun 9 10:28:00 2026
    Verily, in article <11096mh$3vv03$1@dont-email.me>, did no_offline_contact@example.com deliver unto us this message:

    Several years ago, I came across something that had been engraved on a building and then translated from the original language. The inscription said "The young people don't listen to their elders and the world is
    going to hell as a result" (or words to that effect). The date of the inscription was in the third millenium BC.

    I suppose EVERY older generation since the dawn of humanity has been
    puzzled by the youngest generation and what drives it. Yet somehow life
    has gone on....

    Well, that's one interpretation. Another is that each generation gets
    worse until that civilization falls.

    Hard times create strong men.
    Strong men create good times.
    Good times create soft men.
    Soft men create hard times.

    --
    The True Melissa - Canal Winchester - Ohio
    United States of America - North America - Earth
    Solar System - Milky Way - Local Group
    Virgo Cluster - Laniakea Supercluster - Cosmos

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Adam H. Kerman@3:633/10 to All on Tue Jun 9 20:07:35 2026
    The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.com> wrote:
    did no_offline_contact@example.com deliver unto us this message:

    Several years ago, I came across something that had been engraved on a >>building and then translated from the original language. The inscription >>said "The young people don't listen to their elders and the world is
    going to hell as a result" (or words to that effect). The date of the >>inscription was in the third millenium BC.

    I suppose EVERY older generation since the dawn of humanity has been >>puzzled by the youngest generation and what drives it. Yet somehow life >>has gone on....

    Well, that's one interpretation. Another is that each generation gets
    worse until that civilization falls.

    Hard times create strong men.
    Strong men create good times.
    Good times create soft men.
    Soft men create hard times.

    Seriously, the current generation over generation decline is traced
    directly to kids having cell phones, as the start of the dip in test
    scores coincided with widespread use.

    Apparently the real reason is the substitution of smart phone
    activities which is not reading, and actual reading from physical books.

    To the extent that actual text may be read on smart phones, or ebooks, I
    don't know how that ruins kids' intelligence.

    I don't favor state laws banning use in the classroom as that misses the
    real point, which is lack of reading. And you get some kids just
    recording lectures for later reference, or creating evidence of absolute nonsense in classrooms.

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Ian J. Ball@3:633/10 to All on Tue Jun 9 13:39:19 2026
    On 6/9/26 1:07 PM, Adam H. Kerman wrote:

    The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.com> wrote:
    did no_offline_contact@example.com deliver unto us this message:

    Several years ago, I came across something that had been engraved on a
    building and then translated from the original language. The inscription >>> said "The young people don't listen to their elders and the world is
    going to hell as a result" (or words to that effect). The date of the
    inscription was in the third millenium BC.

    I suppose EVERY older generation since the dawn of humanity has been
    puzzled by the youngest generation and what drives it. Yet somehow life
    has gone on....

    Well, that's one interpretation. Another is that each generation gets
    worse until that civilization falls.

    Hard times create strong men.
    Strong men create good times.
    Good times create soft men.
    Soft men create hard times.

    Seriously, the current generation over generation decline is traced
    directly to kids having cell phones, as the start of the dip in test
    scores coincided with widespread use.

    Apparently the real reason is the substitution of smart phone
    activities which is not reading, and actual reading from physical books.

    To the extent that actual text may be read on smart phones, or ebooks, I don't know how that ruins kids' intelligence.

    I don't favor state laws banning use in the classroom as that misses the
    real point, which is lack of reading. And you get some kids just
    recording lectures for later reference, or creating evidence of absolute nonsense in classrooms.

    There's no question that parents have also gone soft since the 80s. That doesn't help.



    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From BTR1701@3:633/10 to All on Tue Jun 9 20:50:28 2026
    On Jun 8, 2026 at 4:14:06 PM PDT, ""Adam H. Kerman"" <ahk@chinet.com> wrote:

    Humans can make progress with the previous generation teaching the next
    how to avoid mistakes and do better. This is no longer the case. The
    yuungest generation is achieving less.

    This man presents his findings.

    "You know what happened to the dumb kids? They didn't make it."

    https://www.youtube.com/shorts/pcaWPMic3KQ

    Who knew that Luke Wilson was making a documentary with IDIOCRACY?



