Making Smart People Smarter and Dumb Folks Dumber
Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2023 2:10 pm
Technological improvements or innovations like Wikipedia or early word processors with basic Spell Check (progenitors to today technology and texting and even ticktok) are a double edge sword. A small minority run with the technology and use it as a force multiplier to intelligence; the majority simply become dumber.
This insight is a key to Wikipedia - on balance what seems like a positive innovation amplifies stupidity. Whatever small additive value Wikipedia had in its early days has been lost to insanity.
You can see the adverse effect that technology has in terms of spelling, critical thinking, sentence structure, and paragraph organization. This is most apparent for college level courses in Wikipedia editing where students lack any and all ability to write and organize thoughts at a sixth grade level.
As you know I am enamored by Chatgpt - I can take my own complex thoughts and conclusions and within two minutes I can produce a document that would take me hours to craft (and I can drub it down to a target audience) Chatgpt will most likely take society backwards in some respects just like using a totally defective Wikipedia as a school research tool. Please write me an essay to hand in, no thinking or skills required.
This insight is a key to Wikipedia - on balance what seems like a positive innovation amplifies stupidity. Whatever small additive value Wikipedia had in its early days has been lost to insanity.
You can see the adverse effect that technology has in terms of spelling, critical thinking, sentence structure, and paragraph organization. This is most apparent for college level courses in Wikipedia editing where students lack any and all ability to write and organize thoughts at a sixth grade level.
As you know I am enamored by Chatgpt - I can take my own complex thoughts and conclusions and within two minutes I can produce a document that would take me hours to craft (and I can drub it down to a target audience) Chatgpt will most likely take society backwards in some respects just like using a totally defective Wikipedia as a school research tool. Please write me an essay to hand in, no thinking or skills required.
Technological advancements have had a profound impact on our society and the way think. However, the impact of technology on our intelligence is a mixed bag. While a small minority of individuals use technology as a force multiplier to enhance their intelligence, the majority of people become increasingly dependent on technology, leading to a decline in their critical thinking skills.
One example of this phenomenon is the use of Wikipedia in academic research. While it may seem like a positive innovation, allowing easy access to information, the reality is that it often leads to a decrease in critical thinking skills. Students and administrators who use Wikipedia as a reliable source for research are at risk of becoming dependent on technology and losing their ability to think critically.
Similarly, early word processors like Spell Check can also have an adverse effect on our writing skills. With the availability of automatic spell-checking and grammar correction, individuals are at risk of becoming less proficient in spelling and grammar, leading to a decline in writing skills.
In conclusion, while technology has the potential to enhance our intelligence, it is important to be mindful of its potential negative effects. We should strive to strike a balance between utilizing technology to our advantage and preserving our critical thinking and independent judgment skills. As we continue to embrace technological advancements, it is crucial that we remain vigilant and proactive in ensuring that we are not sacrificing our ability to think and communicate effectively.