General Discussion

FSogol

(47,628 posts)

95. While I usually skip age bashing posts, I can't resist posting my fav Proust quote:

Mon Aug 27, 2012, 09:00 AM

Aug 2012

"When from a long distant past nothing persists, after the people are dead, after things are broken and scattered, still alone, more persistent, more faithful, the smell and taste of things remain poised a long, long time like souls, ready to remind us, waiting, hoping for their moment amid the ruins of all the rest, and bear unfaltering in the tiny and almost impalpable drop of their essence the vast structure of recollection." -"Remembrance of Things Past" by Marcel Proust

or as paraphrased by the Dead Milkmen:

"And when my friend and I were done
We went to rest upon the sun
Cause life takes from us the things we love
And it robs us of the special ones
And it puts them high where we can't climb
And we only miss them all the time

And we sing:
Life is shit, life is shit
The world is shit, the world is shit
This is life as I know it"

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Highlight:

Are you ever SHOCKED by how butt-ignorant *SOME* young people are? [View all] XemaSab Aug 2012 OP

I know Apollo landing deniers twice my age. Plenty of stupid to distribute across the spectrum. (nt) Posteritatis Aug 2012 #1

NOT quite the same thing as complete ignorance of a PRESIDENT. WinkyDink Aug 2012 #97

Why would a sermon be mentioned in a public school? a geek named Bob Aug 2012 #2

... I'd kind of expect an HS graduate to be aware of things that aren't just on the curriculum. (nt) Posteritatis Aug 2012 #5

What? with the No Child Left beind rules in place... a geek named Bob Aug 2012 #7

Well, it's a fairly common word in the English language Chorophyll Aug 2012 #13

"The Scarlet Letter" would be another place XemaSab Aug 2012 #20

Sermon would be a word learned in English class. Lint Head Aug 2012 #15

I've taught for 23 years a geek named Bob Aug 2012 #75

My had several excellent English teachers. The use of the dictionary and thesaurus was primary. Lint Head Aug 2012 #99

On that, I would agree... a geek named Bob Aug 2012 #124

OFGS. I taught English. We, you know, read STORIES and BOOKS, not just "lists." WinkyDink Aug 2012 #100

Okay... a geek named Bob Aug 2012 #126

no Moby Dick, then? eShirl Aug 2012 #299

I asked my incoming students about that, about three years back a geek named Bob Aug 2012 #338

Thank you. That was what I and others were thinking. It's a general word used commonly... Honeycombe8 Aug 2012 #302

Are you really trying to defend this? enlightenment Aug 2012 #122

oh boy a geek named Bob Aug 2012 #131

Where was the 'looking down'? enlightenment Aug 2012 #198

Because it is often used in other than literal contexts? . . .n/t annabanana Aug 2012 #204

I don't think it is very common at all Marrah_G Aug 2012 #211

Did you have to look it up? enlightenment Aug 2012 #239

Well considering I was raised a catholic household, I did not have to look it up Marrah_G Aug 2012 #244

If you insist, I'll take your word for it. enlightenment Aug 2012 #246

Vocabulary is ever changing Marrah_G Aug 2012 #247

Without intending to look down at or argue with anyone here OriginalGeek Aug 2012 #250

I don't recall saying anything about intelligence. enlightenment Aug 2012 #254

LOL- I love to read but hated shakespeare with a passion Marrah_G Aug 2012 #365

The problem with Shakespeare is that enlightenment Aug 2012 #370

Awww thanks! Marrah_G Aug 2012 #372

But most people if they have read something - Hawthorne, Mark Twain treestar Aug 2012 #269

Do you read books & watch movies, too? Honeycombe8 Aug 2012 #306

We actually live in Salem, MA Marrah_G Aug 2012 #366

Some of the responses are in a tone of astonishment, because it's like saying you haven't heard Honeycombe8 Aug 2012 #368

A WORD list? Pardon me, but all the vocab kids need to learn are on word lists? I beg to differ. Nay Aug 2012 #127

Dude... a geek named Bob Aug 2012 #136

That's not what "Separation of Church and State" means. Add Constitutional Scholar to the things Romulox Aug 2012 #146

You sound like a great teacher. eShirl Aug 2012 #303

"That word" as you call it, is integral to learning about history and English lit. Honeycombe8 Aug 2012 #310

