5 ms·

I agree, though there are two obvious courses of action that result from this: 1. Prevent the viewing 2. Increase the readiness Of which I think #2 is most pr

I agree, though there are two obvious courses of action that result from this: 1. Prevent the viewing 2. Increase the readiness Of which I think #2 is most preferable.

dataduck 5y ago
Perhaps, but unfortunately #1 is more realistic.
- evv555 5y ago
  Decaying trust in medical institutions says otherwise.
- colordrops 5y ago
  Hiding science from the public has got to be one of the worst suggestions I've ever heard on this site.
toss1 5y ago
#2 is for sure bviously preferable, but Good Luck With That. Once you get below the top N% in intelligence levels (5%-20% in my experience), the ability to 1) understand any kind of complex systems, 2) read, understand, contextualize and retain data, and maintain any rigorous logical thinking structure (e.g., keeping previously eliminated options eliminated) declines rapidly. The result is that, despite having absolute record numbers and percentages of people educated with college degrees, we have massive anti-science movements that are literally killing thousands of people daily, by ape-ing scientific-sounding terms & distorting concepts & data in order to more effectively broadcast disinformation - and hordes lap it up. We even have nurses and healthcare workers, who supposedly have been taught and passed tests on basic germ theory, actively resisting and campaigning against safe and effective public health measures. A related phenomenon is that college degrees are systematically being degraded. I personally know someone who was a visiting professor at a US State University, teaching introductory economics. He found that many of the students didn't even have the math skills (or motivation) to understand and wield the basic concepts on assignments, classroom discussion, and tests, and of course he was recommending them to remedial options and failing them. He was explicitly ordered by the administration to pass them or quit. He quit. Sadly, it is looking more and more like this great experiment in college for all is not working out as hoped. Instead of a culture of wisdom, we have a culture of sophomores - literally wise fools, who know very little, but think they know it all, and therefore don't have to listen to any expert who actually has real knowledge. It is considered obvious that at 5'6"/168cm, I was not born with the attributes necessary to engage in a professional basketball career. Yet the same kind of sorting based on intelligence is considered something to not discuss, perhaps getting too close to eugenics. I strongly believe that the opportunity should exist for any person to get whatever level education they want, without financial or other obstacles. But, with the caveat that it cannot be dumbed-down - either you can understand and do the work and pass, or you do not. The practices seen above, and grade inflation in general need to be reset. The problem is that failing your students is bad for business, so unlikely that most colleges will reform.
- andrewflnr 5y ago
  People at my state university would occasionally toss out the catchphrase "Ds get degrees!". It made me sad. I agree at minimum more people need to fail classes. If you want to be nice, counter by allowing more attempts.
  - toss1 5y ago
    >>counter by allowing more attempts Excellent idea - retake any class once for nominal cost (and you've already got the textbooks).
    - BirdPlusPlus 5y ago
      I like it but the proposal either needs to be more persuasive toward universities' limitations or those institutions need to be allowed to fail and be replaced with something more aligned with a university's mission. Generally, universities are insolvent, being propped up by infinite government-backed loans leveraged against students' future earnings. In turn faced with an endless supply of funding, they've become wastrels and signed up for too many bills which they must cover by incessantly demanding more funding from debtor students. The model created a feedback loop that most universities will find terminal once policy changes out of necessity. I'm afraid they will likely only hear "retake classes infinitely" as booting students severs revenue. Failing students however, makes that revenue renewable. Corruption is cancer both financially and morally.
- adamdusty 5y ago
  Is there any evidence that intelligence is genetic? I dont think your height was stopping you from getting to the NBA, nor is that even remotely obvious. You may find your height to be discouraging, but you could have very well possessed the potential to play professional basketball. You'd be 3 inches taller than Muggsy Bouges who played for 14 seasons, 1 inch taller than 13 year vet Earl Boykins, and the same height as slam dunk contest champion Spud Webb. Colleges might be letting more people through, but I dont think people are any dumber. Some people just aren't concerned with understanding everything they come across. Some kids go to college for no other reason than that's what they're supposed to do. If they cared they would be able to learn just as much as you or anyone else.

