Dumbed Down Ireland

\m/_(>_<)_\m/ · 16-01-2007 11:19AM

Heinrich wrote:

Look harder the next time.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/dumbed

erm you forgot to mention that this source is from the American Heritage Dictionary. Sure they even spell things wrong.:D
isn't that exactly what the original post is all about,

dSTAR wrote:

and are happy to be spoon fed a diet of watered down news, Hollywood schlock and general junk culture.

try put "dumbed" into a little unknown dictionary like "the Oxford Dictionary"
oh look what it says
"Sorry, there were no results for your search.":D

Pherekydes · 16-01-2007 03:12PM

\m/_(>_<)_\m/ wrote:

erm you forgot to mention that this source is from the American Heritage Dictionary. Sure they even spell things wrong.:D
isn't that exactly what the original post is all about,

try put "dumbed" into a little unknown dictionary like "the Oxford Dictionary"
oh look what it says
"Sorry, there were no results for your search.":D

From the Oxford English Dictionary (which surely carries more weight than the mere Oxford Dictionary):

People have been complaining about entertainment being 'dumbed down' since 1933.

Not only are they using the word in an article, but it is in a reference to 1933.

http://www.oed.com/newsletters/2001-09/think.html

nesf · 16-01-2007 03:30PM

Slow coach wrote:

From the Oxford English Dictionary (which surely carries more weight than the mere Oxford Dictionary):

Not only are they using the word in an article, but it is in a reference to 1933.

http://www.oed.com/newsletters/2001-09/think.html

I have dumbed down being referenced to middle 20th century and dumb (as in idiotic) being from middle english.

MikeHoncho · 16-01-2007 05:08PM

Whats all this crack smokin talk about dumbed down news. This is no new thing. People have always read dumbed down news. The General population have always been submitted to this. 50 years ago you probably didnt know or care what was going on outside your backwater part of the world anyway. We now live in an age where information is at our finger tips the whole time and we can now see how the media changes things. But for once in the last couple 100 years we have the opportunity to ignore the mass media and find our own sources. This thing we call the Interweb in its purest form allows the rapid transfer of information between peiople all over the globe (How does this dumb us down?).

As far as text speak goes why doesnt one of you invent a time machine and send a collection of your posts back to an 18th Centuary English scholar and have them grade your grammar. Dont get me wrong it wrecks my head but hey if it makes things quicker for these kids let them at it. Language, culture, fashion all change and evolve over time this is human nature and the nature of the world we live in. I bet you all like Rock and Roll... well guess what Rock and Roll was considered to indicate the dumming down of culture in the 50's. I cant count the amount of times I have heard a Rock musician being called a genius over the last 30 years, things change.

My point is that we arent getting dumber. People just seem to like dumb s**t. Who is to say in 150 years time they wont be reading the DaVinci code in school;) And studying the productions of tiesto in music class.:D

DonkeyStyle \o/ · 16-01-2007 05:17PM

I voted 'BOOBIES!!1'. (I think

)

Sarky wrote:

You're all shaved apes as far as I'm concerned.

I want my monkey hair back, Ireland is far too cold.

\m/_(>_<)_\m/ · 17-01-2007 09:33AM

Slow coach wrote:

From the Oxford English Dictionary (which surely carries more weight than the mere Oxford Dictionary):

Not only are they using the word in an article, but it is in a reference to 1933.

http://www.oed.com/newsletters/2001-09/think.html

forgive me, i would have presumed that most people would have known what i meant when i said "oxford dictionary" but i suppose i shouldn't presume the level of understanding in some people.
but again i apologise if you were confused.

still cant find the word "dumbed" in the " Oxford English Dictionary "

yes plenty of articles on the use of the phrase "dumbed down" but again if you read my post, i am looking for the word "dumbed" in the Oxford English Dictionary. Its not in it.
I think that this is what the OP is on about, using phrases like "dumbed down" and other phrases in the article you cited for the less stimulated among us.

sorry is you were confused about the difference between the word "dumbed" and the common usage of the phrase "dumbed down" for TV.

Archeron · 17-01-2007 10:00AM

I think this guy sums it up better than we can. He may not be Irish, but its certainly indicative (of something)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE8EZVpjR84

InFront · 17-01-2007 10:14AM

He is Irish! He works in Tesco in Rathmines, I saw.

adonis · 17-01-2007 10:16AM

i dont think there is an accepted corpus of words in english like there is in french... thats really the beauty of english isnt it? so arguing over the location of a word in a certain dictionary is a tad futile.

I also don't think that txtspk is that much of a problem, maybe its just the evolution of our language.. Im sure people spoke different and wrote differently 50 to 100 years ago. Its just a popular <i>bette noire</i> for people these days which in itself is laziness, try and focus on something different and original...

Of course people are dumbed down its easy now to be lazy, its just a challenge for the most people that they choose not to accept.