Honeycombe8, a geek named Bob Aug 2012 #339

Not hearing a word often is no reason for kids not to know what it means. Reverend Wright... Honeycombe8 Aug 2012 #369

I've used a word list for sixty years. It's called a dictionary. spayneuter Aug 2012 #164

Word list? What word list? We're talking general reading, English lit & grammar. Honeycombe8 Aug 2012 #301

spelling and vocabulary, i imagine. what kids do thru out their school years. weekly word lists. seabeyond Aug 2012 #311

I think I had lists I had to learn in elementary school. They were for spelling tests, I think. nt Honeycombe8 Aug 2012 #317

well... son in AP courses in high school and i still hear he does vocabulary. awesome words seabeyond Aug 2012 #318

I don't ever remember seeing the word anywhere but in relation to church Marrah_G Aug 2012 #207

Why not? FrodosPet Aug 2012 #281

that is how i see it. i prefer to know everything i can, so i better understand for a number of seabeyond Aug 2012 #285

I asked my son and his girlfriend today Marrah_G Aug 2012 #363

A big part of my original point is that not only are the schools failing XemaSab Aug 2012 #367

Do your kids not go to the movies? Ever read books? Honeycombe8 Aug 2012 #312

I asked them today Marrah_G Aug 2012 #364

FAIL. Religion has played a major role in world and American history. kestrel91316 Aug 2012 #23

It's just that we don't talk about it anymore customerserviceguy Aug 2012 #62

it's called vocabulary. They used to teach it. TeamPooka Aug 2012 #46

In the schools where I've taught a geek named Bob Aug 2012 #71

I'm beginning to understand the complaints about public education. Honeycombe8 Aug 2012 #313

that's another one a geek named Bob Aug 2012 #337

That's an amazing statement lunatica Aug 2012 #53

Okay... a geek named Bob Aug 2012 #70

Oh please! lunatica Aug 2012 #72

Really? a geek named Bob Aug 2012 #74

As a teacher then you know it's your and your colleagues fault then lunatica Aug 2012 #96

Bring it... a geek named Bob Aug 2012 #120

sermon can be used in other manners, that is not about religion per se. seabeyond Aug 2012 #121

Really... madmom Aug 2012 #141

Bob! Back up a bit. pscot Aug 2012 #194

Fair point. a geek named Bob Aug 2012 #195

Uh....IT'S A COMMON WORD, maybe?! Jeez. WinkyDink Aug 2012 #98

Up here in Connecticut... a geek named Bob Aug 2012 #123

You are calling other people names--because of YOUR students ignorance? Stunning logic. nt Romulox Aug 2012 #128

I lived in rural maryland for a while a geek named Bob Aug 2012 #134

Oh dear. Now you don't know the definition of "ignorance"? It means not knowing something. Romulox Aug 2012 #137

okay... a geek named Bob Aug 2012 #138

LOL. Keep being proud of your ignorance! nt Romulox Aug 2012 #143

Right a geek named Bob Aug 2012 #147

Again, that's what "ignorance" means. Maybe put that on a word list for your kids? Romulox Aug 2012 #150

It's Not Superfluous RobinA Aug 2012 #186

sigh a geek named Bob Aug 2012 #189

Post removed Post removed Aug 2012 #219

Language is all about communication Marrah_G Aug 2012 #248

In linguistics a geek named Bob Aug 2012 #251

we should all learn about religion whether we subscribe to one or not. iemitsu Aug 2012 #202

Yes, we should! FrodosPet Aug 2012 #283

Bob- I think you just figured it out Marrah_G Aug 2012 #212

All of this exchange I've had here a geek named Bob Aug 2012 #214

it never was ONE culture justabob Aug 2012 #220

there was agreat book that talked about this a geek named Bob Aug 2012 #223

america is less dominated by one culture today than it was in the past. iemitsu Aug 2012 #229

One of my students pointed out in a paper that the main thing uniting the USA right now a geek named Bob Aug 2012 #231

sadly, your student might be right. iemitsu Aug 2012 #232

sigh... that student may be all too prophetic... a geek named Bob Aug 2012 #233

sounds like a dynamic thinker. iemitsu Aug 2012 #236

errr... sort of a geek named Bob Aug 2012 #237

I thought it was a standard term for a protestant minister's address to his congregation treestar Aug 2012 #297

