Intelligence and Subversion of Intelligence

[Ilya Shambat]

Camille Paglia, in addressing socialist tendencies of some American
university students, said that the toilets in which they graffitied
their slogans came from capitalism. There is a problem with that
argument. There were toilets in the Soviet Union as well; and there
are also toilets in places, such as Sweden and Netherland, that
practice the democratic socialism that these students actually find
attractive (as opposed to state socialism - known in the West as
Communism - that very few of them want).

Having attended university in Virginia and having majored in
economics, I was not one of those students. I know enough about market
economics to see merit in it; I also recognize the vast extent to
which capitalist prosperity is owed to non-capitalist entities. These
include, but are not limited, to: Science that is at the root of
everything that business sells; education that makes people
employable; and projects such as the Interstate and the Internet that
have created an infrastructure for business to do its work. I look
toward an intelligent optimization scenario in which people get the
benefit of both the market and the government while minimizing the
flaws that come with both. And that means: Freedom for business to
produce prosperity, and recognition of, and respect for, the non-
business entities that do worthwhile work.

But returning to the original point. When a person - any person -
lives in an order - any order - everything that he has around himself
would be a result of that order. The Soviet Communists could have said
just as easily to capitalist sympathizers in the Soviet Union that
they owed what they had to state socialism, and that their adoption of
market economics was a betrayal of what they had. Similarly, we see
many Christians denigrating accomplishments of atheists (Ayn Rand
comes to mind especially) because most of these atheists have had
Christian influences. The problem with that argument is not a
difficult one to spot. In a Christian society, most people are
Christian, and these are the only people that one has around oneself -
either to help oneself or to hinder oneself. And I am sure that Ayn
Rand, for one, had many negative experiences with Christian-affiliated
people.

Rather than engaging in such mind-suffocating argumentation,
therefore, it is of merit that the ideas compete with one another on
the basis of their quality. If some American university students find
democratic socialism attractive, then they should be able to look at
places that practice democratic socialism and see if they like them
better. Similarly, if someone who lives in a socialist country prefers
the way that things are in Queensland or Texas, then he should be able
to go to Queensland or Texas and try his luck there.

There is intelligence, and there are practices that subvert
intelligence. Intelligence, when allowed to exist, creates real
solutions and arrives at real benefit. The less subversion of
intelligence, the greater the understanding and the more informed the
solutions. And that means: More informed people, better decisions, and
better world.

[%]

Post by Ilya Shambat
Camille Paglia, in addressing socialist tendencies of some American
university students, said that the toilets in which they graffitied
their slogans came from capitalism. There is a problem with that
argument. There were toilets in the Soviet Union as well; and there
are also toilets in places, such as Sweden and Netherland, that
practice the democratic socialism that these students actually find
attractive (as opposed to state socialism - known in the West as
Communism - that very few of them want).
Having attended university in Virginia and having majored in
economics, I was not one of those students. I know enough about market
economics to see merit in it; I also recognize the vast extent to
which capitalist prosperity is owed to non-capitalist entities. These
include, but are not limited, to: Science that is at the root of
everything that business sells; education that makes people
employable; and projects such as the Interstate and the Internet that
have created an infrastructure for business to do its work. I look
toward an intelligent optimization scenario in which people get the
benefit of both the market and the government while minimizing the
flaws that come with both. And that means: Freedom for business to
produce prosperity, and recognition of, and respect for, the non-
business entities that do worthwhile work.
But returning to the original point. When a person - any person -
lives in an order - any order - everything that he has around himself
would be a result of that order. The Soviet Communists could have said
just as easily to capitalist sympathizers in the Soviet Union that
they owed what they had to state socialism, and that their adoption of
market economics was a betrayal of what they had. Similarly, we see
many Christians denigrating accomplishments of atheists (Ayn Rand
comes to mind especially) because most of these atheists have had
Christian influences. The problem with that argument is not a
difficult one to spot. In a Christian society, most people are
Christian, and these are the only people that one has around oneself -
either to help oneself or to hinder oneself. And I am sure that Ayn
Rand, for one, had many negative experiences with Christian-affiliated
people.
Rather than engaging in such mind-suffocating argumentation,
therefore, it is of merit that the ideas compete with one another on
the basis of their quality. If some American university students find
democratic socialism attractive, then they should be able to look at
places that practice democratic socialism and see if they like them
better. Similarly, if someone who lives in a socialist country prefers
the way that things are in Queensland or Texas, then he should be able
to go to Queensland or Texas and try his luck there.
There is intelligence, and there are practices that subvert
intelligence. Intelligence, when allowed to exist, creates real
solutions and arrives at real benefit. The less subversion of
intelligence, the greater the understanding and the more informed the
solutions. And that means: More informed people, better decisions, and
better world.