I agree, though there are two obvious courses of action that result from this: 1. Prevent the viewing 2. Increase the readiness Of which I think #2 is most preferable.

dataduck 5y ago

Perhaps, but unfortunately #1 is more realistic.

evv555 5y ago
Decaying trust in medical institutions says otherwise.
colordrops 5y ago
Hiding science from the public has got to be one of the worst suggestions I've ever heard on this site.

toss1 5y ago

#2 is for sure bviously preferable, but Good Luck With That. Once you get below the top N% in intelligence levels (5%-20% in my experience), the ability to 1) understand any kind of complex systems, 2) read, understand, contextualize and retain data, and maintain any rigorous logical thinking structure (e.g., keeping previously eliminated options eliminated) declines rapidly. The result is that, despite having absolute record numbers and percentages of people educated with college degrees, we have massive anti-science movements that are literally killing thousands of people daily, by ape-ing scientific-sounding terms & distorting concepts & data in order to more effectively broadcast disinformation - and hordes lap it up. We even have nurses and healthcare workers, who supposedly have been taught and passed tests on basic germ theory, actively resisting and campaigning against safe and effective public health measures. A related phenomenon is that college degrees are systematically being degraded. I personally know someone who was a visiting professor at a US State University, teaching introductory economics. He found that many of the students didn't even have the math skills (or motivation) to understand and wield the basic concepts on assignments, classroom discussion, and tests, and of course he was recommending them to remedial options and failing them. He was explicitly ordered by the administration to pass them or quit. He quit. Sadly, it is looking more and more like this great experiment in college for all is not working out as hoped. Instead of a culture of wisdom, we have a culture of sophomores - literally wise fools, who know very little, but think they know it all, and therefore don't have to listen to any expert who actually has real knowledge. It is considered obvious that at 5'6"/168cm, I was not born with the attributes necessary to engage in a professional basketball career. Yet the same kind of sorting based on intelligence is considered something to not discuss, perhaps getting too close to eugenics. I strongly believe that the opportunity should exist for any person to get whatever level education they want, without financial or other obstacles. But, with the caveat that it cannot be dumbed-down - either you can understand and do the work and pass, or you do not. The practices seen above, and grade inflation in general need to be reset. The problem is that failing your students is bad for business, so unlikely that most colleges will reform.

andrewflnr 5y ago
People at my state university would occasionally toss out the catchphrase "Ds get degrees!". It made me sad. I agree at minimum more people need to fail classes. If you want to be nice, counter by allowing more attempts.
- toss1 5y ago
  >>counter by allowing more attempts Excellent idea - retake any class once for nominal cost (and you've already got the textbooks).
  - BirdPlusPlus 5y ago
    I like it but the proposal either needs to be more persuasive toward universities' limitations or those institutions need to be allowed to fail and be replaced with something more aligned with a university's mission. Generally, universities are insolvent, being propped up by infinite government-backed loans leveraged against students' future earnings. In turn faced with an endless supply of funding, they've become wastrels and signed up for too many bills which they must cover by incessantly demanding more funding from debtor students. The model created a feedback loop that most universities will find terminal once policy changes out of necessity. I'm afraid they will likely only hear "retake classes infinitely" as booting students severs revenue. Failing students however, makes that revenue renewable. Corruption is cancer both financially and morally.
adamdusty 5y ago
Is there any evidence that intelligence is genetic? I dont think your height was stopping you from getting to the NBA, nor is that even remotely obvious. You may find your height to be discouraging, but you could have very well possessed the potential to play professional basketball. You'd be 3 inches taller than Muggsy Bouges who played for 14 seasons, 1 inch taller than 13 year vet Earl Boykins, and the same height as slam dunk contest champion Spud Webb. Colleges might be letting more people through, but I dont think people are any dumber. Some people just aren't concerned with understanding everything they come across. Some kids go to college for no other reason than that's what they're supposed to do. If they cared they would be able to learn just as much as you or anyone else.