The Ignorance of Commoners Reaches New Heights

[The Radical]

Today, while out and about in this;

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

I was accosted by a large number of the great unwashed. My new acquaintances where perfectly convinced that I was, in fact, none other than Albert Einstein. I am, unfortunately, entirely certain that this was their genuine belief, and not that they were attempting to play some sort of cruel joke. Taunting I can understand, indeed it is to be expected to a certain extent, but this was a new kind of torture. Has anyone else had this sort of experience? Are my expectations of the average person's intelligence really too high, or did I just have the misfortune of running into a particularly dense gang of pedestrians?

[Dr. Oliver Cross]

I believe that yes, these are extraordinarily dense people.  On the order of neutron stars, honestly.

[Vancouver Air Privateer]

Coming from Vancouver I'm not surprised. People like that are the reason the Vancouver Air Privateer operates south of the border nowadays...

[popuptoaster]

Sadly, a couple of days ago i had to explain to adult members of my own family that,


"no, Charles Darwin is dead i'm afraid, he didn't invent gravity no, he came up with the theory of evolution which describes how natural selection can change one species gradually into another."

[Bald Knobber Labs]

Now I am not saying that I am a smart man, however I do know some things. When I was a kid And I suppose others my age knew things. We had some understanding of current events, history and science. I am sorry to say that I have discovered that people today and a lot of the younger generation do not have as broad of range of knowledge. It seems to be more limited to a specific area or topic.

[Rockula]

There may be a tiny, incy wincy, glimmer of hope. At least they'd HEARD of Einstein.

[von Klank]

Radical, if your expectations of the intelligence of the 'average' in-duh-vidual range above a cool room temperature I.Q., then sadly, I'm afraid you are mistaken. There are pockets of intelligent resistance, but for the most part, the general populace shambles about like herds of zombies - but without any of the expected desire for 'tasty brains'. I fear that the next generation will require placement in a sunny window, and will require watering twice a week.

Right spiffing appendage, BTW.

[frabjous]

Now I am not saying that I am a smart man, however I do know some things. When I was a kid And I suppose others my age knew things. We had some understanding of current events, history and science. I am sorry to say that I have discovered that people today and a lot of the younger generation do not have as broad of range of knowledge. It seems to be more limited to a specific area or topic.

Please don't put the blame on the "younger generation" - the internet can be just as educational as a book. I've met plenty older people who are just as ignorant.

[popuptoaster]

There are far more ways to learn these days that there were in my youth (i'm 43) i use the fact that my 7 year old daughter loves to sit on the sofa with me as a way to get her off watching american kids programmes and try to find something interesting that we can watch together on the discovery or history channels for instance, she picks up things that i assumed would be above her and we can have some good chats about the TV programme, we sat and watched "Universe" the other day and had a nice chat about why the sun isnt a planet and how big and how far away it is.

[H. MacHinery]

Now I am not saying that I am a smart man, however I do know some things. When I was a kid And I suppose others my age knew things. We had some understanding of current events, history and science. I am sorry to say that I have discovered that people today and a lot of the younger generation do not have as broad of range of knowledge. It seems to be more limited to a specific area or topic.

Please don't put the blame on the "younger generation" - the internet can be just as educational as a book. I've met plenty older people who are just as ignorant.

Excellent point.

Comedian/show host Jay Leno does this schtick called "Jay Walking" where he goes out and interviews people on the street, and often the topic is history or current events, and I am continually dismayed at how badly the people do at even remembering the basics.

I mean, I can understand not remembering the exact years the US Civil War was, but at least you should know it was the midille of the 1800's!

[Sgt.Major Thistlewaite]

That's hilarious! Sad, but hilarious. The arm is great, by the by.

~T

[Draaka]

Whenever this topic comes up I like to recite the story of the TV presenter who stopped random passer byes in the street to ask if they would ever vote for a heterosexual primeminister, where a (un)surprisingly high number said they would never vote for a heterosexual primeminister because it's wrong, sets a bad example, against the word of god etc. A few said they didn't mind if he was gay or not, as long as he had good policies. I sometimes wonder how long it will be until tXt534K (text speak for those without a chavy younger brother) is the nationally recognized language  

(awesome steam arm)

[Darkhound]

While I have nothing to add regarding the solid mass of ignorance that only a few brave souls are even trying to make a dent in, I must applaud the arm! Is that a hydraulic or pneumatic booster?

I am rather charmed by the idea of Albert Einstein clapping on his goggles and bowler, charging up his mechanical hand, and setting out to teach physics by physical force if necessary.

[frabjous]

While I have nothing to add regarding the solid mass of ignorance that only a few brave souls are even trying to make a dent in, I must applaud the arm! Is that a hydraulic or pneumatic booster?

I am rather charmed by the idea of Albert Einstein clapping on his goggles and bowler, charging up his mechanical hand, and setting out to teach physics by physical force if necessary.

Agreed. Someone needs to do Steampunk Einstein.

[Elliot_Pending]

As an old co-worker of mine used to say: "Stupidity should be painful."
You should have offered to sell the little philistines your autograph.

