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I think that one of the key distinctions between smart and not smart is the ability to discern good/credible information versus less reliable/speculative/baseless information. A generally smart person who knows that he or she is not an expert on certain subject matter will be "smart" enough to distinguish between good and bad info. For example, a smart person will know to trust Mayo Clinic or Sloan Kettering for information re: cancer, and to not give equal credence to random websites or bloggers writing about cancer. Ditto for financial advice, or nutritional advice, or really anything.
I think the last 5 years it has been demonstrated by both the right, middle and the left that is not true. Its called confirmation bias. The website is "obviously" right if it agrees with your opinions. Many intelligent people do that. The "Food Babe," who knows nothing about nutrition, is followed by a lot of intelligent people.
And quite frankly, a lot of "experts" have spouted total nonsense, and sometimes outright dishonesty, about a whole variety of topics.
Technology isn't "making you smarter." It's conditioning you to rely on something other than your own intelligence. Woe be to us all when the grid goes down! We won't remember how to walk without Alexa telling us how.
Ha ha, you got me laughing here mate, as my brain connected your answer with the movie Idiocracy. You'd know what I'm talking about if you've seen it. Though, I totally understand your point. Relying too much on technology makes us ignorant over time. The brain is just like a muscle - it needs training.
However, speaking of technology, if used properly, it'll help you do complex tasks that you otherwise can't. And more tasks in less time as well. I guess that makes you smarter if that can be considered as some broad definition of the word.
Striking a good balance of using technology and common sense is the thing we don't get in the manual as humans nowadays, but we should.
Information is knowlege, not intelligence. Any bird brain can look something up on the internet (or in the encylopdia britanica circa 1980).
Any bird brain can decide that it's acceptable to seek information from their own brain without informing themselves of actual facts rather than opinions.
People with a brain beyond bird brain size - you know, those with intelligence - usually decide to utilize reading and research in a far more concrete, quantifiable and effective manner than someone else who pulls random thoughts out of their own (bird) brain.
Smart people know that they don't know everything and they don't pretend to. Smart people tend to ask more questions than try to foist their knowledge on others.
Stupid people think they know everything and don't hesitate to tell everyone else.
Smart people know that they don't know everything and they don't pretend to. Smart people tend to ask more questions than try to foist their knowledge on others.
Stupid people think they know everything and don't hesitate to tell everyone else.
I think the last 5 years it has been demonstrated by both the right, middle and the left that is not true. Its called confirmation bias. The website is "obviously" right if it agrees with your opinions. Many intelligent people do that. The "Food Babe," who knows nothing about nutrition, is followed by a lot of intelligent people.
And quite frankly, a lot of "experts" have spouted total nonsense, and sometimes outright dishonesty, about a whole variety of topics.
I hear you, but I want to clarify that I am decidedly NOT talking about political opinions. Confirmation bias plays a tremendous role when it comes to political views, and certainly even politics-related issues like vaccines, etc. Setting aside politics, I am saying that smart people are better at differentiating between "good" and "bad" information in a general sense.
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