I really wonder about surveys like these.

Post #242,565 by Another Scott 1/26/06 1:11:55 PM Reply	I really wonder about surveys like these. While I agree that the results are disconcerting, I wonder if it's due to people just not understanding things (or not thinking about them enough), or giving nonsense answers to a poll-taker that's pissing them off, or due to strongly held beliefs. What I'd really like to see is a broad survey of general knowledge of adults in several areas: 1) Government and Civics 2) Science and Mathematics 3) Philosophy/Morals 4) History 5) Religion 6) Health and Safety What do people really know and believe about these topics? If people think that: children are brought by the stork; the Earth is 6000 years old; lottery tickets and pyramid schemes are good investments; smoking and drinking have no consequences; police can do whatever they want in an interrogation as long as they don't beat the suspect; etc.; then do we really want such people determining policy in those areas? No, I don't think so. And misunderstandings about basic things like these should be reduced through educational initiatives (like, I dunno, maybe having less crap on TV?). Have you ever seen Jay Leno's [link\|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaywalking_%28The_Tonight_Show%29\|Jaywalking] interviews? There are a lot of people out there who don't think to clearly when they're being interviewed (or possibly at any time).... My $0.02. Cheers, Scott.
Post #242,671 by Ashton 1/27/06 6:45:38 AM 1/27/06 6:57:50 AM Reply	Sure you want to know? Answers to such questions as - Does the Earth revolve around the Sun or vice versa? Probably somewhere in WebLand resides a collection of a large number of really Basic questions and the appalling stats on the Vox Populi. (I have tuned out the results of the above.. vaguely recall that ~40% sorta never heard of the Copernicus and subsequent sagas. I'm sure it was not in the 30's.) (Then, when you quiz 'Christians' about the contents of that Good Book - and the most vehement haven't the foggiest about a lot of the tales - or have them remembered unrecognizably ... can any of this surprise, anymore?) Meher Baba said, Don't Worry. Be Happy. We must reconcile ourselves to enjoying The Fall - the Sequel (\ufffd Pixar); after all - whether comedy or tragedy: the Play's the thing wherein ... Origins of Dumbth? I believe television is going to be the test of the modern world, and that in this new opportunity to see beyond the range of our vision, we shall discover either a new and unbearable disturbance of the general peace, or a saving radiance in the sky, We shall stand or fall by television -- of that I am quite sure. See Edit for source, but add 100 years. sob silently Edited by Ashton Jan. 27, 2006, 06:54:01 AM EST Edited by Ashton Jan. 27, 2006, 06:57:50 AM EST Expand All History
Post #242,685 by Another Scott 1/27/06 7:54:59 AM Reply	He was a visionary. But it should be 1938. ;-)
Post #242,672 by Ashton 1/27/06 6:46:11 AM 1/27/06 6:46:54 AM Reply	Dupe Edited by Ashton Jan. 27, 2006, 06:46:54 AM EST Expand All History
Post #242,771 by ben_tilly 1/27/06 5:15:35 PM Reply	I don't. [link\|http://www.milk.com/wall-o-shame/heavy_boots.html\|http://www.milk.com/.../heavy_boots.html] [link\|http://www.dhmo.org/\|http://www.dhmo.org/] Are among the items that have convinced me that the average man on the street's understanding of science would probably be improved by a frontal lobotomy. Cheers, Ben I have come to believe that idealism without discipline is a quick road to disaster, while discipline without idealism is pointless. -- Aaron Ward (my brother)
Post #242,777 by warmachine 1/27/06 6:39:03 PM Reply	The second is clearly a joke, not a lunatic warning Matthew Greet Choose Life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose a fucking big television, choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players and electrical tin openers. Choose good health, low cholesterol, and dental insurance. Choose fixed interest mortgage repayments. Choose a starter home. Choose your friends. Choose leisurewear and matching luggage. Choose DIY and wondering who the fuck you are on a Sunday morning. Choose sitting on that couch watching mind-numbing, spirit-crushing game shows, stuffing fucking junk food into your mouth. Choose rotting away at the end of it all, pishing your last in a miserable home, nothing more than an embarrassment to the selfish, fucked up brats you spawned to replace yourself. Choose your future. Choose life... But why would I want to do a thing like that? I chose not to choose life. I chose somethin' else. And the reasons? There are no reasons. Who needs reasons when you've got heroin? - Mark Renton, Trainspotting.
Post #242,788 by ben_tilly 1/27/06 7:26:43 PM Reply	You'd be amazed at how many DON'T get the joke I have come to believe that idealism without discipline is a quick road to disaster, while discipline without idealism is pointless. -- Aaron Ward (my brother)

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