General Discussion

Honeycombe8

(37,648 posts)

312. Do your kids not go to the movies? Ever read books?

Tue Aug 28, 2012, 12:25 AM

Aug 2012

The Ten Commandments with Charlton Heston comes on TV every year. Classic movie.
Elmer Gantry. Excellent, classic movie with Burt Lancaster.
Many other movies.

Literature:
Huckleberry Finn
Moby Dick
The Scarlet Letter

History - the Puritans; the founding fathers.

Grammar/communication skills: "Geez, Dad, you're not gonna give me a SERMON on that, are ya?"
ser·mon
[sur-muhn] Show IPA

noun
1.
a discourse for the purpose of religious instruction or exhortation, especially one based on a text of Scripture and delivered by a member of the clergy as part of a religious service.

2.
any serious speech, discourse, or exhortation, especially on a moral issue.

3.
a long, tedious speech.

You might as well ask, "Where would my kids learn the word "lecture" from?" It's such a common word, how do they NOT hear or read it somewhere?

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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