    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From shawn@3:633/10 to All on Tue Jun 9 16:59:24 2026
    On Tue, 9 Jun 2026 13:39:19 -0700, "Ian J. Ball" <ijball@mac.invalid>
    wrote:

    On 6/9/26 1:07 PM, Adam H. Kerman wrote:

    The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.com> wrote:
    did no_offline_contact@example.com deliver unto us this message:

    Several years ago, I came across something that had been engraved on a >>>> building and then translated from the original language. The inscription >>>> said "The young people don't listen to their elders and the world is
    going to hell as a result" (or words to that effect). The date of the
    inscription was in the third millenium BC.

    I suppose EVERY older generation since the dawn of humanity has been
    puzzled by the youngest generation and what drives it. Yet somehow life >>>> has gone on....

    Well, that's one interpretation. Another is that each generation gets
    worse until that civilization falls.

    Hard times create strong men.
    Strong men create good times.
    Good times create soft men.
    Soft men create hard times.

    Seriously, the current generation over generation decline is traced
    directly to kids having cell phones, as the start of the dip in test
    scores coincided with widespread use.

    Apparently the real reason is the substitution of smart phone
    activities which is not reading, and actual reading from physical books.

    To the extent that actual text may be read on smart phones, or ebooks, I
    don't know how that ruins kids' intelligence.

    I don't favor state laws banning use in the classroom as that misses the
    real point, which is lack of reading. And you get some kids just
    recording lectures for later reference, or creating evidence of absolute
    nonsense in classrooms.

    There's no question that parents have also gone soft since the 80s. That >doesn't help.


    I am amazed at the vids that keep being posted to Twitter from
    teachers about their students. Many posting about how they have kids
    that come to class but refuse to do any of the work. Then the parents
    call up and ask why is their kid failing only to be reminded that the
    teacher sent them multiple notes about kid failing and even made a few
    phone calls.

    I truly hope those vids are fake because if not we are in trouble.
    After all the world is only becoming more technological in the needs
    of the work force and it seems many of these kids are not prepared to
    take on such demands.

    The good thing is I know that's not all kids. As I can look at my
    nieces and nephews and see them doing well. They may not be the
    brightest of their generation but they are competent and should do
    well enough when they get out on their own.

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From The Horny Goat@3:633/10 to All on Fri Jun 12 17:29:16 2026
    On Mon, 8 Jun 2026 23:14:06 -0000 (UTC), "Adam H. Kerman"
    <ahk@chinet.com> wrote:

    Humans can make progress with the previous generation teaching the next
    how to avoid mistakes and do better. This is no longer the case. The
    yuungest generation is achieving less.

    This man presents his findings.

    "You know what happened to the dumb kids? They didn't make it."

    https://www.youtube.com/shorts/pcaWPMic3KQ

    Really? My son is an electrical engineer who beyond building robotic
    warehouses for a company all of you know even if you don't do business
    with them, is raising a very cute 4 year old daughter and involved
    with the board of the local Hackspace group (it provides a workshop
    for inventors) and is involved as a senior volunteer for Elections
    Canada who are NOT politicians but the ones that run the
    administrative side of the elections.

    While he definitely disagrees with his old man on all sorts of issues
    there's no question I'm proud of him. (Though I do want a grandson to
    carry on the family name...)

    According to that quote, I'd say the kid is "making it"

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.16
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From The Horny Goat@3:633/10 to All on Fri Jun 12 17:33:31 2026
    On Tue, 9 Jun 2026 20:07:35 -0000 (UTC), "Adam H. Kerman"
    <ahk@chinet.com> wrote:

    I don't favor state laws banning use in the classroom as that misses the
    real point, which is lack of reading. And you get some kids just
    recording lectures for later reference, or creating evidence of absolute >nonsense in classrooms.

    Fair enough but most of the prohibitions are against things that beep
    or otherwise disturb others. If a device can't be muted in a library
    or classroom it shouldn't be allowed. If it can where's the problem?

    That doesn't mean I support schools spending taxpayer dollars to
    provide non-teaching tools like charging stations for their devices.

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.16
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)