Does the Internet Make Humanity Smarter Or Dumber?

Nemilar writes "The Wall Street Journal is running a pair of articles asking whether the Internet is making humanity smarter or dumber. The argument for smarter is that the Internet is simply a change in the rules of publishing, and that the bad material is thrown away; the second story critiques the 'information overload' aspect of the Internet, claiming that we have traded depth of knowledge for velocity and span. What do you think? Does the Internet make you stupid?"

It depends

[Anonymous Coward]

When the Internet enables a group of people I agree with, it is making humanity smarter.

When the Internet enables a group of people I disagree with, it is making humanity dumber.

ROTFLMAO!

[night_flyer]

Wuz? R U 4 Real?

Re:Of course it can...

[WrongSizeGlass]

Arguing on slashdot makes you ________.

Um, taller?

Re:I think..

[schon]

I think more critically now than I ever did before the Internet.

http://xkcd.com/552/ [xkcd.com]

Re:Technology, neither...

[Anonymous Coward]

No it dosnt - It was intelligent design at work. God made the average American dumb! in the first place.

Re:Of course it can...

[negRo_slim]

Arguing on slashdot makes you ________.

A Freemason.

Re:It enhances

[Anonymous Coward]

Problem is there's a hell of a lot more stupid people than intelligent people, so by that logic the Internet is generally making humanity more stupid overall.

Ask the Oracle

[dgriff]

I asked the Yes No Oracle [facade.com] the question "does the internet make you stupid?" and the answer was yes.

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

He is... the most interesting potato in the world.

[Culture20]

"I don't watch a lot of television, but when I do, I watch Discovery, The History Channel, or Animal Planet." - Das Auge

Re:Of course it can...

[Loupis]

I think its irrelevant if Slashdot makes you a brighter individual or not. In my opinion everything should be like slashdot because poeple who are under educated or just plain dumb get lower scores like mine so you dont have to see the stupidity on the internet if you chose not to. Just realized i read the question wrong. Oh well posting anyway.

Re:Double Edged Sword

[H0p313ss]

I tire of constantly pushing the idea that the internet is a double edged sword.

Agreed, I suggest we start a whole new meme: "The internet is double headed dildo."

Internet

[MrKaos]

It makes Humanity smarter but Internet users dumerer.

Re:Of course it can...

[lessthan]

Don't hate on Twilight. It teaches a good lesson. You read it, toss it aside, then realize how many horrific "moral" messages the author managed to slip under your nose. Definitely a good lesson on propaganda. Remember girls, he isolates you, stalks you, and hurts you because he cares!! He is your soulmate!