How did Americans get so damn stupid?

[Echye]

Hope you actualy live there and you're not saying that because of watching scripted TV shows

[Mikestang]

Think of your average person, they are pretty dumb.  By definition, half the people are more dumb than the average person.

There is no emphasis on critical thinking, too many people blindly accept what is presented to them, whether it be religion, political views, or consumer products.  It's more and more rare that I come across folk with common sense and good critical thinking skills.

It comes down to there are just too many people, I'm cheering for the next extinction level event to happen soon and wipe the slate so it can all start over again.

[UliJonHoth]

Think of your average person, they are pretty dumb.  By definition, half the people are more dumb than the average person.

There is no emphasis on critical thinking, too many people blindly accept what is presented to them, whether it be religion, political views, or consumer products.  It's more and more rare that I come across folk with common sense and good critical thinking skills.

It comes down to there are just too many people, I'm cheering for the next extinction level event to happen soon and wipe the slate so it can all start over again.

And we can look at social media and see how in the past several years it has boosted herd mentality and the ability to manipulate the masses - these ice bucket challenges, rainbow-hued avatars...what before took years is now being done in months - even weeks - through social media by playing on the average person's urge to fit-in.

[Pentax]

When compared to other developed nations such as France, Australia, Japan, and Italy, the proportion of stupid people in the United States seems to be far greater than the average. IMO, the main reasons might be:

1. Brainwashing by Hollywood movies.
2. Exposure to lies from MSNBC and CNN.
3. High level of religiosity.
4. Low level of education.
5. Obesity.

What is the link between obesity and stupidity? 

I'm not sure, but it looks like the europeans are stupid too.

"Most people in Europe are too fat, according to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO).

It said 59% of the population were either overweight or obese."



Also the highest levels of tobacco use and alcohol consumption in the world.

I'm opening a heart clinic for these Euro Fat, drunk, chain-smoking bastards.









Oh, I forgot stupid........Fat, drunk, chain-smoking bastards

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-34335512

[figmentofmyass]

That depends, are we talking about North Americans or South Americans?

baa-dum-tsss. well played.

short answer: u.s. residents have a culture that praises stupidity and ditziness. knowledge for its own sake is only sought after by a minority. the latter, of course, is true in much of the world. but it is exacerbated in the u.s. because here, intelligence is actively stigmatized.

[catch.me.if.you.can]

The brain of americans is burned by vaccines.

[TrayFliip]

stupidity is relative, people have different definitions 

[BADecker]

How did Americans get so damn stupid? By spending all this time on Internet forums rather than studying what Karl Lentz has to say - https://www.youtube.com/user/765736 (scroll down).

[Sithara007]

stupidity is relative, people have different definitions 

Comparing the IQ would enable us to conclude whether the Americans are really stupid or not. The average IQ in that nation is 98 (could have been much higher, if there was no illegal immigration). That is almost equal to the IQ in western Europe, but lower than that in East Asia.

[consumeHealth1]

There are stupid americans, yes. Like in any country you visit. You shouldn't generalize. And who's the responsible? Maybe people like Trump? Idk, just saying.

[EthanB]

At first i thought it was just an acting.  They cant be this stupid, but they should quit acting.  Spoiler: Its no act.  These people are really really stupid...

Americans don't have enough of a reason to be intelligent or think about many things. They are handed every meal, lesson and entitlement on a silver platter. Their poorest people are overweight, have cell phones.. Without struggle there is no motivation to raise above, improve or become smarter. There is no reason to try and think when it's much easier to stuff your face and carry on like a sheep.

Too many Americans are sheltered from information from anywhere except certain media organizations. They make little to no effort in hearing any opinions that are outside of their echo-chamber or cause them to think outside their opinion which they hold as closely as an identity.

[Sithara007]

There are stupid americans, yes. Like in any country you visit. You shouldn't generalize. And who's the responsible? Maybe people like Trump? Idk, just saying.

The IQ is mostly dependent on the genes, and there is not much Trump or any other elected official can do about it. Education and upbringing can only make a small difference in the IQ. Most of it is based what is inherited from your parents.

[MyVeepz10]

Many Americans are stupid, yes, but it's  generic thing. Humanity is splitted, some are so stupid and others now are open minded.

[thymeow]

well let's not generalize all Americans are stupid tho' i see a lot of videos and news showing how stupid they're.