Jumpy · 17-01-2007 10:26AM

User45701 wrote:

i don't like the part about pop culture celebs and all that i have no interest in music or popular culture or big brother or what the becams are doing ect. to me its quite sad that your own life is so pathetic that you find yourself obsessed with two people who would probbley just tell you to go get them a drink.

Me i would agree with the dumbed down because i don't test my intellect much but i have no interest in the ****e you mentioned in reference to ireland being dumbed down

Oh wow, *looks at thread title* just wow.

Sleepy · 17-01-2007 12:26PM

Yup, we've sent everyone to college and reduced the caliber of the education provided there in an attempt to make ourselves seem smarter, we're all addicted to mindless entertainment, we've made celebrities out of morons and generally seem to celebrate (or elect!) those who have no intelligence, education or culture.

Pherekydes · 17-01-2007 02:07PM

\m/_(>_<)_\m/ wrote:

forgive me, i would have presumed that most people would have known what i meant when i said "oxford dictionary" but i suppose i shouldn't presume the level of understanding in some people.

Most people would know what is meant by the phrase 'dumbed down', too. 'presumed' isn't in my OED, and neither are 'lazed' or 'pondered'. Can you spot why? Then maybe you can work out why 'dumbed' isn't in there, either.

nesf · 17-01-2007 02:20PM

\m/_(>_<)_\m/ wrote:

still cant find the word "dumbed" in the " Oxford English Dictionary "

When I put it into the Shorter OED on my desktop it returns with the verb dumb:

3. verb trans. & intrans. dumb down, simplify or reduce the intellectual content of (written or broadcast material, etc.), esp. in order to appeal to a mass audience. colloq. (orig. US). M20.

With the literary example given as:

P. Bronson Having to translate his work into dumbed-down metaphors for the shiny-shoe set.

Other than that, you could have 'dumbed' as in 'having been made silent or dumb in the past' or something similar from the above. Similar to gawked the word 'dumbed' doesn't need it's own entry in the dictionary as its sole meaning is as the past tense of the verb dumb. It is a colloquialism alright when used in the phrase 'dumb down' or 'dumbed down', so maybe that's what you are complaining about, but if you expect better on AH...

\m/_(>_<)_\m/ · 17-01-2007 02:29PM

Slow coach wrote:

Then maybe you can work out why 'dumbed' isn't in there, either.

oh i understand the phrase 'dumbed down' that was never in dispute.

what i said, and i'm glad that you finally agree ( took slightly more post that i thought it would) is that the word 'dumbed' is not in the English dictionary.

ntlbell · 17-01-2007 02:31PM

Irony:

A bunch of morons on what is commonly known as one of the more moronic forums on boards discussing how "dumbed down" the youth of the country is today.

Classic.

nesf · 17-01-2007 02:32PM

\m/_(>_<)_\m/ wrote:

what i said, and i'm glad that you finally agree ( took slightly more post that i thought it would) is that the word 'dumbed' is not in the English dictionary.

Eh, why would the past tense of a verb be in an English dictionary if it didn't have another usage?

Cake Fiend · 17-01-2007 02:42PM

nesf wrote:

People are as dumb today as they were 20 years ago. The only real difference is that with reality TV, Joe Duffy and After Hours it's much harder to ignore them.

It's also much easier for them to get away with it. Your man who was talking about taking the safety labels off everything had the right idea.

\m/_(>_<)_\m/ wrote:

still cant find the word "dumbed" in the " Oxford English Dictionary "

The English language is not defined by the contents of the Oxford English Dictionary. It's the other way around, in fact.

adonis · 17-01-2007 03:01PM

i dunno if dumb is actually a verb.
it might be in the passive tense but definitely not in the past.
i think dumb is an adjective, therefore in theory there can be no past tense...
ahhhhh the beauty of english

nesf · 17-01-2007 08:45PM

adonis wrote:

i dunno if dumb is actually a verb.
it might be in the passive tense but definitely not in the past.
i think dumb is an adjective, therefore in theory there can be no past tense...
ahhhhh the beauty of english

It's listed as a verb in the OED, so yeah it's used as a verb sometimes. 'To dumb' as in 'to make silent or dumb'.

Civilian_Target · 17-01-2007 09:49PM

Sleepy wrote:

Yup, we've sent everyone to college and reduced the caliber of the education provided there in an attempt to make ourselves seem smarter, we're all addicted to mindless entertainment, we've made celebrities out of morons and generally seem to celebrate (or elect!) those who have no intelligence, education or culture.

I agree. I read a research paper from the University of Illinois today that mathematically over-convoluted a simple issue and then continued to reach a conclusion in mathematical terms that was intuitively obvious, should the system have just been expained in simple terms.

What a waste of good DARPA funding...

brianthebard · 17-01-2007 11:32PM

FlutterinBantam wrote:

Agreed!!!

