Are all adults just getting dumber?

larkstarfish · 2021-12-06T19:45:47+00:00

It sounds like you’ve outgrown that group. Just like individual friendships, groups can get “leveled up.” I’ve found that when I’ve grown, I need to change my environment too. It’s uncomfortable, but a necessary part of maturation. It sounds like you have associated with this group for awhile and have outgrown them. I no longer enjoy the friend group I had in high school, I much prefer chatting with professionals in my field as I have much more in common with them. Time to move on?

FodderFigureIllushun · 2021-12-06T23:03:36+00:00

I feel you. I went to a company Christmas party with my husband this past weekend and I met his coworkers and their partners. Everyone was cussing and taking pictures of their butts. I decided not to drink too much since I didn't know anyone aside from my husband and one of the women there said "Wow, sucks to be the sober one..." like we were in high school and I had something to prove. Also, lots of people not acting professionally in front of the boss or dressed appropriately.

I understand this was a time for people to get to know each other and let loose but they were acting a little TOO LOOSE. Like taking pictures of each other's butts and cleavage. I felt like I was at a frat party.

EmpyrealMarch · 2021-12-06T23:09:32+00:00

I feel like society as a whole is saying "be a child and live in the past forever."

HighPriestess31 · 2021-12-06T18:02:28+00:00

We're living in Idiocracy. "Pop culture" is basically just a collection of crap that appeals to the lowest common denominator, and people fall for it hook, line and sinker. This is the culture we live in: people want to be famous influencers and Kim Kardashians, not Nobel Prize winning scientists or literary writers. Social media has only made it worse, with everyone competing to debase themselves to get the most views, regardless of the quality of content.

edwardianemerald · 2021-12-06T17:37:29+00:00

Yes.

Look at American pop culture. Every other joke is bathroom humor / slapstick violence. There is no nuance.

Look at American media. Rerun after rerun, remake after remake. No original ideas from the major movie studios in...5 years? 10 years?

Look at American attention spans. Shrinking, year after year.

Specific-Composer300 · 2021-12-06T18:21:29+00:00

I get this feeling too sometimes. In big social groups the topics of conversation always seem to become so juvenile, superficial, degenerate and meaningless. Not that everything has to be deep and intellectual all the time, of course, but it's like I can't relate to the stupid, pointless shit and jokes many people seem to care about. Luckily I have many lovely HVW friends I hang out with one on one or in small groups.

ultblue7 · 2021-12-06T18:21:06+00:00

Lmao Im glad its not just me. I’ve never been one to party but now I especially feel like an alien when Im at family events or try to socialize outside of my profession. Everyone just wants to talk bullshit about others or ask why im not married yet. I thought I was just awkward af but then I found people willing to do things other than drink the night away and wait for someone to do something stupid. I dont have many friends and sometimes I get lonely but I much prefer in depth discussion and talking about things of substance instead of gossip and American media. So glad I stopped watching television years ago. Even when I do watch shows its usually international crime/mystery dramas or educational lectures/shows.

FlockAroundtheClock · 2021-12-06T17:16:17+00:00

Yes.

This is how I feel whenever I am socializing with people outside a group closely related to my profession (all women.) I'm in my 40s. The men seem to bring drinking stories, like it's still cool to get wasted every weekend? How pathetic. Or they mainsplain basic shit, belittle my work with little jokey-jokes or lame humor. The women talk about reality shows (gag) wine tasting (so, more drinking stories) or have no life outside of their children (I'm happily child-free and don't give a shit that your kid likes to pee in your garden, and also gross, why would you tell people that!?)

So yes, unless you find your "tribe" or niche of people (which thank God, I have) people are dumber than ever and have nothing of interest or value to talk about.

Space_Gators · 2021-12-06T22:55:26+00:00

Never underestimate the impact of environmental pollutants on cognition. That’s why boomers are so often narcissistic and dense - they grew up bathed in lead. Breathing leaded gasoline fumes, lead paint, lead pipes - it’s a permanent toxicity they spent decades accumulating. Today, toxins are more likely to be forever chemicals, micro plastics, pesticides, proximity to industrial sites - I could go on for paragraphs.

