The Moronic Plague

Stupidity is one of those things that is sometimes difficult to define, and yet it’s always relatively easy to recognize.  Although we as humans have progressed by leaps and bounds with regards to science, technology, and an overall understanding of the world around us, it seems like these advancements have come at the expense of our thirst for learning and knowledge.  The great Albert Einstein once said (supposedly), “Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I’m not sure about the former.” – He declared this in the early- to mid-1900s too, so I can only wonder what Mr. Einstein would think if he were a member of today’s society.  The steady decline in intellectualism (and increase in anti- intellectualism) could be attributed to a number of different factors, ranging from the quality of children’s education to TV programming.  For instance, American student’s test scores rank near the bottom in most every educational marker (reading, mathematics, science), and a network that calls itself “The Learning Channel” consists of compelling educational shows like Say Yes to the Dress, Little Chocolatiers, and Cake Boss.  It is easy to say that many outside influences factor into the equation, but is there a root cause from which this newly established idiocracy was formed?  Well in 2003, director Albert Nerenberg attempted to answer this question in a documentary aptly titled Stupidity; the film takes a look at modern culture through file footage, and features interviews from a wide variety of people who discuss our infatuation with ignorance.  In the end, Nerenberg concludes that “despite our culture’s extensive access to knowledge and information, humans continue to choose stupidity”.  As James Hetfield once said, “It’s sad but true”…

(Contains language)