To think we’re getting dumber?

It's when I watch old videos of the 60s, 70s, 80s etc. and the ordinary people being interviewed actually sound intelligent and can string a sentence together, that I realise how bad things have become. The children sound more intelligent as well and speak clearly. Now, they just seem to mumble and grunt in that awful new London accent.

On here, some of the posts don't make any sense in spite of reading them over and over again. The odd typo is forgivable, but often, every other word is wrong and it's a waste of time trying to work out what it means.

'I casnt in the bus on Mnday abd cat at the back bt a man oljectd.' kind of thing. I wonder if the deterioration in verbal skills is mirrored by a decline in general cognitive skills as well. Social skills are certainly declining too.

Another 20 years and we'll be back in the stone age.

That's old news, we are now becoming stupider.

I know I am 🙋‍♀️

Isn't chocolate cake on the table?

If not, why not?

To answer your question:

Amazing though it seems, people seem to be getting more intelligent. It's called the Flynn Effect. Every generation is scoring higher on IQ tests.

YABU to equate Mumsnet with an intelligence test, when most people just come here to get into hypothetical arguments with strangers. Also YABU not to provide Battenberg.

Why are you so anti-Battenburg? Racist.

I think theres a range of reasons to be honest.

I think the online age has completely changed the way we communicate (like how people started talking differently around television etc).

I once read something about the impact of twitter and the need to put things in short phrasing that both changed vocabulary, but especially grammera, people writing styles (eg nuance) and trying to get a snappy response.

The way that being viral works, prioritised a certain type of comments that more people see so that becomes the norm and repeated.
You'll find on any mumsnet thread it's the shorter comments that gain traction, responses etc so why would you write a long waffle like this. Its also a lot of effort if you're fairly convinced people aren't going to read it, the thread will move on (got to get in their quick!) And the op won't come back.

Personally my spelling is atrocious these days because of auto correct. Typing etc has really killed it

My concentration span was poor but since working in my current job is pretty much dead. Its not uncommon now in work situations to be in a meeting where every single person is doing multiple tasks eg I'm often scrolling, email writing, and talking to colleagues whilst on virtual meetings.

It means people are often missing points, but also just deep in their own world.

I remember my mum for example sitting for hours on the phone rarely doing anything else. Now days you'd be texting a friend, while watching tv with the dinner on and chatting to your kids. Its no wonder replies are often poor quality!

I like carrot cake.

I would like a fence made of Battenberg.

Gosh I haven't had Battenburg for absolutely years!

YABVVU, because now I want Battenburg cake.