And, as everyone else has said, fantastic arm. I love it. 

[Capt. Dirigible]

I am rather charmed by the idea of Albert Einstein clapping on his goggles and bowler, charging up his mechanical hand, and setting out to teach physics by physical force if necessary

Like that idea..

"That's 'E equals MC SQUARED', Ass-hole!" *BIFF!*

[The Radical]

There may be a tiny, incy wincy, glimmer of hope. At least they'd HEARD of Einstein.

True. Perhaps this is a sign of change.

Is that a hydraulic or pneumatic booster?

Pneumatic.

As an old co-worker of mine used to say: "Stupidity should be painful."

Oh, how I wish it were so.

Actually, come to think of it, I'm surprised no one has Steampunk'd Einstein already. Surely he's out there somewhere...

[Arceye]

Stoopidity seems to be on the increase. And it's being allowed for in various ways. I was recently prescribed penicillin for an ear infection, and in the list of possible side effects was 'A very few people have noted a change in the consistency of their faeces (also known as poo)'. So the drug company is allowing for the fact that some of their customers do  not know even in context, what faeces are.

[The Radical]

That's just ridiculous. But I must admit, as intelligent as I claim to be, the phrase, "Also known as poo" made me giggle.

[Inktank]

I tend to get quite a few stares, points and whispers from simply wearing Victorian era clothing. Whilst picking up a pizza tonight, the woman behind the counter asked me what I was supposed to be, though I actually wasn't dressed up. I find it slightly annoying, but I don't really care; I like sticking out and not dressing the same way as everyone else.

On another note, I really like the costume.

[Churchwarden]

Not to play devil's advocate, but elevating intellect based on what you know versus what others do is a dangerous area. I may be able to out wit an American football loving, pick up truck driving, tobacco spitting redneck in areas of history and the arts, but it still doesn't stop me from paying him huge amounts of money to fix my car. People focus on what interests them, for most here that is history, art, literature, etc. I would imagine it only hurts us to criticize others for not sharing our loves and hobbies...in fact, it sounds like we might be guilty of the same actions that we claim bring us so much grief.

[GideonFaile]

You're harshing my buzz, man. 

[H. MacHinery]

Not to play devil's advocate, but elevating intellect based on what you know versus what others do is a dangerous area. I may be able to out wit an American football loving, pick up truck driving, tobacco spitting redneck in areas of history and the arts, but it still doesn't stop me from paying him huge amounts of money to fix my car. People focus on what interests them, for most here that is history, art, literature, etc. I would imagine it only hurts us to criticize others for not sharing our loves and hobbies...in fact, it sounds like we might be guilty of the same actions that we claim bring us so much grief.

I'm just continually gobsmacked by the lack of retention of the basic school lessons - in the US, we get the Pilgrims arriving in 1620, Revolution in 1776, CIvil War in the 1860's, and yet none of that seems to stick.  I'm not talking esoteric stuff like calculus, or advanced biology, just basic history and geography.

[Sgt.Major Thistlewaite]

Not to play devil's advocate, but elevating intellect based on what you know versus what others do is a dangerous area. I may be able to out wit an American football loving, pick up truck driving, tobacco spitting redneck in areas of history and the arts, but it still doesn't stop me from paying him huge amounts of money to fix my car. People focus on what interests them, for most here that is history, art, literature, etc. I would imagine it only hurts us to criticize others for not sharing our loves and hobbies...in fact, it sounds like we might be guilty of the same actions that we claim bring us so much grief.

These folks up here in the mountains ( who, by the way, prefer the term Appalachian Americans as opposed to 'redneck,' or hillbilly.'   ) are not as ignorant as 'flatlanders' assume them to be. I'll give you an example. The well-to-do city-dwellers like to make excursions up here to search for antiques. An old woman I know lives alongside a well traveled route, and keeps a few things on display in her yard during the 'season.' One day a city woman stopped her Mercedes at the old woman's house, but wasn't interested in much that was set out for sale. She did, however, notice a kitten drinking milk at the edge of the porch...from a small china bowl that was of a rare and scarce pattern, unblemished. Thinking that the old woman couldn't possibly know the value of the bowl, since she was using it in such a manner, the city woman offered the mountaineer woman $10.00 for it, a price readily agreed upon. The city woman drove away with her "treasure".....and the old woman removed another small bowl, of exactly the same pattern, from the box full of reproduction bowls ( 50 cents each ) sitting just inside the door, filled it with milk and set it out for the kitten.

~T

[aquafortis]

^^ :d

Never underestimate. Never assume. Always look behind and around. If not, maybe the worst that will happen is you'll pay over the odds for a cat-bowl.

I'm reminded of a soviet pilot who defected and flew his MIG into a German airbase some years back. The Americans pulled the lids off it and had a good nose round the workings, and lol'd when they found lots of small thermionic valves instead of transistors. They ribbed the pilot about this and its low-tech look, and he politely reminded them that under the influence of intense atomic EMP, the MIG would keep flying... unlike their F-16s. That shut them up.