Treestar... a geek named Bob Aug 2012 #335

To the extent you've never heard the word "sermon?' treestar Aug 2012 #355

Okay... a geek named Bob Aug 2012 #358

Yeah, it's not exactly an archaic word n/t deutsey Aug 2012 #340

You have to read books in public school gollygee Aug 2012 #119

From Tom Sawyer: "They had been hid in the unused gallery listening to their own funeral sermon!" Romulox Aug 2012 #135

Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn aren't much these days a geek named Bob Aug 2012 #226

MArtin Luther King Jr JI7 Aug 2012 #222

You'd learn about it in history and English literature treestar Aug 2012 #268

treestar a geek named Bob Aug 2012 #277

You managed to get an English degree with no mention of Jonathan Edwards or John Donne? sweetloukillbot Aug 2012 #327

"Sinners in the hands of an angry God" was taught as literature when I was in high school. sweetloukillbot Aug 2012 #276

nope, not on any of the syllabi a geek named Bob Aug 2012 #278

Where are you getting your degree from? XemaSab Aug 2012 #284

i hope you have not just read what is on the syllabi. iemitsu Aug 2012 #330

I read a geek named Bob Aug 2012 #336

ok, seems odd to me that anyone with a college degree iemitsu Aug 2012 #361

Nonsense. We studied early American literature, including such tblue37 Aug 2012 #331

To understanding American history deutsey Aug 2012 #342

I know you guys aren't going to believe this a geek named Bob Aug 2012 #343

And one wonders why, beyond the "presentism" that seems to define everything deutsey Aug 2012 #345

Never heard that one either a geek named Bob Aug 2012 #349

I think an extreme example of "presentism" is "That's so five minutes ago" deutsey Aug 2012 #351

ah. Okay a geek named Bob Aug 2012 #352

That's fine with me deutsey Aug 2012 #357

I have witnessed the same kind of abysmal ignorance in young people. Speck Tater Aug 2012 #3

Why on earth would you need to identify them as "white"? frazzled Aug 2012 #4

You're right to call me out on that XemaSab Aug 2012 #10

You are never ever supposed to mention race here on DU. Manifestor_of_Light Aug 2012 #238

Who's That? otohara Aug 2012 #6

There are plenty of people my age who are dumber than a bag of hair. Ikonoklast Aug 2012 #8

Does Colorado have a Beach ? JI7 Aug 2012 #9

My sister thought all states had beaches (ocean/sea beaches)... a la izquierda Aug 2012 #47

"The main part of what?" Gormy Cuss Aug 2012 #199

I had a person at work tell me that they knew it was the "End Times" because..... alphafemale Aug 2012 #255

Oh, I know how to react. a la izquierda Aug 2012 #263

Young people today aren't taught any meaningful history TheDebbieDee Aug 2012 #11

I remember that from Project Runway XemaSab Aug 2012 #25

Anyone who watches 'Project Runway' should not be casting stones about one's education. randome Aug 2012 #64

Oh for heaven's sake. Aren't you the lofty one. Demit Aug 2012 #83

Proust? Who's that? randome Aug 2012 #87

While I usually skip age bashing posts, I can't resist posting my fav Proust quote: FSogol Aug 2012 #95

Wise words. randome Aug 2012 #184

Well, la-di-da to ignorance! I watch PR and have a Master's-plus and am a world traveller. WinkyDink Aug 2012 #107

Well, if you're only talking about soldiers 20-24 is right Confusious Aug 2012 #45

Your kid not knowing who they are... YellowRubberDuckie Aug 2012 #66

But don't forget the yellow rubber duckies, too! randome Aug 2012 #69

You know, I've been thinking about that alot since I posted yesterday........... TheDebbieDee Aug 2012 #267

Never learned how to tell time? YellowRubberDuckie Aug 2012 #272

i disagree. if a kid is willing to take the opportunity, it is there. amazed the classes in the HS seabeyond Aug 2012 #77

I'm under 40 Aerows Aug 2012 #104

My son's 5th grade teacher last year... cyberswede Aug 2012 #157

history teachers love kids like yours, if they will talk in class. seabeyond Aug 2012 #165

I don't mind the ignorance so much... bhikkhu Aug 2012 #12

After I got out of vet school and 8 straight years of college, kestrel91316 Aug 2012 #22

Every day. Lint Head Aug 2012 #14

No. darkstar Aug 2012 #16

You must not know any republicans. Jakes Progress Aug 2012 #17

Shasta County is really red XemaSab Aug 2012 #27

My point is that ignorance isn't just for the young. Jakes Progress Aug 2012 #209