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1 hour ago - Camille Paglia, in addressing socialist tendencies of some
American university students, said that the toilets in which they graffitied
their slogans came from capitalism. There is a problem with that argument.
There were toilets in the Soviet Union as well; and there are also toilets
in places, such as Sweden ...
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National standards needed It seems to me that there should be national ...
Camille Paglia, in addressing socialist tendencies of some American
university students, said that the toilets in which they graffitied their
slogans came from capitalism. ... and Netherland, that practice the
democratic socialism that these students ...
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But I chatted with the guy for his take on the company's SOPA surrender. ...
teaches us anything, it's that you should never, ever cross a woman with
fire in her heart ...... of IntelligenceCamille Paglia, in addressing
socialist tendencies of some ... said that the toilets in which they
graffitied their slogans came from capitalism. ...
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He will be paid a `six figure salary', says the advertisement, to manage
their `£5 ..... But, and against the tendencies of euphemism and evasion,
some stout ...... There is no fundamental difference between Tory and
Socialist paternalism. ...... They were the words of a man to whom reasons
for American guilt came naturally. ...
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by S Pinker - Cited by 22 - Related articles
They include the Center for Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania; the
Cognition, ...... His students came to dominate American social science, and
each ...... the prospect of a more socially just - a socialist - society"
and see their "critical ...... Wendy McElroy, Camille Paglia, Daphne Patai,
Virginia Postrel, Alice Rossi, ...
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... in which they graffitied their slogans came from capitalism. There is a
problem with. ... Camille Paglia, in addressing socialist tendencies of some
American university students, said that the toilets in which they graffitied
their slogans came from capitalism. There is a problem with that argument.
There were ...
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They include the Center for Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania; the
Cognition, ...... His students came to dominate American social science, and
each ...... Smith the explainer of capitalism assumes that people will
selfishly give their labor ...... Wendy McElroy, Camille Paglia, Daphne
Patai, Virginia Postrel, Alice Rossi, ...
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In the future (this is part of the problem in the arts as well) you'll get
some .... which display the words 'They Live' fading into graffiti on a
desolate railway overpass. ..... both combined criticism of 'big business'
capitalism with strong anti-socialist ...... as well as reviewing work by
some of his students at the Royal College of Art. ...
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Some regard themselves as perfect only because they are less demanding of
..... The problem is that it is too expensive to provide students with
CPA-exam ...... US News & World Report came out last week with its annual
quality rankings of ...... Said to be graffiti seen in Pompeii; Exaggeration
is a billion times worse than ...
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AMERICAN SOCIETY
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4 Nov 2007 - x- Capitalism - The Great American Dream. 38 ..... said there
was anything to admire across the Atlantic. ..... Jr., addressed a gathering
of some 200000 people at the Mall in ...... And so college professors find
their students "responding ...... In the '60s, when they came of age, old
orthodoxies (religious and ...

[ZisntZ]

Ilya Shambat wrote:

= the toilets in which they graffitied
= their slogans came from capitalism. There is a problem with that
= argument.
=

I'll say.

