Stupid Youth

[Scorpiоn]

I don't mean to get on a soap box (which means I definetly will), but I'm getting tired of all these polls demonstrating how [insert demographic (plural) here] are stupid, ignorant etc.  This mostly stems from news agencies showing how youth cannot locate a certain country on a map.  Two points here:

• There are different intelligences
• It's super-duper hard

First off, I recall from my one semester long psychology class that there are different intelligences.  The amount differs according to who you ask, but anything from 7-17 rings true to my ears.  If there's anyone here who can do everything pretty good (math, geography, english, science, art), I'll sit down and shut up.  I myself can get real nitpicky with languages and love geography.  But show me 32x53 and I have to get a pencil and paper.  Fizziks?  Dream on.

Secondly, as far as geography goes, it's hard.  I love geography and I take it very seriously, but can I show you Nigeria on a map?  No.  There a lot of countries.  A lot.  And this is assuming they're not always prone to changing names and borders.  Who's to say we might not have North/South Iraq?  How many times has Congo (or whatever it calls itself now) changed identity?  Now go ask someone who probably doesn't care about geography, isn't good at it anyway and probably just wants the pollster to leave him alone (or wants to get on TV) and these numbers aren't surprising.

But for now I'm going to go find Nigeria.

[Sir_Crashalot]

I fully understand you. You can't be an expert in everything. I can't calculate without a calculator but I do speak three languages.

Crash

PS Nigeria is a part of West-Africa. There are about 120 million people living there speaking approx. 250 different languages. So next time somebody asks you about it you have some extra info.

C.

[Scorpiоn]

I know, I looked it up.

[Katahu]

I never knew where exactly Niagra falls was located, but I do know a great deal about the human anatomy.

[H]

Math was actually my worst subject. However, Scorp, your example is fairly simple without paper and pencil:
multiply 53 by 3 and add a zero (because the 3 is in the tens spot)         [=1590]
multiply 50 by 2 and add it to 1590   [=1690]
multiply 3 by 2 and add it to 1690          [=1696]
I usually multiply by the smaller number but it can be done the other way, obviously. Some people can merely look at the thing and come up with the answer.
As far as my outlook on your main topic, see my response to your post in the "Later Guys" thread in the Cafe Simviation forum.

[Fozzer]

Math was actually my worst subject. However, Scorp, your example is fairly simple without paper and pencil:
multiply 53 by 3 and add a zero (because the 3 is in the tens spot)         [=1590]
multiply 50 by 2 and add it to 1590   [=1690]
multiply 3 by 2 and add it to 1690          [=1696]
I usually multiply by the smaller number but it can be done the other way, obviously. Some people can merely look at the thing and come up with the answer......

...just tried that...
...got a headache... ...!

It's pencil and paper time again... ...!

Paul...Math's=worst subject. Geography=favourite subject... ...!

[Hagar]

I don't think it's a case of different intelligences at all. If you can pass one exam you're obviously capable of learning. This is what university degrees & academic qualifications are all about. It's not the subject that's important but the demonstration of an ability to learn.

Something you're interested in is obviously much easier to understand than something you hate. I passed some exams with flying colours & without any revision at all - simply because I was passionately interested in those subjects. I found other subjects very difficult to comprehend because I had no interest & therefore simply couldn't be bothered with them. Needless to say I failed these subjects miserably.

[ozzy72]

Speaking as a teacher I have to say ALL my students pass their English exams... 'cos they know if they don't that I'll kill 'em! Motivation is soooooo important

[Fozzer]

...I reckon that Mathematics is a subject the you either find easy and enjoyable, or difficult and impossible....!
I think Math's is a gift that comes naturally to some people...
..to others, (like me), it will always be a lifetime's struggle......!
...all to do with certain parts of the brain...?
(My bit is missing*...trust me...).......!
LOL...!

Paul...I'm good at learning other things...if they interest me.....!

* can you get them on e-Bay...?

[Politically Incorrect]

I blame the "Stupid Youth" on Public Schools

It isnt that the fact they can't locate a Country on a map that proves they are stupid, the stupid ones are the ones that don't take the time to look for the answer  ;)

Stupid is a harsh term, lazy would be the correct way to describe them.

I see nothing wrong with taking paper and pencil to figure out even a simple mathmatics problem, doing so actually shows how smart you are, your chances of being correct are increased as you will be able to spot a error or see a mistake. So if anything proves your intelligence by showing that you are attempting to eliminate risk of error.

Someone that can do it "in thier head" doesnt impress me the slightest, and most times they are wrong. It is when you can visually see your answer evolve that your most likely to be correct.

So nothing wrong with it and by no means proves stupidity but more so intelligence

Then you have the "Stupid Elders", they are the ones that belive polls or anything else for that matter, that the mainstream Media provide.

[Katahu]

Math is also my worst subject. I hate it with a passion, but I have to learn it since I work in the pharmacy.

For example: A pharm tech has to calculate how much of a certain medication can be injected into an IV solution before using the IV on a patient that needs.

[Fozzer]

Math is also my worst subject. I hate it with a passion, but I have to learn it since I work in the pharmacy.

For example: A pharm tech has to calculate how much of a certain medication can be injected into an IV solution before using the IV on a patient that needs.

As an Electrical/Electronic/Mechanical engineer throughout my working life, I always needed to know Math's....but it never clicked for me... ...!
Fortunately, there was generally someone at hand with the answers I required... ...!
...as I said before, Math's is a gift...you either have it, or you don't have it... ...!
Father Christmas never gave me one..... ...!
LOL...!

Paul...2 X 4 = 9....I think... ...?

[ozzy72]

Fozz look at it this way... if you can count to eleven with your hands in your pockets then you need some darning done

[Mobius]

Fozz look at it this way... if you can count to eleven with your hands in your pockets then you need some darning done

Well, I agree that some of today's youth seem stupid.  I blame it on the "MTV mentality", that everyday is a party, and that is all anyone should be doing.  It's kind of scary to think that they will be the one's running the world in the future.