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Well, this is quite upsetting to read. (lemmy.world)
submitted 6 months ago by to c/justpost@lemmy.world
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More (not so) fun facts:

54% of American adults read below a 6th grade level.

21% read below a 5th grade level, which is considered functionally illiterate.

High immigration numbers don't fully explain it either, as first gen immigrants only make up about 1/3 of those with low literacy.

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[–] 10 points 6 months ago (10 children)

Its both because people don't want to be intellectual because its depressing and alienating to be smart around a bunch of dumb people, but also the rich and powerful do not want us to be smart either.

I myself wish I was fucking stupid. I'd be happier.

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  • [–] 3 points 6 months ago*

    Yeah. There are negative social consequences to being intellectual and pursing mental self-improvement. One of them being, people hate you.

    Socially successful people now that you have to play stupid to get people to like you. You also say/embrace stupid shit to make other people feel like they are smart...

    Just like if you are physically large and strong, people are also afraid of you and you have to be very careful about your body language because it will terrify people. You have to act all modest and downplay your size for people to feel comfortable around you.

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  • [–] 1 point 6 months ago (6 children)

    people don’t want to be intellectual because its depressing and alienating to be smart around a bunch of dumb people

    This sounds like a cope someone would come up with to explain why they watch Joe Rogan.

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  • [–] 2 points 6 months ago* (5 children)

    Is that something Joe Rogan has said? I legitimately don't understand what you are saying here.

    Are you saying I'm coping about actually being stupid? Because I am stupid in certain ways. Just not in the ways that I wish I was.

    So sure, I am coping... just not because I listen to Joe Rogan because I don't.

    Have you not spent time around groups of people and been painfully aware that what they're talking about is incredibly simple and vacuous? And wanted to rip the flesh off of your face in sheer frustrated boredom but you just nod and be polite?

    I've also been around people smarter than me, and I find it way more enjoyable. I'm the likeable dumb guy, learning things about what the experts around me know about.

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  • [–] 0 points 6 months ago (4 children)

    I wasn't trying to call you out or anything, I was just making a joke about how people who listen to Joe Rogan are stupid. Idk if he's actually said that, but if he has, then that's hilarious. It fits my mental image of him perfectly.

    Have you not spent time around groups of people and been painfully aware that what they’re talking about is incredibly simple and vacuous? And wanted to rip the flesh off of your face in sheer frustrated boredom

    Again, not trying to dunk on you or anything, but are you autistic? I've never met anyone like this IRL, only le redditeurs trying to be edgy online, but I suppose someone on the spectrum might actually feel that way in some situations? I legitimately don't know, and am not trying to use "autistic" in a derogatory way here.

    As an example, I'm the only software engineer in my social circle, and don't ever feel like that around people even when they're saying really stupid things about a topic I'm an expert in. If you find yourself getting frustrated with people in those situations, I think it's a sign that you have shitty social skills, not that you're smarter than everyone.

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  • [–] 1 point 6 months ago (2 children)

    I am autistic, and if someone doesn't have at least a rudimentary level of knowledge on important shit like politics, philosophy, science, etc. I'm not going to assume its because they are an expert in something else. I'm going to assume its because they are incurious and/or focused on fundamentally pointless stuff. They may or may not actually be interested in this stuff but its usually stuff that will gain them social advantage and financial benefit with other people also into said pointless stuff.

    If one cares about the most recent celebrity gossip or gets angry when someone is a fan of a rival sports team, but say, shows no interest in the nature of dark energy & expansion of the universe or the effects of free will's lack of existence on justice: They are going to have an uphill battle to convince me they aren't a fucking troglodyte. Unfortunately, there are like, ten of these sorts of people for every one person who is the reverse.

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  • [–] 1 point 6 months ago (1 child)

    I’m going to assume its because they are incurious and/or focused on fundamentally pointless stuff

    You sound like a real asshole. Jumping to conclusions about someone based on a single conversation is stupid, because it's not enough to know them. Try giving others the benefit of the doubt more, and maybe you'll find them less intolerable (and others will find you less intolerable as well)

    but say, shows no interest in the nature of dark energy & expansion of the universe or the effects of free will’s lack of existence on justice

    As an example, my initial reaction to reading this is a cringe so intense that I feel it in my bones. Despite this, I am willing to give you the benefit of the doubt before letting that reaction tarnish my opinion of you, as I truly do not know you IRL, and there's always more to a person than what they can present to the world. There's also a lot that gets lost when communicating through text, so I'll reserve judgement. I'll just end this with a quote from the great philosopher Curtis James Jackson:

    ****** shouldn't throw stones if you live in a glass house. And if you got a glass jaw, you should watch your mouth.

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  • [–] 1 point 6 months ago*

    You sound like a real asshole.

    Sure. I am.

    Jumping to conclusions about someone based on a single conversation is stupid, because it’s not enough to know them. Try giving others the benefit of the doubt more, and maybe you’ll find them less intolerable (and others will find you less intolerable as well)

    I'm working off statistics. Maybe I'm wrong like, 5% of the time, but I'm saving time and energy the other 95% if I'm permitted by circumstance to exit the conversation. Often times I can't because of social dynamics or professional responsibility unfortunately.

    As an example, my initial reaction to reading this is a cringe so intense that I feel it in my bones.

    To be cringe is to be free. Honestly, cringing that I want to talk about shit with more depth than a puddle is your emotional reaction to what I said I want to spend my time with. I don't need to worry about your emotions, that's on you. Especially since... we actually will never meet in person, and we do not owe each other anything.

    Its nice that you are willing to give the benefit of the doubt though. I mean that unironically. I just don't have that kind of patience, nor blame others for the same level of impatience. If you want to give people that amount of your energy, more power to you. Chances are though it doesn't take much energy from you because you are probably just on the same wave length as most people, if so congratulations on being allistic.

    50 Cent quote

    I'm not sure how seriously you expect me to take this.

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