" the toilets .....came from the need to take a dump" not from a
economic - ism.

imo, a more interesting issue here is how walls have been used to
declare dissension. So if those students were not dissenting they would
be using term papers or a thesis to graffiti their slogans. The slogans
would be called 'topic sentences'.



= Rand, for one, had many negative experiences with Christian-affiliated
= people.

Rand was not negative towards Christianity or religion, Christianity
and religion were only a form which she saw as following the function
of humans thinking without reason. A function which obfuscated the
sense of "A is A" clarity which she and her Objectivists claim exists.
To me she represents a pinnacle in the deep mistake of Object/Thing
centrism.

= If some American university students find democratic socialism
= attractive, then they should be able to ...

...if democratic anything, they should be able to see a possibility in
changing the order in which they live. The empirical given is the
order, no matter what name is used to prop up the fantasy of a constant
order, is always changing.

[Truthslave]

Ilya Shambat wrote:
< snipped for brevity >

Post by Ilya Shambat
There is intelligence, and there are practices that subvert
intelligence. Intelligence, when allowed to exist, creates real
solutions and arrives at real benefit. The less subversion of
intelligence, the greater the understanding and the more informed the
solutions. And that means: More informed people, better decisions, and
better world.

And yet there are also the advantages to be found in Controlled
Ignorance. They say 'knowledge is power', and as we know not
everyone will readily give up his advantage.

Controlled ignorance would mean a natural limit for intelligence,
or as you say a subversion of intelligence. Misdirection, and
other ploys employed so that there was always the energy and
behaviors of Doing, with no thought for why one does. Persuasion
to belong with no thought for what one served.

Understanding isn't for everyone, as not everyone can coupe with
what is revealed with that understanding. Too much understanding
might in its way lead to a form of nihilism. No, the real byword
is Order.

And so if it takes ignorance to achieve that end, then ignorance
not intelligence will be championed.


“Two dangers constantly threaten the world: order and disorder.”
Paul Valery quotes (French Poet, Essayist and Critic, 1871-1945)

[BORG]

Post by Truthslave
< snipped for brevity >

Post by Ilya Shambat
There is intelligence, and there are practices that
subvert
intelligence. Intelligence, when allowed to exist,
creates real
solutions and arrives at real benefit. The less
subversion of
intelligence, the greater the understanding and the more
informed the
solutions. And that means: More informed people, better
decisions, and
better world.

And yet there are also the advantages to be found in
Controlled Ignorance. They say 'knowledge is power', and
as we know not
everyone will readily give up his advantage.
Controlled ignorance would mean a natural limit for
intelligence,
or as you say a subversion of intelligence. Misdirection,
and
other ploys employed so that there was always the energy
and
behaviors of Doing, with no thought for why one does.
Persuasion
to belong with no thought for what one served.
Understanding isn't for everyone, as not everyone can
coupe with
what is revealed with that understanding. Too much
understanding
might in its way lead to a form of nihilism. No, the real
byword
is Order.
And so if it takes ignorance to achieve that end, then
ignorance
not intelligence will be championed.
“Two dangers constantly threaten the world: order and
disorder.”
Paul Valery quotes (French Poet, Essayist and Critic,
1871-1945)

***************

There seems to be confusion here with regard to exact
definitions of
Intelligence
Education
Ignorance

Ignorant is not the opposite of intelligent, ignorant is the
opposite of educated.
Stupidity is the opposite of intelligent.

Ignorance exists when education is available and you do not
make use of it.

[TruthSlave]

Post by BORG

Post by Truthslave
< snipped for brevity >

Post by Ilya Shambat
There is intelligence, and there are practices that subvert
intelligence. Intelligence, when allowed to exist, creates real
solutions and arrives at real benefit. The less subversion of
intelligence, the greater the understanding and the more
informed the solutions. And that means: More informed people,
better decisions, and better world.

