Are smart phones making some people dumber?

[lino6]

There is a lot of tech availible helping make our lives simple (he says stating the obvious). But is this tech making the user simple?? I as this question after an experience I had with work. I had to book in one our work trailers (semi trailer) for a wheel alignment after getting some work done on the suspension. When I called the place that specialises in heavey wheel alignments including trailers I was asked "what type of trailer is it"? I replied with "just a standard flat top bogie, about 12m long". The reply I got then was "how many axles"?... I paused for a bit because I thought to myself that I'm sure bogie trailers were 2 axles but maybe I'm wrong. 

The best I heard however was when a friend's father was booking in his 4wd in for some work. He said to the person on the phone "it needs a new clutch". The look on his face then turned to confusion as he had to explain that his 4wd was a manual and not an auto. 

So I put it out there - smart phones make people simple.

[GeoffA]

It's not the 'phones........

[lino6]

It's not the 'phones........

I have to blame something.....

[Mandrake]

Its the 10% of knowledge missing syndrome ...
My grandfather knew everything - My father learnt 90% of that - I learnt 90% of that - My son learnt 90% of that ...So my son knows about 73% of the original ..
That's Mandrake's Law of Knowledge Loss .
Nothing to do with Technology -
Mandrake .

[nbd73]

Its the 10% of knowledge missing syndrome ...
My grandfather knew everything - My father learnt 90% of that - I learnt 90% of that - My son learnt 90% of that ...So my son knows about 73% of the original ..
That's Mandrake's Law of Knowledge Loss .
Nothing to do with Technology -
Mandrake .

Sounds remarkably similar to the laws of voltage drop thru circuits....

[qlddsl]

Sounds remarkably similar to the laws of voltage drop thru circuits....

What amperage is the 6bs rated at?

[lino6]

A voltage drop in the brain too. What is wrong with absorbing information and retaining it for future use, rather than looking something up on the phone/tablet 

[Black Diamond]

Not sure if they are making them dumber, but definitely making people unsociable. Everywhere you go people are staring down at them. As a matter of fact, I'm on mine now

BD

[Symon]

Sorry to have a go at you, but that line of thinking doesn't make sense to me.

Guy #1 didn't know that a bogey trailer has 2 axles, and guy #2 didn't know what a clutch was.  What the hell does either have to do with smart phones?

Or is this just another 'I'm an old timer who can't understand the young ones' thread?

[Foo]

You can get an App for that Symon I'm sure.

Foo

[krisandkev]

I think it is modern technology in general.  Don’t get me wrong, I love some modern technology, especially if you are the world’s worst speller like me!    But basic skills are being lost. Just get someone to add up nowadays without using a calculator!   Kevin

[GeeTee]

I think it is modern technology in general.  Don’t get me wrong, I love some modern technology, especially if you are the world’s worst speller like me!    But basic skills are being lost. Just get someone to add up nowadays without using a calculator!   Kevin

without using a what?!

[Chris-Vi]

I remember when you had to remember phone numbers and then find a phone box that had a phone that worked when on the road. Flat out remembering my own number now as it is in the phone. Just scroll and hit call. 

[cancan]

It's a bit like taking the GPS out of the car and how many people will be stuffed

[lino6]

It's a bit like taking the GPS out of the car and how many people will be stuffed

How about taking the auto reverse parking button out of cars! Imagine someone having to park for themselves after using this for a year!

Now I'm not saying this stuff is bad, just that it seems to me (and maybe only me) that instant access to information is reducing the ability to think for ones self.

Sorry to have a go at you, but that line of thinking doesn't make sense to me.

Guy #1 didn't know that a bogey trailer has 2 axles, and guy #2 didn't know what a clutch was.  What the hell does either have to do with smart phones?

Or is this just another 'I'm an old timer who can't understand the young ones' thread?

I just think Symon that some of this stuff like smart phones are taking away the need to learn. I learnt that a clutch is a part of a manual transmission buy getting out and learning rather than just googling from a smart phone or laptop. I should say that the guy at the wheel alignment shop is older than me and therefore was probably not smart phone related but I suppose that this is just one of those rants that highlights the frustration I have with people who can't think/learn for themselves. I get the feeling too that sometimes some people think the world owes them something and therefore everyone else should bend over backwards for them. But this is my opinion and as we know opinions are like the human bottom, everyone has one!