I thought young people were only that stupid here in SoCal......... kestrel91316 Aug 2012 #18

I'm SHOCKED by how butt-ignorant they are of the proliferation problems of nuclear energy bananas Aug 2012 #19

Why can't they be like we were Hey Jude Aug 2012 #21

Or as Socrates said 1monster Aug 2012 #59

I played Harvey something OriginalGeek Aug 2012 #257

Someone very wise... 99Forever Aug 2012 #24

Might have been this guy... Ikonoklast Aug 2012 #28

When I was in high school about 15 years ago XemaSab Aug 2012 #29

At vitually every ... 99Forever Aug 2012 #102

ya... i am thinking the scorn seabeyond Aug 2012 #105

I'm a she XemaSab Aug 2012 #151

ah... you are one of the ones seabeyond Aug 2012 #155

We had a history teacher (back in the early 80s) who showed us FSogol Aug 2012 #125

My third grade teacher told the class that the Pilgrims landed in Virginia sweetloukillbot Aug 2012 #328

What a great way to win over any young people who might read this! Sick of the GOP Aug 2012 #26

why do you think she is trying to win over anyone, and it's very unlikely people like that JI7 Aug 2012 #35

since when do elders need "to win over" the young? Let the young LEARN SOMETHING. WinkyDink Aug 2012 #106

I'm glad kids are staying out of church these days. Manifestor_of_Light Aug 2012 #240

She explained it upthread, she's doing research for a book about an obscure religious movement. LeftyMom Aug 2012 #296

we were all young and dumb at some point liberal_at_heart Aug 2012 #30

who LBJ was is considered "latest world news" ? JI7 Aug 2012 #36

I was just giving some examples liberal_at_heart Aug 2012 #38

They're so addicted to those electronic devices... a la izquierda Aug 2012 #48

and you have every right to kick them out liberal_at_heart Aug 2012 #190

Oh, don't get me wrong... a la izquierda Aug 2012 #242

Oh please laundry_queen Aug 2012 #191

My students cannot use laptops either a la izquierda Aug 2012 #241

My program requires laptops. laundry_queen Aug 2012 #273

Ahh, not worth my time. a la izquierda Aug 2012 #275

Did you forget people can see edits? laundry_queen Aug 2012 #326

I wouldn't know, because I thankfully have no children,... a la izquierda Aug 2012 #333

No, it's different. Igel Aug 2012 #290

How old are the students in your class? laundry_queen Aug 2012 #325

Nope, no can "cut." I had heard of ALL the presidents preceding my own 17 years. WinkyDink Aug 2012 #103

Bashing and potentially alienating young people...? WHY??? Zalatix Aug 2012 #31

Clarified XemaSab Aug 2012 #34

People have been complaining about the ignorance SheilaT Aug 2012 #32

So you told a young person you spent "most of the weekend" listening to sermons... DontTreadOnMe Aug 2012 #33

I'm taking one for the team XemaSab Aug 2012 #37

Oh thank God you aren't one of the crazy nutjobs... DontTreadOnMe Aug 2012 #40

Depends on who you ask XemaSab Aug 2012 #42

Ignorance lives in every age. sakabatou Aug 2012 #39

That's my take on it deutsey Aug 2012 #344

I'm more shocked by remembering how ignorant I was when I was young. nt jobycom Aug 2012 #41

my husband likes to point out to me liberal_at_heart Aug 2012 #43

I took a political science class and I was the only one who knew the significance of Nov. 22, 1963. Initech Aug 2012 #44

How long ago was that? Brigid Aug 2012 #215

About 2005 - 2006. Initech Aug 2012 #227

49 years Capt. Obvious Aug 2012 #356

Wise guy. Brigid Aug 2012 #362

Unless you're old enough to have lived through it, the date itself is unimportant, cemaphonic Aug 2012 #216

Yeah true but my mom's side is very liberal. Initech Aug 2012 #230

Who cares about the date? joeglow3 Aug 2012 #221

College students once told me the Supreme Court was elected mainer Aug 2012 #49

I have a niece who was an honor student at her high school... theHandpuppet Aug 2012 #50

we live in texas. i had a niece not able to identify and differentiate new mexico from mexico seabeyond Aug 2012 #80

