Has the internet/computers made us stupider?

[Otaku]

I've been asked many questions that I honestly didn't know:

-- What makes the Northern Lights shine?
-- How is a rainbow made?

I mean, I have general idea about the answer but not so good that I could explain it to someone else. They are things I probably should have known but I also know, because of the internet, I honestly don't need to know them because I can find out the answer in quick google search. However, if the internet didn't exist, I think I would have learned little facts about this a long time ago and filed them in my long-term memory.

Also, despite phonics, my spelling sucks! But, I don't really care because spell-checker has got my back.

So, has the internet and the invention of computers made us more stupid?

[jessen100]

Also, despite phonics, my spelling sucks! But, I don't really care because spell-checker has got my back.

the reason your spelling sucks is because spell checking exists.

technology exists to make the lives of humans more efficient by doing things for us and making information easily accessable.
It doesnt make us stupider, but deals away with certain information that is no longer necessary for us.
knowledge=/=information

[lkelly2477]

I think computers are somewhat of a crutch, Instead of thinking about something we look for the answer on the net because it's there somewhere. But at the the same time we can learn of lot from pages like wikipedia.

[bum1]

Without the internet I can say that the northern lights come from solar flares on the sun being reflected onto the northern hemosphere's atmosphere and rainbows come from prismic reactions of sunlight and raindrops. When a clear lens is balanced it can seperate a beam of white light into the "spectrum" of light frequency that we come to know as color. Rain can act as a giant lens for sunlight therefore creating rainbows.

[Otaku]

Without the internet I can say that the northern lights come from solar flares on the sun being reflected onto the northern hemosphere's atmosphere and rainbows come from prismic reactions of sunlight and raindrops. When a clear lens is balanced it can seperate a beam of white light into the "spectrum" of light frequency that we come to know as color. Rain can act as a giant lens for sunlight therefore creating rainbows.

I can say whatever you just said with Wikipedia... Now, if everyone else would have received your education.

[jessen100]

none of you could have said any of this at all without the internet.

[GETAK]

Hey guys, I'm new to the forum. My name, GETAK, comes from my Quake playin' days just after high school.

I have a good answer to the Northern Lights question. "bum 1" was close.

When solar flares happen, actual physical particles fly out away from the sun and blast anything in their path. Since the earth has a convenient magnetic field, we're safe from this stuff.

BUT, the field has a big ol' dip in the north and south poles. The flare matter gets in through at least the northern one (not sure about the south pole actually), and as it disperses through the atmosphere, we get a beautiful light show.

I don't know if you heard me right, little peices of THE SUN creep into our atmosphere PHYSICALLY. That means when you see the Northern Lights, you're looking at what used to be IN THE SUN.

I hope this description has excited you as much as it did me, when I was in astronomy 101.

[bum1]

none of you could have said any of this at all without the internet.

Not to you, but I could have said it to a student. Amen though to the whole "We couldn't even communicate without the internet." point. Also, how did you make this poll Otaku? I can't seem to make them anymore. Maybe the internet is making me stupider... ;-)

[Otaku]

How did you make this poll Otaku?

Try to make a poll now.

[lkelly2477]

Thanks for the info about northern lights. I had no idea how it happened. But I could have looked it up on Wikipedia. But now I dont have to, thanks a lot.

[jessen100]

I think otaku, that you are overlooking the fact that you could just use an encyclopedia. If you dont know what that is, its a book (generally a large set of books), similar to wikipedia. Its actually where the word wikipedia originated from. They contain a whole lot of information about a whole lot of stuff.

I dont think that your lack of information as stated in the OP is a result of the interwebs existence. In fact i think its a preposterous deduction. Although i approve of your theory overall, i think your support argument is weak.

[Otaku]

Unless I went to the library, I didn't have the option of an encylcopedia growing up...the whole poor thing.

And to be honest, with as many things that fly through my head that I don't know the answer to, going to library because I'm curious about one of those questions, like the northern lights, would mean a couple hours of my day gone: catching the bus to the library, trying to find what I was looking for in an encyclopedia, and then taking the bus back.

I would much rather spend doing more important things, like playing video games. Oh wait! That's a computer too...

Point being, if I did make the effort to go to the library to find out the answer, I would most likely remember the information for the simple fact that I wouldn't want to waste time going there again for the same question. However, with how easy and quick it is to get information these days, I kinda view the internet like how we used to cram for tests back in school - put the information in your short-term memory for purposes of the test and forget it afterwards.

[jessen100]

in conclusion, you are less smart because you are lazy.
sounds appropriate.
did you go to school? they have librarys there.

(im not trying to be a dick about it, just saying thins as a matter of fact)

does technology make people lazy? my answer: yes, that what its for and why it is made; so we have to do less work, since the wheel this has been true. some might define this as efficiency.

does technology make people stupid? my answer: thats a rediculous question. its existence suggests the opposite.

being a container of information doesnt make a person smart.

[Otaku]

Fair enuf.

So, this begs the question: Is smart defined by the person who knows information or by the person who knows where to get it if they so choosed?

[jessen100]

both are necessary.

[lkelly2477]

An encyclopedia. I haven't heard that word in a long time. My grandmom had a set at her house. Back in the day it was cool. But now I wouldn't even think about flipping through all those pages.

[GETAK]

If you ask me, technology has in no way made a stupider human kind. Contrary to that, it has made it easier for people to attain knowledge.
I've been studying JavaScript entirely with free information gained online. You can pick up lots of guitar tutorials on YouTube.

The bottom line is that the human brain ditches information that is not important. Wherever you read about it, it'll only stick if you are in love with it, or you practice and apply it, or you have a knack for retaining information.

The only issue I have with the internet is the extra work you have to do in order to be sure the information you're getting is valid.

[Otaku]

True dat, Getak. It used to be that people searched on the net for info. Now, everything is there and we have to double-check to make sure the stuff has street cred.

[TENGU]

answered with a song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0RGmSOY6tU



ps. whilst "stupider" might be technically correct, it sounds much better as "more stupid", check the Heath Handbook for all your grammar issues, it might answer whether your use of "Has" in the title is correct.