Dumbest Generation….NBD or SIHTH?
According to the author of the controversial book, The Dumbest Generation, more than 50 million minds of Americans under the age of 30 are Diverted, Distracted, and Devoured (visit dumbest generation.com for more info but most likely you won’t be able to read the content if under 30!).
Mark Bauerlein, the infamous author did his research and found that the average time 18-25 year olds read per day is only 7 minutes. Newspapers are dying because this generation doesn’t even know what a newspaper is (they take their Blackberry into the stall).
The most amazing thing Bauerlein stated was that this generation has access to more information than any generation before it but chooses not to access it. Why? They live in a world of instant messaging. In fact, the text message language has become so complicated, I wouldn’t doubt that U-M adds it as a course requirement for incoming Freshman.
People are using "u" instead of "you; "r" instead of "are. So people can’t spell, format a paragraph or communicate in the English language.
Being over 50, I’m not a texter. I went to the AT & T store over the weekend with the BUB and we now share 700 minutes a month for two phones. They asked if we want text messaging because they could offer us a plan with 5000 minutes or even unlimited minutes. We’re lucky to use 100 minutes!
But I can write and read which I’ll take anytime over texting. As an under 30 reader of this blog, what are your thoughts on what Bauerlein has to say? Would you buy and read his book? And in our industry, what is the best way to communicate and educate those under 30?
In our last company meeting we did an innovation segment and one topic that came up was to communicate to our customers via text messaging. Would you give us your cell phone number for this?
The world is changing and while it’s not up to us over 30 to decide whether it’s changing for the better or worse, it is up to decide how to ride the change into the future.
Happy Wednesday!
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:23 am
Sure, I’d read that book. I wonder how he came up with statistics. I’m under 30, and I know I wasn’t interviewed for it. I text message a lot, but I know and utilize correct grammar, punctuation, etc. (I’ve been published in Reader’s Digest twice, and once in American Humanist Magazine.) He’s got me pegged on the news paper though. The last one I bought, I used to start a camp fire. It’s the iPhone in the stall for me.
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:27 am
Interesting, but I’m under 30 and I don’t feel like that generalization applies at all. I don’t think I would think to pick up the book on my own, but I would read it if someone gave it to me, however I would probably skip to the part about “how we might address its deficiencies”…
Text Messaging most certainly does have it’s place in society, it’s all about instant communication, but overload from a company trying to sell stuff can also get annoying. I think our most fully engaged customers would embrace text messages from us… but then they’re already fully engaged, we need to figure out how to reach the somewhat engaged customers. I think with all the technology, customers are appreciating the human to human contact these days, and the feeling that they are important to us that human contact (and not a text message) can give.
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:41 am
I am under 30 and I am a firm believer that how you were influenced as a younger adult, has a lot to do with how you interpret the new modern “electronic” society we have today. I am not going to start contoversy, but the younger generation that I grew up in was spolied rotten! We were given better than what our parents had and then some. With cell phones given out at an early age, and now even earlier who knows, we adapt and take advantage of the “easier way”. Every generation has it better than what the other generation had before. The way I learned to break my habits for this “dumb generation” label, is by always working hard. And when I catch myself acting less smart than what I know I am, I snap right out of it! p.s. I read the newspaper all the time! I love the sports section.
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:53 am
Ok, So what does NDB and SIHTH mean?! I’m confused
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:14 pm
I’m over 30 and I didn’t know what NBD and SIHTH mean; however, I was able to Google the definition for those of us over 30. NBD means “No Big Deal.” SIHTH means “Stupidity is hard to take.”
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Haha. I’m under 30 and still had no idea!
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Never even heard of that. lol
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Way to go Michelle. Point is the info is out there for those who seek it.
There are more than 400 text message codes like these if you can belive it!
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Michelle, it’s Stupidity is Hard to HANDLE
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:59 pm
It goes to show you…you can’t trust everything on the web to be accurate.
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:02 pm
I love to text.
But I still spell every word.
(Soon I will not have to talk to anyone anymore, ever.) Just kidding. A little.
Heres the thing. I want to be up to date with everything, but I am still trying to master spelling! (You all have read some of my Blogs. LOL) And I have been working on that for over 30 years.
Bottom line I will have to educate myself so I can keep up!
Larry? can we have a LFL class on texting?
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:21 pm
The Sports section is the only reason I keep my subscription to the Detroit News active. The rest of the paper is filled with negative stories and worthless advertising. I have no interest in the price that Ford dealers are selling Ford vehicles to Ford employees. By the time a newspaper is printed, it’s old news.
People access information that they think holds value to them. Nobody has time to access all of the information available to them.
The use of abbreviations and acronyms does not reflect on a persons ability to spell correctly. I am employed at TNG and know how to spell The Nailco Group.
I guess I am blessed to fall between the ages of 30 and 50. I can read, write, spell and text.
By the way, how old is Mark Bauerlein ? It sounds like he might be under 30.
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:21 pm
I completely disagree with the author. I’m 28, I read about 1 to 2 hours a day, before going to bed. I also read so much on the internet, the news, blogs, what not.. and techincally, when a person is getting about 10 text messages a day, your reading them… right? lol
But using the internet, or iphones, you have so much access to reading info that your options are unlimited. You might not have the time, but still.
I can however understand the young generation, (meaning children) They come home and all they want to do is play video games… but thats another box of worms…
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:01 pm
I do read everyday.
I love my Tab’s. You know OK, US, In Touch and People. The really important pubications that are full of important information that has something to contribute to our society.
Where would we all be if we were not informed about Angie and Brad’s new twins. The world would stop.
But for real. If you want to read two great books. Pick up A beautiful Boy and then read TWEAK. (They go together)
I read both of them in about two days. Couldn’t put them down.
Especially if you have kids.
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:30 pm
I am over 30, I have not read this book yet, but I would like to. I am a very avid reader. I can read 1-2 books a week if I make the time. I read before work, sometimes on my breaks, on my lunch, at my other job, when I get home, before I go to bed. If there is something that you REALLY like to do, you will MAKE the time for yourself. To me, reading is very relaxing. I sometimes have a hard time understanding how some people don’t LOVE it as much as I do! I guess that’s why my friends call me Book Worm! Remember……Reading if Fundamental!
July 23rd, 2008 at 5:06 pm
The summer I was 8 yrs old, my wicked step mother made me read three chapters before I could go out and play.
By the end of the summer, I was reading two grade levels higher and read two additional chapters on my own inititative.
Get your kids into the library.
July 24th, 2008 at 9:35 am
Tweak was one of the best books I have read. I am so excited to borrow Beautiful Boy from Nic!!
July 31st, 2008 at 7:23 am
at & t cell phonesDumbest Generation….NBD or SIHTH?
August 3rd, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Dumbest Generation….NBD or SIHTH? thanks for this post!