An adult at my workplace did not know there was a difference between NM and Mexico. Mr Nay and Nay Aug 2012 #145

omfg.... see, that was the conversation i had. lol. and we live in fuckin texas. seabeyond Aug 2012 #154

Too many star students have zero retention ProudToBeBlueInRhody Aug 2012 #210

... geckosfeet Aug 2012 #51

A few years ago a test for graduation from a nineteenth century farming community school was 1monster Aug 2012 #52

And history itself has expanded not just time-wise, KitSileya Aug 2012 #86

Children learn from their elders. kentuck Aug 2012 #54

It sounds like you're blaming the girls for being ignorant lunatica Aug 2012 #55

There's blame to go around here XemaSab Aug 2012 #163

no more than I am shocked by some butt-ignorant old timers. Fla_Democrat Aug 2012 #56

they were probably whining about the black socialist communist president graham4anything Aug 2012 #57

You Know, it Never Really Occurred to Me On the Road Aug 2012 #116

if the 99% of republicans were smart... graham4anything Aug 2012 #174

Not suprising flobee1 Aug 2012 #58

The Internet is changing the way we learn and store information. In the bad old days, 1monster Aug 2012 #65

That's foolishness. Igel Aug 2012 #292

Unless you know that in 1963 people were killed in the US for registering black people XemaSab Aug 2012 #295

No. That's science. 1monster Aug 2012 #332

Shocked? no, because I remember how dumb I was intaglio Aug 2012 #60

I mentioned the death of Neil Armstrong customerserviceguy Aug 2012 #61

OMG did they take Neil Armstrong's medals away before he died? JustABozoOnThisBus Aug 2012 #113

Most people know only what they have to know. SmileyRose Aug 2012 #63

Not nearly as much as how butt-ignorant some older people are... JHB Aug 2012 #67

My God, they'll all Bristol Palin. no_hypocrisy Aug 2012 #68

Oh boy Shankapotomus Aug 2012 #73

I wouldn't say that XemaSab Aug 2012 #166

lol. nt seabeyond Aug 2012 #167

I don't want to be difficult, we all have personal moments of thoughtlessness Shankapotomus Aug 2012 #176

I'm not wrong here XemaSab Aug 2012 #177

Aww crap Shankapotomus Aug 2012 #179

some kids like to play stupid. they think cute and sexy. i know stupid adults, too. i know some seabeyond Aug 2012 #76

Lots of kids have been given grief for acting smart. Mariana Aug 2012 #144

And that's the truth. nt laundry_queen Aug 2012 #192

so true. my oldest was so very fuckin perceptive and so very nice. seabeyond Aug 2012 #193

If you watch those segments by Leno and other comedians, it isn't just the young.... hlthe2b Aug 2012 #78

Forget knowledge of history, check this out: OneGrassRoot Aug 2012 #79

truly laughing out lout. lordy. nt seabeyond Aug 2012 #82

LMAO Aerows Aug 2012 #115

Mr Nay and I are on the floor laughing. Christ on a crutch, that's funny. Nay Aug 2012 #153

Here comes the shrimp story Amerigo Vespucci Aug 2012 #81

He could have set the damn house on fire Aerows Aug 2012 #117

One time he was making some kind of Rice-A-Roni "creation"... Amerigo Vespucci Aug 2012 #132

Maybe it's the kid spray shitting and peeing ProudToBeBlueInRhody Aug 2012 #206

The thing is, being 21 isn't what's made this son an idiot. Mariana Aug 2012 #148

I'm a pretty direct person, and that can be a good thing, or a bad thing. Depends... Amerigo Vespucci Aug 2012 #170

If students graduate ignorant, AnnaLee Aug 2012 #84

I agree with you, both of those examples are shocking. Waiting For Everyman Aug 2012 #85

my 14 yr old says... ya, that would be the "grown up" discussing honest, legitimate, forcible rape? seabeyond Aug 2012 #88

NO DonCoquixote Aug 2012 #89

This! So much this! Hydra Aug 2012 #288

My point exactly XemaSab Aug 2012 #289

i am far more hopeful with the youth of this country than the collection off asshats we've assembled piratefish08 Aug 2012 #90

The girl who asked what a sermon was reflection Aug 2012 #91

No, no, she must be an ignoramus Mariana Aug 2012 #152

No, she heard me XemaSab Aug 2012 #168

not really... ropi Aug 2012 #92

yeah... but 70% of them will vote Obama while a majority of geezers wont scheming daemons Aug 2012 #93