As a species, we have been dumbed down by environmental toxins. Some are much more affected than others.

scooter_se · 2021-12-06T19:00:44+00:00

Yes, and I suspect it has to do with the fact that we’re all chock full of micro plastics at this point

chickenery · 2021-12-06T18:50:08+00:00

For me, if I don’t want to go to an event, or if I don’t feel comfortable there, the conversation seems 100% stupider than it would if I did want to be there or if I was having fun. 🤷🏻‍♀️

europoor24 · 2021-12-06T19:54:08+00:00

Yes. But it’s also some other anglophone countries as well. You’ve got adults who don’t want to consume anything else besides social media and stupid shows as adults where as in other places, many people can do a deep dive into political issues and take pleasure in cultural discussions. Not that that doesn’t exist in America but it’s not as common

millennialpink2000 · 2021-12-06T18:10:02+00:00

Yes, I'd say Americans in particular have gotten increasingly and aggressively dumber over the past 20 years of being spoon-fed reality TV. I'm aghast at how that country behaves

discoveringliberty · 2021-12-06T21:08:36+00:00

I disagree on the whole. Yes, I think obsession with social media, TV and porn has reduced people's attention spans, but overall women are more educated and accomplished now than ever before in the West.

My girlfriends and I are always discussing politics, philosophy, history, astrology, etc. I have similar conversations with my parents and my siblings. I'm in university right now, and there are constantly new academic books and theories being published, lots of people are still striving to learn and grow. I think the people you were with just wanted to relax and probably weren't interested in proving their intelligence to you. Or maybe they were an immature crowd, but I don't think it's fair to say that the new generations are just plain dumb.

candyfox84 · 2021-12-07T01:24:54+00:00

I agree and find that many social experiences are unfulfilling. I’m working on finding fewer-but-better-quality interactions. Keep in touch!

JadeBaby2211 · 2021-12-07T03:05:38+00:00

I think people are getting both dumber and smarter. If you're easily swayed, you'll get caught into various addictions and social media trends. I'm also seeing an incredible amount of astute sociological analysis from individuals on social media. The internet can both make you a zombie and give you the info to access incredible states of well being. For example I'd never know how to resolve many of my health issues without Google, but I've also wasted a lot of time online too. I'm trying to find a solid friend group atm, so I have no suggestions but there are good people out there!

wemadethemachine · 2021-12-06T18:29:20+00:00

Sorry I gotta disagree. This is moralist nonsense that is said by every generation about the previous, especially when they start to get old. I've never heard this type of commentary from someone who themselves didn't then proceed to do something stupid -- "everyone else is wrong but it's okay when I do it." This is a real Dunning-Kruger for me and maybe also some confirmation bias, it shows an inability to look at yourself. I mean, Everybody Loves Raymond was huge like 15 years ago, do you think that show was funny? Have you ever heard boomers talk, or seen them write an email? Half of them are illiterate. This is a no from me, especially based on your post history that you have "a big apartment with a big bed" or whatever, you don't even know what is going on in the lives of people who don't have that. I feel like I hear this from people who deem themselves progressive but I actually feel that it's a very conservative line of commentary.

thinktwiceorelse · 2021-12-06T20:32:45+00:00

Yeah, I know what you mean. It's like some people act goofy so they appear "younger"? You know what I mean, the "hello, fellow teenagers" situation.

Title	Are all adults just getting dumber?
Author	plomerst
Upvotes	315
Comments	60
Date	December 6, 2021 4:54 PM UTC (4 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/FemaleDatingStrategy
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/FemaleDatingStrategy/comments/rabt3u/are_all_adults_just_getting_dumber/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/FemaleDatingStrategy/are-all-adults-just-getting-dumber.1088339 https://theredarchive.com/post/1088339

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