And yet there are also the advantages to be found in
Controlled Ignorance. They say 'knowledge is power', and
as we know not everyone will readily give up his advantage.
Controlled ignorance would mean a natural limit for
intelligence, or as you say a subversion of intelligence.
Misdirection, and other ploys employed so that there was
always the energy and behaviors of Doing, with no thought
for why one does. Persuasion to belong with no thought for
what one served.
Understanding isn't for everyone, as not everyone can
coupe with what is revealed with that understanding. Too much
understanding might in its way lead to a form of nihilism.
No, the real byword is Order.
And so if it takes ignorance to achieve that end, then
ignorance not intelligence will be championed.
“Two dangers constantly threaten the world: order and
disorder.”
Paul Valery quotes (French Poet, Essayist and Critic,
1871-1945)

***************
There seems to be confusion here with regard to exact
definitions of
Intelligence
Education
Ignorance
Ignorant is not the opposite of intelligent, ignorant is the
opposite of educated.
Stupidity is the opposite of intelligent.
Ignorance exists when education is available and you do not
make use of it.

Ok, then what would you call education where its effects was
contrary to the supposed intension of education?

surely Ignorance can be a product of education, when the
'knowledge' one accepts serves other purposes besides that
of enlightenment.

Would you not accept controlled Ignorance for such a situation?
The Intelligent might well be made stupid by what it accepts.

[Joel Olson]

Post by TruthSlave

Post by BORG

Post by Truthslave
< snipped for brevity >

Post by Ilya Shambat
There is intelligence, and there are practices that subvert
intelligence. Intelligence, when allowed to exist, creates real
solutions and arrives at real benefit. The less subversion of
intelligence, the greater the understanding and the more
informed the solutions. And that means: More informed people,
better decisions, and better world.

And yet there are also the advantages to be found in
Controlled Ignorance. They say 'knowledge is power', and
as we know not everyone will readily give up his advantage.
Controlled ignorance would mean a natural limit for
intelligence, or as you say a subversion of intelligence.
Misdirection, and other ploys employed so that there was
always the energy and behaviors of Doing, with no thought
for why one does. Persuasion to belong with no thought for
what one served.
Understanding isn't for everyone, as not everyone can
coupe with what is revealed with that understanding. Too much
understanding might in its way lead to a form of nihilism.
No, the real byword is Order.
And so if it takes ignorance to achieve that end, then
ignorance not intelligence will be championed.
“Two dangers constantly threaten the world: order and
disorder.”
Paul Valery quotes (French Poet, Essayist and Critic,
1871-1945)

***************
There seems to be confusion here with regard to exact
definitions of
Intelligence
Education
Ignorance
Ignorant is not the opposite of intelligent, ignorant is the
opposite of educated.
Stupidity is the opposite of intelligent.
Ignorance exists when education is available and you do not
make use of it.

Ok, then what would you call education where its effects was
contrary to the supposed intension of education?
surely Ignorance can be a product of education, when the
'knowledge' one accepts serves other purposes besides that
of enlightenment.
Would you not accept controlled Ignorance for such a situation?
The Intelligent might well be made stupid by what it accepts.

Training?

[ck]

Post by Joel Olson

Post by TruthSlave

Post by BORG

Post by Truthslave
< snipped for brevity >

Post by Ilya Shambat
There is intelligence, and there are practices that subvert
intelligence. Intelligence, when allowed to exist, creates real
solutions and arrives at real benefit. The less subversion of
intelligence, the greater the understanding and the more
informed the solutions. And that means: More informed people,
better decisions, and better world.