[Rumpig]

I remember when you had to remember phone numbers and then find a phone box that had a phone that worked when on the road. Flat out remembering my own number now as it is in the phone. Just scroll and hit call. 

i have no idea at all what my wifes number is on her mobile, even though she's had it for years....just scroll to her name and select 

[Sawed-Off]

i have no idea at all what my wifes number is on her mobile, even though she's had it for years....just scroll to her name and select 

I swear having "a good number" is all about your own ability to remember it to give to others, rather than their ability to remember it once received.

[Bird]

Now I'm not saying this stuff is bad

I am.
it makes people stupid.

Then when things dont work, they get hysterical.

Mate was driving a towy for NRMA for years, he used to pickup people with such destroyed things as "the powersteering wont work, so its now totally undriveable" after they have blocked peak hour traffic for 2 hours... people are getting dumber with more technology.

Look at peoples writing and spelling these days, its shot - I notice my handwriting is nearly at Dr's level since I dont really ever have to do it anymore.

[kylarama]

'I'm an old timer who can't understand the young ones'

'Back in my day sonny' 


Wouldn't it be more of a case of smart phones making dumb people look smart...


Kyle Busch, a NASCAR drive in the states was quoted the other year after being taken out in a race.

"You can't fix stupid.  It's forever"

[GUEY]

Look at peoples writing and spelling these days, its shot - I notice my handwriting is nearly at Dr's level since I dont really ever have to do it anymore.

I know what your saying. Write a paragraph by hand now and I get a cramp in my fingers.
Unfortunately these devices are a necessary evil to keep up with the world.  Has been covered before about GPS, but the young blokes at work have no idea. If their phones are flat and have to use a UBD they just about piddle in their pants. They have no concept of direction and because their eyes are glued to the screen they don't look what is around them. If they have been to a job once they should remember how to get there. But every time they head off the have to have the phone going to tell them where to turn.

[lino6]

I was sitting in a waiting room the other day with the owner of one of the local car dealers. He was answering emails etc on his phone and said to me that he loves the ability to be able to do that anywhere. I don't think anyone could say that the things that we all have access to now have made life easier. But I was a teenager once and never had a phone and I seem to have made it ok as I'm sure nearly everyone else on the forum did. I ended up saying to this person that though it is fantastic that we have instant access to information, I do miss the good old days where when I was out if anyone needed to catch up with me they had to wait for me to get home!

I don't have a smart phone (because like my employer, I am too tight to buy one!) but I can understand why people have them. For me I have to wait till I get home from work to check Facebook, or I have to use a UBD when I forget to grab the sat nav.

Wouldn't it be more of a case of smart phones making dumb people look smart...

Perhaps this would have been a more accurate title

[oldmate]

Not sure if they are making them dumber, but definitely making people unsociable. Everywhere you go people are staring down at them. As a matter of fact, I'm on mine now

BD

Hahahaha me too. In a waiting room. Lol

[kylarama]

I don't have a smart phone (because like my employer, I am too tight to buy one!) but I can understand why people have them. For me I have to wait till I get home from work to check Facebook, or I have to use a UBD when I forget to grab the sat nav.

Lucky you!  I works for a company who's CEO believes the 2 most crucial work tools are your smark phone and laptop and you should have them with you 24/7!

While emails on the phone is handy and makes life so much easier when your out on site, it is however a major intrusion to your out of work life.  I get emails at all hours of the day/night and weekends.  You hear that phone beep and feel compelled to read it and if it's important respond to it!  After letting work rule my life for a while I've now learnt to turn the data off to the phone when I leave work and leave it disconnected from the wifi at home.  If it's super urgent then they can call me.

Still get questioned every so often if I saw the email when asked is I saw that email sent last night... nope, sorry, bad reception where I live thanks to Optus .

Then at Christmas time the CEO send a mass email to all our clients informing them that even though we are shut for 3 weeks, if they have any questions or problems not to hesitate to contact the project manager, as they are available 24/7 during the holidays... What the!  Thank god where we holiday there in no Optus coverage   Sorry boss, that'll teach you for being a tight wad with the phone system.

[Foo]

I know what I'd be telling your Boss Kylarama and it would be Merry Christmas. 

Foo

[lino6]

Then at Christmas time the CEO send a mass email to all our clients informing them that even though we are shut for 3 weeks, if they have any questions or problems not to hesitate to contact the project manager, as they are available 24/7 during the holidays... What the!  Thank god where we holiday there in no Optus coverage   Sorry boss, that'll teach you for being a tight wad with the phone system.

Feel free to contact, but don't expect an answer!