Comments on: From ape to 'Homo digitas'?

Some say the Net is spawning a new species. But it's unclear whether its members are any smarter than their predecessors.

From ape to 'Homo digitas'?

It is shades of the calculator revolution. Most people today do not know understand problem solving. There is no creativity any longer. No one does design for the beauty of it. Today its:
1. Rapid Prototype;
2. When can you get something up an running;
3. Design on the fly;
4. let the computer design it;

Next we will be counting on our fingers

From ape to 'Homo digitas'?

It is shades of the calculator revolution. Most people today do not know understand problem solving. There is no creativity any longer. No one does design for the beauty of it. Today its:
1. Rapid Prototype;
2. When can you get something up an running;
3. Design on the fly;
4. let the computer design it;

Next we will be counting on our fingers

From ape to 'Homo digitas'?

It is shades of the calculator revolution. Most people today do not know understand problem solving. There is no creativity any longer. No one does design for the beauty of it. Today its:
1. Rapid Prototype;
2. When can you get something up an running;
3. Design on the fly;
4. let the computer design it;

Next we will be counting on our fingers

[Mister C]

Unfortunately

Contrary to what some want to believe all species are constantly evolving. Within a given population there can be substantial diversity, but for real change to occur, there must be some sort of pressure applied to the system.

We can have people with eye color ranging from very light blue to almost black. Blow a hole in the ozone, increased UV causes the lighter eye color to cataract and go blind. No hunting, no food, goodbye blue eyes. A giraffe can stretch his neck all day reaching for food and not change his DNA. For the long necks to thrive the short necks must die off, AKA biological pressure.

That pressure does not exist in modern society so as comforting as it may sound we are not changing as a species to any appreciable extent. Baring some unforeseen catastrophe that is.

Worst of all, high intelligence may not be a guarantor of biological success. It seems that stupid fruit flies stand a better chance of breading success than those that learn more quickly. Intelligence may be more of a fluke then a necessity when it comes to survival.

Now that's reassuring isn't it?

[Mister C]

oops!

That is breeding success not breading success. oops!

[Michael Grogan]

In point of fact...

...amongst humans intelligence tends to be selected against. Particularly in our society the athletic and ignorant are highly preferred as breeding stock while the intelligent specimens are labeled nerds or geeks. How often do you see someone take pride in the fact they are ignorant of math, science or other intellectual pursuits while proudly displaying their knowledge of trivia concerning sports or celebrities?

[exitwound]

Fortunately not fly

Intelligence may not work for a species that is limited to feeding itself by sipping a coctail of regurgetated digestive juices and partially digested food throuh mouthparts so specifically evolved to this process that all other mandibular possibilities are precluded.

Possibilities...thats what intelligence is about. Given that a flies' food source is stable . Man and his food sources have been anything but stable i.e. Climatic change , extinctions , or mans' predilection for exploration/expansion .
A very sucsesfull/specialized species faces extinction when sucsesfull mutations don't keep pace with relatively minor environmental shifts, contrast this with mans' adaptation to nearly every habitat on the planet. An achievement not based on physical mutation taking multiple generations but rather upon vitual mutations (changes in behaviour affected by intelligent choices which changed our physical sucsess as a species) taking much much less time. If the idea is powerfull enough , such as throwing spears, keeping fire , or symboligy in speech , our course was changed radically and rapidly.
Secondly to say that human evolution is not taking place , consider the demographics relating to intelligence and birth rate. If the studies are to be believed the epsilon- population is reproducing at a rate 4x the alpha+ population is squirting out rugrats.
I am a firm believer in itelligent behaviour . We are charged with the care and feeding of our techno-economic society which is in dire need of intelligent input. Unfortunately this does not exert evolutionary pressure on us .
So... what i say is "We must go to the mattreses , in the offices , or in the petri dishes, alpha+s' unite..unite like crazy ! Breed like super rabbits" Oh yes there's the not so little detail, besides spawning all these genuses (geni?) take the time required to:
install the basic tools of thought
instill decent morals
provide proper home environment which
is coducive to leraning
protects them from harmfull people
protects them from inapropriate issues(age appropriate developmental filter system)
is supportive of independent thinking
is emotionally sound as role models
is financially adequate and stable to provide for there physical and academic needs as well as recreation/sporting activities.
is a good role model privately and publicly.etc..etc...etc....oh yea have a challenging rewarding carrer on all levels before attempting any of this!

It seems in writing this I realize that there
considerable environmental pressure to not reproduce if you stop to consider the ramifications and responsibilities, so don't.
If your IQ is over 140 Breed with wild abandon as early as possible you have a duty , a calling to save humanity , irresponsibly is your ally, organize mensa mating orgies thinly diguised as think tanks.
Operate online mating services where only alphas' get hooked up , tell the rest that there test results indicate a personality so warped it should be forwarded to
Homeland Security ,FBI ,and posibly the phone police but if they agree to therapy (provided by alphas')they can in time rejoin the mating dance . Secretly fill there minds with self loathing and suicide. In reality their graduation ceremony and first Mating Dance is a thickly disguised Jim Jones style Kool-aid party in an isolated (privately owned ) third world island country.
Or alternately, since it is hard to discern normal from not early on. Just shoot all the alphas' in the head on their way to pre-shool
just to make sure you get the ones like me....

[Mister C]

Unfortunately

Contrary to what some want to believe all species are constantly evolving. Within a given population there can be substantial diversity, but for real change to occur, there must be some sort of pressure applied to the system.