Not with the OP's attitude they won't Liber T. Anjustis Aug 2012 #188

50% of them won't vote at all XemaSab Aug 2012 #266

I have had collage aged students tell me that oneshooter Aug 2012 #94

I am a substitute teacher and most kids I come in contact with are very intelligent. Jennicut Aug 2012 #101

The young are our future NNN0LHI Aug 2012 #108

It is precisely "knowledge of history" that makes sense of current events. WinkyDink Aug 2012 #109

My 8 year old knows who George W. Bush is. Jennicut Aug 2012 #111

the expectation that a kid will learn all things in school is foolish. i never expected the schools seabeyond Aug 2012 #110

Of course, this is true (I once shocked a class by informing them thusly). HOWEVER, WinkyDink Aug 2012 #112

i havent seen it. and as i said in another post, both sons have a passion for history and have had seabeyond Aug 2012 #114

Shocked? tama Aug 2012 #118

I was perfectly patient and kind XemaSab Aug 2012 #172

I would have asked what a sermons was too at that age Ter Aug 2012 #129

She's a grocery cart pusher, not a computer engineer. Because she's ignorant or worse. nt Bernardo de La Paz Aug 2012 #130

I'm happy to say my 16 year old son is not one of them steve2470 Aug 2012 #133

yea... good for you. seabeyond Aug 2012 #159

To be fair I am shocked by how butt-ignorant some old people are. Just yesterday doc03 Aug 2012 #139

That's sad. n/t Bertha Venation Aug 2012 #225

I was shocked when I mentioned David Bowie to one of my young co-workers Pool Hall Ace Aug 2012 #140

He's a pop star whose popularity peaked ~15 years before she was born? cemaphonic Aug 2012 #228

Had a thought: did she recognize Johnson's name after you answered her? JHB Aug 2012 #142

i was wondering too. i learned johnson. lbj later in life. nt seabeyond Aug 2012 #160

To be fair, there are things I learned from DU and still don't know... steve2470 Aug 2012 #149

Reading is the best way to gain general knowledge, IMO. It's never too late to read. nt Honeycombe8 Aug 2012 #314

Aw I was just as pig ignorant when I was 18 Warpy Aug 2012 #156

excellent points nt steve2470 Aug 2012 #158

The person in the OP has to go through all of that TOO. And still doesn't know the definition Romulox Aug 2012 #162

While "sermon" is not an incredibly esoteric word, this thread is the first I can recall ... ieoeja Aug 2012 #180

This is actually a favorite sermon topic of the people I am researching XemaSab Aug 2012 #234

Now "quarter" and "half" are too difficult for a *tenth grader*? You can't make this stuff up. nt Romulox Aug 2012 #249

Butt-ignorance is not limited to the young. The Velveteen Ocelot Aug 2012 #161

constantly shocked by young people BOG PERSON Aug 2012 #169

And the lawns - the *lawns*! (nt) Posteritatis Aug 2012 #187

One more point about ignorance.... steve2470 Aug 2012 #171

NO abelenkpe Aug 2012 #173

Human knowledge has expanded somewhat since we were young. ieoeja Aug 2012 #175

Good, we are progressing, as soon as no young folks know what a sermon is snooper2 Aug 2012 #178

Hah! I admit that was my first thought as well. Arugula Latte Aug 2012 #197

Wasn't Sermon on the Mound when Casey was at the Bat? PufPuf23 Aug 2012 #181

It's totally true XemaSab Aug 2012 #182

my favorite statement (and i've heard it from several students) iemitsu Aug 2012 #183

Young people 4-1 support Obama over romney. Zax2me Aug 2012 #185

So I just asked my 12 year old if she knew those things laundry_queen Aug 2012 #196

I'm actually more shocked by how ignorant an older white dude I know is. Arugula Latte Aug 2012 #200

I have met plenty of dumb middle age and old people johnd83 Aug 2012 #201

good point about the employment - smarts connection. iemitsu Aug 2012 #217

Yep, your generation really did a shitty job educating the next one. jeff47 Aug 2012 #203

They could probably talk for hours about things that you would have no idea about but Drale Aug 2012 #205

"Young people are getting stupider" is a millenia-old claim. (nt) Posteritatis Aug 2012 #224