One of the side effects of the Celtic cat...plenty of work,no need to bust yer buns doing second and third level education,your heroes will obviously be those revolting people from the various reality shows currently on,the local wag who knows the social welfare scams,and the smart covey who drives a beemer without any visible means of support;)

Hang on are you saying that now that the country has money, people are less inclined to go to college and more inclined to try to claim social welfare?

Cause, you know, isn't that awfully like when the 80's, when the country was poor, people couldn't afford to go to college, and everyone who could get some "free money" did so?

Dya see what I'm driving at here??

stepbar · 18-01-2007 12:26AM

Compare the leaving cert 10 years ago to the format we have today and you'll soon answer find the answer to the question the OP asked.

nesf · 18-01-2007 12:46AM

stepbar wrote:

Compare the leaving cert 10 years ago to the format we have today and you'll soon answer find the answer to the question the OP asked.

The average points have increased dramatically over the past 10 years, however it doesn't mean things are being dumbed down necessarily. Maybe teachers have suddenly become far better at their jobs....

Though it does dovetail nicely in with the increased numbers going to college.

stepbar · 18-01-2007 01:24AM

nesf wrote:

The average points have increased dramatically over the past 10 years, however it doesn't mean things are being dumbed down necessarily. Maybe teachers have suddenly become far better at their jobs....

Though it does dovetail nicely in with the increased numbers going to college.

Sorry nesf i'll have to pull you up on that one, its well known that it now a lot easier to get good marks in the leaving cert. A lot of the syllabuses have been changed in the last few years. The year after I left secondary (2000), the english syllabus was changed. Its a lot handier to do well in it now. And thats only english. You only have to look on boards to see the amount of 15-17 year old typing in text speak. Says it all really.

nesf · 18-01-2007 01:36AM

stepbar wrote:

Sorry nesf i'll have to pull you up on that one, its well known that it now a lot easier to get good marks in the leaving cert. A lot of the syllabuses have been changed in the last few years. The year after I left secondary (2000), the english syllabus was changed. Its a lot handier to do well in it now. And thats only english. You only have to look on boards to see the amount of 15-17 year old typing in text speak. Says it all really.

I was being sarcastic mate. My other 'canned response' is that people have gotten a lot smarter in the past 10 years.

stepbar · 18-01-2007 01:45AM

nesf wrote:

I was being sarcastic mate. My other 'canned response' is that people have gotten a lot smarter in the past 10 years.

Tone never comes across too well on cyberspace

I cant wait to see what the next generation of kids turn out to be like.....

Mind you I deal with people in work who, lets face it, have been getting away with dumbed down work for years soooooo.......... probably not entirely the fault of our education system in hindsight.

nesf · 18-01-2007 01:52AM

stepbar wrote:

Tone never comes across too well on cyberspace I cant wait to see what the next generation of kids turn out to be like.....

Mind you I deal with people in work who, lets face it, have been getting away with dumbed down work for years soooooo.......... probably not entirely the fault of our education system in hindsight.

Personally I think that our education system copped on and realised that no amount of education will turn an idiot into a genius and just went with the flow of things.

Then, I don't think that someone being dumber than someone else makes them a worse person in any way similar to how them being stronger than someone else doesn't make them better in a general sense. But the whole PC bull**** idea of 'everyone being intelligent' is just idiocy. Some people are dumb, some are intelligent, get over it. Does it matter so long as they are both happy?

Thrill · 18-01-2007 02:10AM

Trode wrote:

'Becoming' dumber? Since when? At what point exactly was our intellectual golden age where the majority of the population sat around discussing Sartre over a rousing game of chess, before it was ruined by soap operas and Big Brother?
FWIW no, we, as a people, as a species, are smarter than we were 5 years ago, 10 years ago, 20, 50, 100, 1000. Just because a lot of people like something you don't doesn't make them stupid and you smart.

Spot on imo. It's not as though we were all once high brow intellectuals in this country who have suddenly become morons because of t.v and soap operas. In my opinion we are a far more informed and educated people than we ever were before.
T.V. may be to blame for a lot of things but it has also given us a greater understanding of the world around us.

McSandwich · 18-01-2007 02:36AM

Remember that it's the empty vessels who make the most noise, something which might explain why we get to see and hear so many of them on TV & Radio.

These people crave fame and "celebrity" as an easy way to make money without actually doing anything worthwhile - great from them but not so good for the silent, but intelligent, majority who have to put up with them and their noise...

\m/_(>_<)_\m/ · 18-01-2007 08:18AM

adonis wrote:

i dunno if dumb is actually a verb.
it might be in the passive tense but definitely not in the past.
i think dumb is an adjective, therefore in theory there can be no past tense...
ahhhhh the beauty of english

afaik
yes you are right, 'dumb' is an adjective.
unlike as slowcoach said earlier
'presume' verb = 'presumed' or 'ponder' verb='pondered'

Dumbed Down Ireland

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