The benchmark for the so-called ‘lowest common denominator’ of Americans is now close to bottoming out. “Any lower and we’ll be flat lining,” says Owen Richards, head of statistical analysis at More On, a California think tank.
The term represents the level of the least discriminating audience or consumer group. The study titled ‘Reasoning In the Population’ (RIP) paints a grim picture of an increasing number of simple-minded Americans.
“Left to their own devices and the misinformation they get from them, many adults are having difficulty coming up with even one fact-based thought,” Richards said.
The recent study of just over 2,700 subjects shows the correlation between the growing use of ego-driven social media, a hyper-political climate and the need to fill a bloated 24/7 news and entertainment cycle as factors responsible for the downward spiral.
To get a baseline the researchers pored over thousands of postings on popular internet sites such as Facebook, TikTok and Twitter. They also reviewed stories published in the New York Post, interviews at public urinals and Fox News.
“If, based on our findings, I had to sum it up, “said Richards, “I’d say the age of enlightenment is over. And it’s never coming back.”
As an example, he points to the popularity of Donald Trump as indicative of the decline in perception and reasoning. He cites the acceptance by Trump supporters of his string of near truths, contradictions and outright lies as examples of the lack of basic analytical thought among millions of Americans.
“What we see happening is a worldview based on fiction posing as facts that seeps down to become core beliefs. Across all segments of society people believe what they want to if it fits into a narrative they’re comfortable with.
“Unfortunately, that can result in an inability to consider any conflicting yet pertinent data. About the only thing those in our study could agree on was the alphabet, although not necessarily in letter order.
“The best advice I can give,” said Richards, “is to assume everyone you meet is stupid until they prove otherwise.”
Gil Prowler writes satirical and social commentary..
Let me try to propose a different “perspective” in an attempt to keep the potential or possibility of “enlightenment”, alive at least a little longer.
Suppose the likes of Trump and others are placed in front of Humanity as being part of the “enlightenment” process. The ignorance that promotes prejudice, superiority and separatism is uncovered during the process. If he were to win, it would indicate how far behind humanity truly is in the process of unity and oneness. It will not matter if another Clinton a Bush or some person named Trump actually moves into a rent free house, with all utilities paid. The whole process is simply designed to show us where our corner of humanity stands in our evolutionary process, during “this” incarnation. On a scale of 1-10 where would you place “your” personal growth this time around.