And yet there are also the advantages to be found in
Controlled Ignorance. They say 'knowledge is power', and
as we know not everyone will readily give up his advantage.
Controlled ignorance would mean a natural limit for
intelligence, or as you say a subversion of intelligence.
Misdirection, and other ploys employed so that there was
always the energy and behaviors of Doing, with no thought
for why one does. Persuasion to belong with no thought for
what one served.
Understanding isn't for everyone, as not everyone can
coupe with what is revealed with that understanding. Too much
understanding might in its way lead to a form of nihilism.
No, the real byword is Order.
And so if it takes ignorance to achieve that end, then
ignorance not intelligence will be championed.
“Two dangers constantly threaten the world: order and
disorder.”
Paul Valery quotes (French Poet, Essayist and Critic,
1871-1945)

***************
There seems to be confusion here with regard to exact
definitions of
Intelligence
Education
Ignorance
Ignorant is not the opposite of intelligent, ignorant is the
opposite of educated.
Stupidity is the opposite of intelligent.
Ignorance exists when education is available and you do not
make use of it.

Ok, then what would you call education where its effects was
contrary to the supposed intension of education?
surely Ignorance can be a product of education, when the
'knowledge' one accepts serves other purposes besides that
of enlightenment.
Would you not accept controlled Ignorance for such a situation?
The Intelligent might well be made stupid by what it accepts.

Training?

Some will never learn. Once inside the box they remain there,
trapped with their beliefs.

[%]

Post by ck

Post by Joel Olson

Post by TruthSlave

Post by BORG

Post by Truthslave
< snipped for brevity >

Post by Ilya Shambat
There is intelligence, and there are practices that subvert
intelligence. Intelligence, when allowed to exist, creates real
solutions and arrives at real benefit. The less subversion of
intelligence, the greater the understanding and the more
informed the solutions. And that means: More informed people,
better decisions, and better world.

And yet there are also the advantages to be found in
Controlled Ignorance. They say 'knowledge is power', and
as we know not everyone will readily give up his advantage.
Controlled ignorance would mean a natural limit for
intelligence, or as you say a subversion of intelligence.
Misdirection, and other ploys employed so that there was
always the energy and behaviors of Doing, with no thought
for why one does. Persuasion to belong with no thought for
what one served.
Understanding isn't for everyone, as not everyone can
coupe with what is revealed with that understanding. Too much
understanding might in its way lead to a form of nihilism.
No, the real byword is Order.
And so if it takes ignorance to achieve that end, then
ignorance not intelligence will be championed.
“Two dangers constantly threaten the world: order and
disorder.”
Paul Valery quotes (French Poet, Essayist and Critic,
1871-1945)

***************
There seems to be confusion here with regard to exact
definitions of
Intelligence
Education
Ignorance
Ignorant is not the opposite of intelligent, ignorant is the
opposite of educated.
Stupidity is the opposite of intelligent.
Ignorance exists when education is available and you do not
make use of it.

Ok, then what would you call education where its effects was
contrary to the supposed intension of education?
surely Ignorance can be a product of education, when the
'knowledge' one accepts serves other purposes besides that
of enlightenment.
Would you not accept controlled Ignorance for such a situation?
The Intelligent might well be made stupid by what it accepts.

Training?

Some will never learn. Once inside the box they remain there,
trapped with their beliefs.

do they like it

[Ken]

Post by ck
Some will never learn. Once inside the box they remain there,
trapped with their beliefs.

American students? From an obvious immigrant called Camille Paglia, who is
young.

"Socialist tendencies" from a worm!

I was born in 1958, my first involvement in war was 1980 when I fled Canada
to join the Royal Navy.

By spring 1982, I had shot people and was wounded during a conflict that few
Americans know of.

I have since earned my Computer Science Degree at Waterloo University, my
Masters of Business Administration at The University of Western Ontario in
Finance, I own three companies, have sold two others and now, at the age of
53, am well on to earning my second undergrad in Engineering at the
University of Toronto. These days I'm a "socialist:" because I hold no
quarter to who I support in my right to vote.

I work for an $11 Billion Japanese conglomerate, I've also worked for
Toshiba, Canon, Xerox and the Canadian Security Intelligence Agency as an
analyst.

Tell me, what has Camille Paglia done but judge people?

[%]

Post by Ken

Post by ck
Some will never learn. Once inside the box they remain there,
trapped with their beliefs.