[matuson]

There are stupid americans, yes. Like in any country you visit. You shouldn't generalize. And who's the responsible? Maybe people like Trump? Idk, just saying.

The IQ is mostly dependent on the genes, and there is not much Trump or any other elected official can do about it. Education and upbringing can only make a small difference in the IQ. Most of it is based what is inherited from your parents.

You understand what you are saying? What does genes? The level of intelligence depends on education and desire to learn. The poorer the country the more likely you are to get an education and escape from poverty those who have the opportunity. Moreover, in poor countries need to make greater efforts to survive than in developed countries. School of life is also bearing fruit. Remember "Slumdog Millionaire"?

[GreenBits]

That depends, are we talking about North Americans or South Americans?

US. 
I guess the government takes care of your basic needs and the stupid can flourish. Natural selection has been taken out of the picture.

I'm American, and not offended. Y'all have every right to be mad

We aren't stupid. But our lowest common denominator is ignorant as fuck. A little while ago, our media started to realize that they could define truth, through consensus. All media outlets abuse this particular weakness of public attention, but some outlets disseminate highly biased, partisan news that is not politically correct or even factually correct, for that matter. Half of our population feels so marginalized that they take comfort in this 'news' that makes them afraid of their neighbors and fellow citizens, because a lobbying agency told a media outlet to tell them those people are trying to hurt them. They vote for idiot ass policies that ultimately harm them, but it's OK; the media, the 'real' media (you have to define yourself as the only voice of truth if you want people to accept your lies as consensus) said it was for your best interest.

You will always be defined as a group, by tour lowest common denominator. It doesn't matter if it's ten people to a million, but a group will always be characterized by its weakest link.

Ask a Black person or a Muslim.

It's America's time to eat shit. The current state of America is the will of the people As my favorite current president once said, along with my favorite book, 'you reap what you sow'.

I don't think we want this harvest.

[BADecker]

I moved my kids out of America.
It was the best parenting decision I've ever made.

"I really wish you'd reconsider your decision," my neighbor Steve said. He strode over, hands on hips, and added, "I hear it's dangerous down there. I'm really worried about your kids."

The decision he was referring to was the radical idea that my husband and I had settled on. We were moving, along with our two young sons — at age 7 and 9 — from small town U.S.A. to a modest mountain village in Ecuador. Steve wasn't the only one with concerns. My brother, who normally lauded my parenting choices, was ominously silent on this one, afraid that talking about it would make it real, give it life and validation.

Some of our friends turned on us, calling us terrible parents, or saying we were unpatriotic. Why would we want to leave the land of the free and the home of the brave? And where was Ecuador, anyway? Somewhere near Mexico? Africa? We were taking our children to a country that most Americans can't even point to on a map. What were we thinking?

Well, we were thinking a lot of things, and taking a number of factors into consideration. In America, it seemed every third child was taking pharmaceuticals to treat behavioral issues, anxiety, or depression. High school students were unloading automatic weapons into their classmates. Opioid use was reaching all new highs. Bank executives were defrauding their customers and Wall Street was walking an increasingly thin tight rope. It felt like The American Dream as we knew it was all but gone, having transformed into a shadowy unknown. We fretted about what the future would hold for our family. We thought maybe, just maybe, a simpler lifestyle somewhere else was the answer. And so, in 2011, our family walked up to the edge of the unknown, took a deep breath, and jumped.

When we landed in this little equatorial nation, the culture shock was intense. Aside from the daunting language barrier, nothing in this part of the world runs on schedule, so we constantly showed up hours early for events and just had to wait around. Or we found they would be held at some undetermined future time. For a punctual, time-conscious person like me, this ramped up my anxiety to new levels.

Read more at http://theweek.com/articles/703660/moved-kids-america-best-parenting-decision-ive-ever-made.

[galestorm]

No need to stereotypically assess the matter. Not all americans are stupid. There are those that have contributed their knowledge for the country or better yet have invented things which had helped most of us in our daily needs. The internet is your proof, search the web about this topic. Most of the gathered information will prove you wrong of your selective observation.

[Minotus]

Lol , I am not an American but stupidty doesn't belong to a nation  they are everywhere. We just need to learn how to live with them.

[lahje]

damn we all westerners are stupid in the same way. americans have more fluoride in their water so that could mean something too... television and popular music inspire no-one to do nothing but drink and sex strangers, thats not very productive intellectualwise or spiritually. damn we all are brainwashed to think spirituality is not even a real thing but some new-age mumbojumbo