We are the Dumbest Generation in History

My professor in my electronic media writing class conducts a mini audience analysis with the students in his class every semester. The audience analysis entails answering questions pertaining to what kinds of media we pay attention to. He noticed that as the years go by, more and more students pay attention to the news less and less. Our generation, the 18 to 35 male and female demographic, are plugged in, but plugged into media outlets that provide no real mental stimulation and no intellectual substance.

Boys and girls, we are currently the dumbest generation in history.

Round of applause. Good work, folks. We are a generation that knows more about Paris Hilton's latest shag and what the hell the Kardashians are doing, than local events that undoubtedly will affect our lives and world events that will, believe it or not, affect us, as well. We are plugged in, but tuned the fuck out.

Whenever I say words like, IMF, World Bank, neoliberal philosophy, the new world order, etc, I get blank stares from my cohorts. Neoliberal capitalism is awesome if you don't really think about it too much and don't look into it too closely. Every part of your perceptual world can be as beautiful as a Monet just as long as you don't get too close to it.

I get called that crazy Berkeley chick that is always militantly talking about politics, world events, and conspiracy theories. Well, let me tell you something, son. These are not conspiracy theories that I'm talking about. If you paid attention, the things I'm talking about are plainly displayed in front of you, but you are too preoccupied with World of Warcraft, Facebook status updates, MTV, VHI, and other head rotting activities to notice the real world around you. You accept explanations for face value and are content to think about things however way someone else told you to. We are a generation of lazy spoiled brats.

We gladly accept the world painted before us as black and white complete with villains and heroes. We hardly ever question the assumed classification of good and evil. Capitalism = good. Communism = bad.

It is too disruptive to our happy world to consider other possibilities and other explanations for why the world is the way it is. Just because you haven't heard of something or thought about a particular situation in a different way than it has been presented to you, it doesn't make it a conspiracy theory.

Hegemony rules. That's why it's called hegemony. (Go ahead. Look this word up. It's okay.)

Never fear! We will soon not be the dumbest generation in history because soon our children will grow up and become even dumber adults than we are because we don't have any critical thinking or analytic skills to teach them.

Alas, some good shit to look forward to!