Sophisticated Ignorance, They Write My Curses in Cursive

            “You guys don’t know anything.” This statement is repeated over and over again in the media, complete with “social critics” who preach with vitriol and condescension that the youngest generation is stupider and lazier then their own generation was. These specific words, by Mark Bauerlain in his book The Dumbest Generation, are not only incredibly insulting, but they are downright wrong. These scare tactics are simply used as moneymakers, to sell books and magazines to the target audience: aging adults. They praise the intelligence of the eldest members of our society, while discrediting the minds of the youth. It is wholly ignorant and disrespectful to throw the misnomer of “ The Dumbest Generation” on to those below thirty; not only is this an argument that has been repeated every generation for hundreds of years, but it is also evident that it is not true. Intelligence is not failing: in fact, in some areas it is actually improving.

            One way to discredit the claim that Millennials constitute the dumbest generation is to simply study the history. Older generation’s claiming that the Youngers are dumber than them is a cycle that is repeated every generation. A prime example of this is in an article by R. Smith Simpson, Are We Getting Our Share of the Best? In it he asserts, “ My initial surprise was to find among the candidates (Americans) an abysmal ignorance of so elementary a subject as the geography of the United States.” Many of those who claim that those under thirty lack the knowledge that they held, would wholeheartedly agree with this statement. They would then be surprised to know that this article was in fact written in 1962, and spoke about their own generation. The constant fretting of the pundits (Source 7) is a cycle whose repetition is as predictable as the changing of the seasons.

            Not only are these arguments trite and unspecific, but they are simply wrong. A study from Stanford University found that people today write more than in generations ever before. And, unlike in previous generations, 38% of writing took place outside of the classroom (Source 7). Additionally, the study found new skills had been learned by students such as online communication and technical literacy. These new online worlds have opened up new arenas of thought, allowing students to, “ dive into a topic or thought.” (Source 3). Not only have traditional skills like writing and IQ not fallen behind, but new skills like technological aptitude have leapt ahead.

            It is clear that the argument that modern critics pose is wrong. Their   judgment of the young adult generation as being the farthest behind intellectually is based on lazy stereotypes and lazy generalizations. As much as they want to see failings in youth, as every older generation has done for centuries, the facts do not support their claim. The Millennials are not only not falling behind, but they are actually learning new and diverse skills through the prevalence of technology. Just because the older segment of society is not able to see change does not negate it. So maybe these critics – so quick to judge – should open up a book themselves.