To wonder why people are still so woefully misinformed?

[Lucia39]

We now have access to more information than any previous generation. An entire reference library is available at the click of a mouse, public libraries were still free last time I checked, and general reference books are readily available and comparatively cheap.

Why then is the apparent standard of general knowledge and informed opinion amongst many people in Britain [especially the younger generations] so abysmal?

Lucia, you do remind me of someone. A few posters actually

I challenge Lucia to a pub quiz.

(We can have it in a wine bar if a pub is too low brow.)

What is really interesting is how so many of you have taken my comments as some sort of personal attack!

Where have I categorically stated in my OP that I was specifically referring to MN?

The reactions of some of you really do prove my point. It's no wonder so many kids today are petulant, arrogant, and foul-mouthed gobshites, from much of what I've seen on here most of them must learn it at home from their "kidult" parents. You huddle together in your little "virtual reality" groups like a lot of bitchy 14 year olds spitting bile and abuse at anyone who doesn't adhere to your own "world view".

In answer to clemette, yes I've met plenty of teenagers over the years. As for your comment that, "In my experience (of seeing 150 a day) they know MASSES" [by implication of course that refers to every one of the 150 a day you regularly meet]; might I suggest you ask some "average" 15 year olds for a rough idea of what makes their mobile phones work, or get them to explain the difference between an alkali and an acid, or ask them what has just happened in Iran and how this might affect relations with the West [and their potential futures]. You could even ask them to find Iran on a map [should be good for a laugh]!

However, I'll wager that practically all of them can tell you what is happening in any of the various soap operas on television, the latest gossip on different celebrities and their relationships, who is the least/most popular individual in the latest Big Brother series, or who won Britain's Got Talent/Pop Idol/X Factor etc!

Still, perhaps an in-depth knowledge of celebrity culture, soaps, and reality television is what you consider demonstrates they "know MASSES"!

How is it not a personal attack if you are calling us and our children stupid?

So you're not up for a pub quiz then?

Lucia I don't think people want to take part in the sort of "mass debate" you like to start on here

They don't like to mass debate

at screamingabdab

I love Lucia39. She makes me laugh......

(Am adding nothing useful to the 'mass debate'. Am too stoopid.)

Please don't feed the bores, people.

'Still, perhaps an in-depth knowledge of celebrity culture, soaps, and reality television is what you consider demonstrates they "know MASSES"! '

well you know, mihgt not be our bag as they say, but rfom a socio-cultural viewpoint they probably do know masses more than well, cewrtainly I do.

Perhaps there's a bit of extremism in here (wel bloody obviously,plenty of bright youngsters about) and perhaps the times have just changed somewhat?

I dont like to Mass debate on the interweb.

...In fact, I'm not much of a Mass debater in general.

Isn't it our generation's fault for making a pig's ear of the curriculum?

If it was the subject of debate at school, they would know something about it. But is there any room for debate when the entire curriculum is orientated around exams not learning?

I mean, I never heard that Umbrella song by Rihanna everybody said was played to death, because I only listen to R4 and don't shop in places where the assistants chew gum.

What places would those be?

New Look?

Always chewing.

Places where they play loud music of the sort I don't get to hear much of.

I've never seen an assistant chewing gum, not even in New Look. Doesn't mean it doesn't happen though.

I've never understood the appeal of Radio 4.

Actually what's the relevance of Rihanna's Umbrella to the curriculum?

I know masses, I know quite a lot about other sorts of church service too!

OK, OP, I took the time to answer your question seriously but you seem to want to revel in your stereotypes.
They can explain how their mobile phones works becaise this is primary level science (same as acid and alkali). At my school they also do electronics so they can also make the mobile phones and the solar powered chargers. As faculty leader of humanities I can assure you they also know what happened in Iran (and Rwanda, and Afghanistan and Iraq and Zimbabwe etc etc etc) and they can label them onto a map. These children have more exposure to news than ever before.
Forgive me for assuming that I am probably better placed to judge teenagers than you. And as I send my hard-working working class students off to public speaking competitions, enterprise awards and the citizenship work they do in the community every year (as well as those I will wave off to Oxbridge to study PPE this year) I will think of your misanthropy and general rudeness.
Oh, and I won't bother dignifying a post of yours with a evidence-based answer of mine again. Silly cow.

Just a thought.

I think exams are easier today than when we did them but people aren't necessarily cleverer though they all get upset at people saying they are easier when they have worked so hard.

My year was the first one to do the new GCSE exams and people who were very bright went to Uni and those who were less academic went to polytechnics.

I feel the degrees have been watered down and mean less as so many more people are getting higher grades and going to uni (ie - part of the exams being easier.)

It is only my opinion, not a touch paper being lit.

Hi Thunderduck, my point was just that if you don't teach young people about things, or expose them to them, then you can't complain if they don't know anything about it. No point calling them stupid just because we know something because we were taught it and they don't because they weren't. My example, which I didn't build to withstand a battering, was that I don't listen to radio 1 or particularly go to places that play it so huge swathes of popular culture pass me by. It doesn't make me stupid, but lots of young people are aghast when I haven't heard of something that is a big part of their lives. I shall refrain from light-hearted comment in the future as I'm obviously not very good at it .

LOL It's ok. I wasn't baiting you. I just genuinely didn't understand the point you were trying to make by mentioning that song. I get it now.

The 15 year olds I teach had better bloody know about mobile phones because their exam is week! Knowing how acis and alkalis are different is primary level science - knowing that they are different I teach in year 7, but they wouldn't find out why they are different for quite some time. I bet most adults don't know the difference between them either. And TBH, I don't actually have a problem with that. I'm not sure how useful it is as general knowledge.

I have a reasonable amount of sympathy with some of the OP, in that I am fairly depressed at how little my students know of current affairs. I give my tutor group a weekly news quiz and show them Newsround to try to make them think about what is going on int he world. I also (as do my colleagues, and I'm sure teachers generally) show news stories relevant to my subject frequently. Hurrah for the BBC website!

But I'm not sure that I shouldn't be doing it, IYSWIM. I think it's my job to do it.