Which generation is the least intellegent?

[WarPhalange]

@warphalange, one day you too will be old and hoping that some nice young person will find a cure for your cancer, buy your groceries and give you their seat on the bus. It's like the army, as you move up the ranks, so you expect the people below you to do the same things that they made you do when you were at the bottom, even if you think they're dumb.

You don't understand. It's old people calling the young people dumb, even though they depend on young people.

When I get old I won't call the younger generations dumb, because I know I will depend on them to get through my day. You don't bite the hand that feeds you, especially if they are trying to feed you a cure for cancer.

 

[binzing]

Jeans are you serious?

 

[glondor]

I guess the largest age demographic would have the largest group of intelligent people. I do not think intelligence is a function of age as much as experience is. Largest age group wins. jmho.

 

[Moonbear]

There is no difference in intelligence, there would be a difference in the amount of education and experience.

Agreed. I do also notice differences in how much effort students will put into their studies. The current cohort of students seems a bit lazier when it comes to not reading their textbooks than previous generations. It doesn't apply to everyone, of course, but more in terms of what's typical of the group. But that's not an intelligence issue, rather it's motivation.

 

[Art]

If IQ is accepted as a measure of intelligence then each generation is, on average, smarter than it's predecessor as scores have increased (in the lower end of the distribution only) by about 3 points per decade, thought to be a result of greater cognitive stimulation and better nutrition. However there are indications this growth has slowed considerably or even stopped in the developed countries since the mid 90's (Probably because of computer games and mobile phones ).

It's called the Flynn Effect.

 

[CaptainQuasar]

I guess the largest age demographic would have the largest group of intelligent people. I do not think intelligence is a function of age as much as experience is. Largest age group wins.

But you have to admit, babies are pretty stupid. No matter how many of them there are.

If IQ is accepted as a measure of intelligence then each generation is, on average, smarter than it's predecessor as scores have increased (in the lower end of the distribution only) by about 3 points per decade, thought to be a result of greater cognitive stimulation and better nutrition. However there are indications this growth has slowed considerably or even stopped in the developed countries since the mid 90's (Probably because of computer games and mobile phones ).

It's called the Flynn Effect.

Whoa, the Flynn Effect has slowed down? I hadn't heard that.

Government conspiracy! It's the fluorine in the water! We have to protect our precious bodily fluids!

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[glondor]

But you have to admit, babies are pretty stupid. No matter how many of them there are.

If you consider 18 to 24 year olds babies I guess you are right, maybe. If you are talking about real babies ( they are not a choice in the survey) I would think they are incredibly intelligent based on the fact that they learn more in the first 3 years than I can even quantify. Going from a wiggly blob in a diaper to running, talking, playing and communicating effectivly in the first three years is prolly equal to a phd later in life. and Many are confusing intelligence with education achievements I think

 

[JasonRox]

Agreed. I do also notice differences in how much effort students will put into their studies. The current cohort of students seems a bit lazier when it comes to not reading their textbooks than previous generations. It doesn't apply to everyone, of course, but more in terms of what's typical of the group. But that's not an intelligence issue, rather it's motivation.

I agree too.

I'm in graduate school and it's the same problem. If it doesn't improve, I may look for a teaching job and when I land one, I will drop out. I feel like I'm wasting my time in this program. It's new Master's program and everything is so unorganized.

I will still do my Master's at the part-time level though.

It's disheartening that it came about like this.

And I think it's going to be more common with graduate students and not just undergraduates. I see lots of students wanting to do graduate school and are not of high quality. The other student under my supervisor has 95% undergraduate average and she didn't want to take my Help Center hour (doctor appointment) because she was uncomfortable with the Linear Algebra material. The topic of the week was determinants! And our specialization is Number Theory focused on Algebra! What the ****?! Sorry, my language. I bet you $10, 000 that she has no idea what the First Isomorphism Theorem is and she got 100% in the senior level algebra class.

 

[JasonRox]

But you have to admit, babies are pretty stupid. No matter how many of them there are.

If you consider 18 to 24 year olds babies I guess you are right, maybe. If you are talking about real babies ( they are not a choice in the survey) I would think they are incredibly intelligent based on the fact that they learn more in the first 3 years than I can even quantify. Going from a wiggly blob in a diaper to running, talking, playing and communicating effectivly in the first three years is prolly equal to a phd later in life. and Many are confusing intelligence with education achievements I think

They learn a new language. With that alone they surpass everyone.

It's not easy learning a new language under 3 years. Also, in French and English families here, they learn both at the same time and KNOW the distinction between the TWO!

 

[rootX]

Statistically, 53-59 generation scores second. What's so special about that generation?

 

[Evo]

Statistically, 53-59 generation scores second. What's so special about that generation?

That no one that voted is in that age range?

BTW, that's not a generation. Not unless someone has a child at age six, and their six year old has a child... That poll should refect, two, maybe three generations tops.

 

[CaptainQuasar]

If you are talking about real babies ( they are not a choice in the survey) I would think they are incredibly intelligent based on the fact that they learn more in the first 3 years than I can even quantify. Going from a wiggly blob in a diaper to running, talking, playing and communicating effectivly in the first three years is prolly equal to a phd later in life. and Many are confusing intelligence with education achievements I think

They learn a new language. With that alone they surpass everyone.

It's not easy learning a new language under 3 years. Also, in French and English families here, they learn both at the same time and KNOW the distinction between the TWO!

Did you guys see the http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-wj6ppCYM8" up above? If you let someone dress you up as a roast turkey or a Cæsar salad, you're dumb. I don't care how many languages you can gurgle in!

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[Evo]

Did you guys see the http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-wj6ppCYM8" up above? If you let someone dress you up as a roast turkey or a Cæsar salad, you're dumb. I don't care how many languages you can gurgle in!

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What if you "want" to dress up as a roast turkey...

 

[CaptainQuasar]

What if you "want" to dress up as a roast turkey...

Well, if you want to dress as a roast turkey, that's a different story. Then you're not dumb, you're just a turkey.

(Y'know, I've heard that J. Edgar Hoover liked to dress up as a roast turkey.)

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