Is Google making us stupid?

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.
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This is actually a very interesting topic and we were discussing it in the office the other day. With Google and the internet one tends to want information fast and to the point.

I have personally found when reading the news that I merely scan articles for facts, names, dates etc. I no longer really read the whole article. I sometimes google a fact and get my answer from the search result page summaries without even clicking the link. When I read a story and it does not get to the point/facts within the first 2 paragraphs I get irritated and move to another story (unless it has a special interest for me).

Maybe it is a natural way of coping with information overload as we are bombarded with info from all sides.
 
cronjec said:
This is actually a very interesting topic and we were discussing it in the office the other day. With Google and the internet one tends to want information fast and to the point.

I have personally found when reading the news that I merely scan articles for facts, names, dates etc. I no longer really read the whole article. I sometimes google a fact and get my answer from the search result page summaries without even clicking the link. When I read a story and it does not get to the point/facts within the first 2 paragraphs I get irritated and move to another story (unless it has a special interest for me).

Maybe it is a natural way of coping with information overload as we are bombarded with info from all sides.
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At the rate at which information is increasing, think it is doubling about every 20 months or so, people are forced to be more selective and critical with what information they process. Years ago, I used to get over 300 emails a day from various mailing lists, and actually read all of them. Eventually I pruned it dramatically, and now I am extremely selective about what I subscribe to, and even then I don't read everything unless a headline or introduction piques my interest.

That is what I love about RSS feeds, can see a headline/subject, then view a short paragraph about a topic if I want, and if it interests me, can open a link containing a detailed article or story. A good example is anything said or done by Malema, I automatically ignore articles with that information in a headline or introduction.

B
 
We had a similar discussion back when I was studying engineering and the class thought "Hey we can ace our test just because it's open book!" Guess what, many failed. Access to information on hand does not mean that you can apply that information correctly in the context that you need it. You need to know how to utilize the info and have to actually understand it , not just parrot it.

This is one of the biggest issues with learners/job entrants today. They can parrot what they've learnt or know but they don't actually understand the fundamentals of it and when their field changes, do not have the means to adjust and compensate accordingly.
 
alt146 said:
No, but it's certainly helped me win a lot of arguments :P
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Thank God for google when it comes to something I've heard round the watercooler and think its bollocks, I google, and prove them wrong.

So no, it expands one's knowledge base and by same token, the same could be said about MyBB, learnt an incredible amount using this site.
 
Many universities ban the use of wikipedia as a source for info in assignments. The big problem for me is kids who use Google for their assignments. Kids can't really distinguish crap from real info....Some adults dont even know how to do that. I still think kids need to get their info from libraries. Just my opinion.
 
I like google now, because it seems to me that there is more quality information available, than for example 10 - 15 years ago. And also, I would suggest that one does not get stupid from google use, if one has "new text.txt" scraps of information and saved web pages stored on your machines. I have found lines of argument on a subject changing tact across dozen of saved web pages on my machines, which where collected over the years.
 
Surely teaching kids how to deal with the new way of gathering information, and how to separate facts from fiction using this new way is quite damn important?
 
The Borg

Gennath said:
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.
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Resistance is futile. Prepare to be assimilated. :twisted:

*Alert* Spawn more overlords! *Alert*
 
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ThatOtherGuy said:
... can't really distinguish crap from real info...
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That's the issue. We're not developing people's crap-detectors. Where do people get equipped to understand the distinctions between data, facts, information, values, knowledge, ethics, morality, and truth. Our civilisation depends on us getting better at doing this.
 
"Never memorize what you can look up in books." - Albert Einstein

And yes, I Googled for the quote, because I couldn't quite remember how it went... :)

Juice
 
I say it definitely helps one increase yr knowledge. I've read stuff that I would never of had access to with google search / wiki etc. As an example I came across the transcripts from JOAN of ARC's court trail!! :D

As an engineer I find it indispensable - an enormous data base!

also its great for checking up on an authors source material. problem is I don't have enough time in a day :(
 
The stupidity comes in if we take the contents we read on google as it is. There is so much crap in some of the contents. The value added to what we read or the analytical part of it is what helps us build our intelligence.
 
Renesongs said:
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
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You lol, but your point is very valid and emphasizes the absurdity of the title.
 
Gennath said:
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.
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I look forward to the the day we can get implants in our brains connecting us directly to the internet. Borgs beware!
 
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