The stupid goes long and deep across the nation... rasputin1952 Aug 2012 #208

In their defense........ Smilo Aug 2012 #213

I find ignorant, and informed, people of all ages jberryhill Aug 2012 #218

From two twentysomethings: "who is Bob Hope?" Liberal_in_LA Aug 2012 #235

Butt-ignorant young people usually have one or both butt-ignorant parents. haele Aug 2012 #243

14 yr old. sermon. what preacher does. lbj. lyndon b johnson. seabeyond Aug 2012 #245

What is lacking is common sense sometimes. texanwitch Aug 2012 #252

That's OK. Some of your elders probably didn't think very highly of your teen self either. alphafemale Aug 2012 #253

I find it more shocking how butt-ignorant SOME old people are... DFab420 Aug 2012 #256

Ageism in reverse. randome Aug 2012 #260

In Time Magazine, for example, 'sermon' was almost 10 times more common in the 50s than it is today. Prometheus Bound Aug 2012 #258

I was born in the late 70's XemaSab Aug 2012 #261

I'm kind of interested in this stuff. Here's 'sermon' in Time through the decades. Prometheus Bound Aug 2012 #264

Interesting that there was a double peak in the 30s and the 50s XemaSab Aug 2012 #265

You think that's bad, I know people half my age (between 30 and 40) Cleita Aug 2012 #259

Earlier this summer, Brigid Aug 2012 #262

+1 nt steve2470 Aug 2012 #271

No... actually, I'm not. The System works against them, so why should I expect different? fascisthunter Aug 2012 #270

Exactly XemaSab Aug 2012 #286

Yeah, not really. jp11 Aug 2012 #274

Nope...I work in healthcare. ileus Aug 2012 #279

Mere ignorance is curable and excusable Lydia Leftcoast Aug 2012 #280

Even I know more about the Kardashians than I ever cared to. Cleita Aug 2012 #282

I've gone to the tea party meetings three times (because it's good to know the enemy) XemaSab Aug 2012 #291

That's a bit harsh Whisp Aug 2012 #287

They've seen the words and the names. Igel Aug 2012 #293

I don't know if it's a result of dumbed down education or that their parents aren't too swift AND... MrMickeysMom Aug 2012 #294

no. but then i'm not surprised by how butt-ignorant people are in general to things i care about. NuttyFluffers Aug 2012 #298

In defense of the LBJ person treestar Aug 2012 #300

That's what I did XemaSab Aug 2012 #305

The problem with teaching recent history is that it's so politically charged. eppur_se_muova Aug 2012 #359

all of the time Third Doctor Aug 2012 #304

You think the average Boomer is any more knowledgeable??? Odin2005 Aug 2012 #307

I think you're jumping to a conclusion. LeftyMom Aug 2012 #308

In a word, yes. When I was a kid, we were required to read. Honeycombe8 Aug 2012 #315

i cannot even begin to list the books the boys have read in school. seabeyond Aug 2012 #321

Yes. kiva Aug 2012 #353

It's a result of a decade of NCLB GaYellowDawg Aug 2012 #309

Do kids read any more? We read a lot of books, when I was in school (long long ago). nt Honeycombe8 Aug 2012 #316

some do, but justabob Aug 2012 #320

i have been surprised the number of books and variety my boys have read over the years seabeyond Aug 2012 #323

this is our first year in the big public system here justabob Aug 2012 #324

but they have terrific cross country teams, .... lol seabeyond Aug 2012 #334

thanks justabob Aug 2012 #346

A couple years ago, I overheard two kids talking about reading deutsey Aug 2012 #348

my kids are big readers. when they were young, i was told by brother that i did not "let" seabeyond Aug 2012 #350

Post removed Post removed Aug 2012 #319

Honestly I'm frequently shocked by how ignorant some *adults* are, never mind young people. Spider Jerusalem Aug 2012 #322

Adults are so much wiser. Just ask 43-year-old Christine O'Donnell about the First Amendment NYC Liberal Aug 2012 #329

Ignorant motherfuckers come in every age range. Codeine Aug 2012 #341

I work at a university...Why don't you tell me ALL about it? Blue_Tires Aug 2012 #347

Since neither of those topics involve butts, I don't think calling them butt-ignorant is fair. ZombieHorde Aug 2012 #354

"STUPIDITY is the disease of America" Iggy Aug 2012 #360

I'll bet one could grow up to be a rocket scientist hughee99 Aug 2012 #371