Is Google making us stupid?

futile cynicism which probably isn't even true (if anything, when you look at it logically, you see that because we have greater, easier access to information, it benefits us)... web services like google and wikipedia are here to stay, and I look forward to more similar services =)
 
The wife certainly does not seem as bright as she was when I met her, so may well be Google which is too blame :D
 
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Without reading the article, I don't think it makes us stupid. In fact, you can now find out more about something much easier and quicker.
 
Slootvreter said:
Without reading the article, I don't think it makes us stupid. In fact, you can now find out more about something much easier and quicker.
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The article says pretty much that! :)

I agree with pretty much everything the article says, you have faster access to more information, which augments your memory, and doesn't reduce your memory.

Just my op..... what was I saying again? :D

B
 
You guys are looking at it the wrong way. People who don't know how to use Google are stupid :P
 
Is google making us stupid? Dunno.... let me google the answer :)
 
man why do people have to give a negative title just to grab attention when contents of article totally disprove it... why not simply have a title "Research has shown to assist Humans be more intelligent in their choices", it reflects the contents of the article...
 
Well maybe we're moving towards that hive-mind theory. It's not about the individual IQ any more, but the collective intelligence and how easily accessible it is. Maybe it's just part of evolution, externalising a large part of your memory.
 
rpm said:
The wife certainly does not seem as bright as she was when I met her, so may well be Google which is too blame :D
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No supper for you sir, do not pass dogbox and go, numerous flowers, chocolates and dishwashing sessions required in an attempt to get back into the good books.
 
darn... i got mybb headline rickrolled again.

rpm - you better get ready to sleep on the couch tonight, buddy.
 
No, but it's certainly helped me win a lot of arguments :P
 
I blame it all on Gutenberg his damned printing press reduced knowledge from sacred to the profane now every peasant knows everything knowledge has been devalued I say LOL
 
I would venture the easy access to information typically increases the breadth of our knowledge more than the depth of any subject. In daily use of Google and the internet one comes across many facts normally outside your area of expertise. Typically one won't pause to study the specific topic but will remember about it. This allows you to go back and Google it when needed. Another example, you might Google how to set up something on Ubuntu but will probably forget the details once done. If the action needs to be repeated, you'll remember where to Google for it. I.e. your general knowledged increased, not so much your specialist knowledge.

Thus we become more 'generalist' but with a vast store of detailed info at hand.

If you want to focus on one specific subject, Googling will increase the depth of your knowledge, but this is a conscious act on your part. Akin to going to the library to study.

So Google is not making us more stupid. Rather it typically moves knowledge into a wider (but less detailed) domain.
 
Klos said:
I would venture the easy access to information typically increases the breadth of our knowledge more than the depth of any subject. In daily use of Google and the internet one comes across many facts normally outside your area of expertise. Typically one won't pause to study the specific topic but will remember about it. This allows you to go back and Google it when needed. Another example, you might Google how to set up something on Ubuntu but will probably forget the details once done. If the action needs to be repeated, you'll remember where to Google for it. I.e. your general knowledged increased, not so much your specialist knowledge.

Thus we become more 'generalist' but with a vast store of detailed info at hand.

If you want to focus on one specific subject, Googling will increase the depth of your knowledge, but this is a conscious act on your part. Akin to going to the library to study.

So Google is not making us more stupid. Rather it typically moves knowledge into a wider (but less detailed) domain.
Click to expand...

Nicely put! The only drawback I can think of is spelling. When I'm in a hurry I'll type the approximate spelling and you can rely on google to correct it for you. Same can be said of spelling checkers I suppose, but there I try to fix it myself.
 
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