American students? From an obvious immigrant called Camille Paglia,
who is young.
"Socialist tendencies" from a worm!
I was born in 1958, my first involvement in war was 1980 when I fled
Canada to join the Royal Navy.
By spring 1982, I had shot people and was wounded during a conflict
that few Americans know of.
I have since earned my Computer Science Degree at Waterloo
University, my Masters of Business Administration at The University
of Western Ontario in Finance, I own three companies, have sold two
others and now, at the age of 53, am well on to earning my second
undergrad in Engineering at the University of Toronto. These days
I'm a "socialist:" because I hold no quarter to who I support in my
right to vote.
I work for an $11 Billion Japanese conglomerate, I've also worked
for Toshiba, Canon, Xerox and the Canadian Security Intelligence
Agency as an analyst.
Tell me, what has Camille Paglia done but judge people?

so you guys is equals then

[David]

Post by Ken

Post by ck
Some will never learn. Once inside the box they remain there,
trapped with their beliefs.

American students? From an obvious immigrant called Camille Paglia,
who is young.
"Socialist tendencies" from a worm!
I was born in 1958, my first involvement in war was 1980 when I fled
Canada to join the Royal Navy.
By spring 1982, I had shot people and was wounded during a conflict
that few Americans know of.
I have since earned my Computer Science Degree at Waterloo
University, my Masters of Business Administration at The University
of Western Ontario in Finance, I own three companies, have sold two
others and now, at the age of 53, am well on to earning my second
undergrad in Engineering at the University of Toronto. These days
I'm a "socialist:" because I hold no quarter to who I support in my
right to vote.
I work for an $11 Billion Japanese conglomerate, I've also worked
for Toshiba, Canon, Xerox and the Canadian Security Intelligence
Agency as an analyst.
Tell me, what has Camille Paglia done but judge people?

so you guys is equals then

why then equate with thank you

[tooly]

Post by Truthslave
< snipped for brevity >

Post by Ilya Shambat
There is intelligence, and there are practices that subvert
intelligence. Intelligence, when allowed to exist, creates real
solutions and arrives at real benefit. The less subversion of
intelligence, the greater the understanding and the more informed the
solutions. And that means: More informed people, better decisions, and
better world.

And yet there are also the advantages to be found in Controlled
Ignorance. They say 'knowledge is power', and as we know not
everyone will readily give up his advantage.
Controlled ignorance would mean a natural limit for intelligence,
or as you say a subversion of intelligence. Misdirection, and
other ploys employed so that there was always the energy and
behaviors of Doing, with no thought for why one does. Persuasion
to belong with no thought for what one served.
Understanding isn't for everyone, as not everyone can coupe with
what is revealed with that understanding. Too much understanding
might in its way lead to a form of nihilism. No, the real byword
is Order.
And so if it takes ignorance to achieve that end, then ignorance
not intelligence will be championed.
“Two dangers constantly threaten the world: order and disorder.”
Paul Valery quotes (French Poet, Essayist and Critic, 1871-1945)

Tell me something...as I know you've read this somewhere..."will
people a hundred years from now, look back upon us as being as
ignorant as we see people a hundred years ago?"...

You guys espouse your 'so called' intelligence with the zeal of Barney
Fife...enamoured with self pride while seeing nothing of your own
reflection in the mirror [except what you want to see]. It's an
invented significanse born of self fantasy and aggrandizement. A
little humility still goes a long way.

Unfortunately, intellectuals are like that; and they often go out
trying to change the world, admonishing the 'ignorant' masses for
their ignorance while championing their own supposed enlightenment. I
think "I" can safely say this much...that whatever you guys think this
all "IS", you are most likely 'WRONG"; and decidedly so.

If nothing else, change itself will prove that out.
Let the people sleep; the world needs some peace for Christ's sake.

[Truthslave]

Post by tooly

Post by Truthslave
< snipped for brevity >

Post by Ilya Shambat
There is intelligence, and there are practices that subvert
intelligence. Intelligence, when allowed to exist, creates real
solutions and arrives at real benefit. The less subversion of
intelligence, the greater the understanding and the more informed the
solutions. And that means: More informed people, better decisions, and
better world.

And yet there are also the advantages to be found in Controlled
Ignorance. They say 'knowledge is power', and as we know not
everyone will readily give up his advantage.
Controlled ignorance would mean a natural limit for intelligence,
or as you say a subversion of intelligence. Misdirection, and
other ploys employed so that there was always the energy and
behaviors of Doing, with no thought for why one does. Persuasion
to belong with no thought for what one served.
Understanding isn't for everyone, as not everyone can coupe with
what is revealed with that understanding. Too much understanding
might in its way lead to a form of nihilism. No, the real byword
is Order.
And so if it takes ignorance to achieve that end, then ignorance
not intelligence will be championed.
“Two dangers constantly threaten the world: order and disorder.”
Paul Valery quotes (French Poet, Essayist and Critic, 1871-1945)

Tell me something...as I know you've read this somewhere..."will
people a hundred years from now, look back upon us as being as
ignorant as we see people a hundred years ago?"...
You guys espouse your 'so called' intelligence with the zeal of Barney
Fife...enamoured with self pride while seeing nothing of your own
reflection in the mirror [except what you want to see]. It's an
invented significanse born of self fantasy and aggrandizement. A
little humility still goes a long way.
Unfortunately, intellectuals are like that; and they often go out
trying to change the world, admonishing the 'ignorant' masses for
their ignorance while championing their own supposed enlightenment. I
think "I" can safely say this much...that whatever you guys think this
all "IS", you are most likely 'WRONG"; and decidedly so.
If nothing else, change itself will prove that out.
Let the people sleep; the world needs some peace for Christ's sake.

You raise an interesting question. What will the future make of us?

A perception of the past, an idea of 'change' starts with historical
perspective of modernity. How many have this paradigm sense of their
place in the procession of time?

This extra sense comes with what we were allowed to see of the past.
This sense isn't guaranteed for the future. One might even say
intelligence, when it doesn't simply mean knowledge or information,
means a sense of time, or timing, a connectedness to cause and its
effects.

For all our technologies, for all the media promises, there's no
reason to suppose the media will continue to expand our perceptions
of ourselves. One only has to observe the other roles for the media,
eg its role in our streamlined controls, to wonder at the 'contraction
of thought' which must surely follow this brave new course for the
future.

Those of us who saw in the new media, are of an age to remember
the breath of information which was shared back then amongst all
the classes. Its easy to miss what we took for granted back then.
Fewer channels meant the population, with the same need to be
informed and entertained, was exposed to a much greater range of
ideas, high and low brow. You could not avoid the debates which
took place then. Exposure to that language was what empowered
dumbest of us. Nor could you ignore the depiction of our poorer
classes. Rich and poor, old and young, all looked to see ourselves
reflected in the media, as it was back then. The new media as
the new church shared this sense of the other. With fewer channels
this was unavoidable.

These days a greater range of channels, mean we can pick and choose
what we are exposed to. Indeed the advertising imperative which
underpins the market, all but demand you adhere its commercial
sense of who you should be. Each in his own bubble, each in his
own time. Consequently the most meaningful debate can, and will
escape us. Indeed question would now be asked if you strayed from
what was predicted for you, or what others could profit from you.

If we don't, as we use to, aspire to thought, then we will be
controlled on the level of our instincts. Without those ideas which
once existed to civilize us, the chaos which existed before those
ideas might again over take us. As easy as we tear at those ideas
which were once central to our sense of order, so chaos waits to
inhabit that vacuum. If we aren't thinking, questioning, reasoning,
then we are just reacting, in the moment, from one moment to the
next, with no sense of why we react as we do.

To hear you speak, all thought should be left to those who pull
the strings, as they are assumed by virtue of what they accept,
to be more thoughtful than the rest.