We can have people with eye color ranging from very light blue to almost black. Blow a hole in the ozone, increased UV causes the lighter eye color to cataract and go blind. No hunting, no food, goodbye blue eyes. A giraffe can stretch his neck all day reaching for food and not change his DNA. For the long necks to thrive the short necks must die off, AKA biological pressure.

That pressure does not exist in modern society so as comforting as it may sound we are not changing as a species to any appreciable extent. Baring some unforeseen catastrophe that is.

Worst of all, high intelligence may not be a guarantor of biological success. It seems that stupid fruit flies stand a better chance of breading success than those that learn more quickly. Intelligence may be more of a fluke then a necessity when it comes to survival.

Now that's reassuring isn't it?

[Mister C]

oops!

That is breeding success not breading success. oops!

[Michael Grogan]

In point of fact...

...amongst humans intelligence tends to be selected against. Particularly in our society the athletic and ignorant are highly preferred as breeding stock while the intelligent specimens are labeled nerds or geeks. How often do you see someone take pride in the fact they are ignorant of math, science or other intellectual pursuits while proudly displaying their knowledge of trivia concerning sports or celebrities?

[exitwound]

Fortunately not fly

Intelligence may not work for a species that is limited to feeding itself by sipping a coctail of regurgetated digestive juices and partially digested food throuh mouthparts so specifically evolved to this process that all other mandibular possibilities are precluded.

Possibilities...thats what intelligence is about. Given that a flies' food source is stable . Man and his food sources have been anything but stable i.e. Climatic change , extinctions , or mans' predilection for exploration/expansion .
A very sucsesfull/specialized species faces extinction when sucsesfull mutations don't keep pace with relatively minor environmental shifts, contrast this with mans' adaptation to nearly every habitat on the planet. An achievement not based on physical mutation taking multiple generations but rather upon vitual mutations (changes in behaviour affected by intelligent choices which changed our physical sucsess as a species) taking much much less time. If the idea is powerfull enough , such as throwing spears, keeping fire , or symboligy in speech , our course was changed radically and rapidly.
Secondly to say that human evolution is not taking place , consider the demographics relating to intelligence and birth rate. If the studies are to be believed the epsilon- population is reproducing at a rate 4x the alpha+ population is squirting out rugrats.
I am a firm believer in itelligent behaviour . We are charged with the care and feeding of our techno-economic society which is in dire need of intelligent input. Unfortunately this does not exert evolutionary pressure on us .
So... what i say is "We must go to the mattreses , in the offices , or in the petri dishes, alpha+s' unite..unite like crazy ! Breed like super rabbits" Oh yes there's the not so little detail, besides spawning all these genuses (geni?) take the time required to:
install the basic tools of thought
instill decent morals
provide proper home environment which
is coducive to leraning
protects them from harmfull people
protects them from inapropriate issues(age appropriate developmental filter system)
is supportive of independent thinking
is emotionally sound as role models
is financially adequate and stable to provide for there physical and academic needs as well as recreation/sporting activities.
is a good role model privately and publicly.etc..etc...etc....oh yea have a challenging rewarding carrer on all levels before attempting any of this!

It seems in writing this I realize that there
considerable environmental pressure to not reproduce if you stop to consider the ramifications and responsibilities, so don't.
If your IQ is over 140 Breed with wild abandon as early as possible you have a duty , a calling to save humanity , irresponsibly is your ally, organize mensa mating orgies thinly diguised as think tanks.
Operate online mating services where only alphas' get hooked up , tell the rest that there test results indicate a personality so warped it should be forwarded to
Homeland Security ,FBI ,and posibly the phone police but if they agree to therapy (provided by alphas')they can in time rejoin the mating dance . Secretly fill there minds with self loathing and suicide. In reality their graduation ceremony and first Mating Dance is a thickly disguised Jim Jones style Kool-aid party in an isolated (privately owned ) third world island country.
Or alternately, since it is hard to discern normal from not early on. Just shoot all the alphas' in the head on their way to pre-shool
just to make sure you get the ones like me....

[Mister C]

Unfortunately

Contrary to what some want to believe all species are constantly evolving. Within a given population there can be substantial diversity, but for real change to occur, there must be some sort of pressure applied to the system.

We can have people with eye color ranging from very light blue to almost black. Blow a hole in the ozone, increased UV causes the lighter eye color to cataract and go blind. No hunting, no food, goodbye blue eyes. A giraffe can stretch his neck all day reaching for food and not change his DNA. For the long necks to thrive the short necks must die off, AKA biological pressure.

That pressure does not exist in modern society so as comforting as it may sound we are not changing as a species to any appreciable extent. Baring some unforeseen catastrophe that is.

Worst of all, high intelligence may not be a guarantor of biological success. It seems that stupid fruit flies stand a better chance of breading success than those that learn more quickly. Intelligence may be more of a fluke then a necessity when it comes to survival.

Now that's reassuring isn't it?

[Mister C]

oops!

That is breeding success not breading success. oops!

[Michael Grogan]

In point of fact...

...amongst humans intelligence tends to be selected against. Particularly in our society the athletic and ignorant are highly preferred as breeding stock while the intelligent specimens are labeled nerds or geeks. How often do you see someone take pride in the fact they are ignorant of math, science or other intellectual pursuits while proudly displaying their knowledge of trivia concerning sports or celebrities?

[exitwound]

Fortunately not fly

Intelligence may not work for a species that is limited to feeding itself by sipping a coctail of regurgetated digestive juices and partially digested food throuh mouthparts so specifically evolved to this process that all other mandibular possibilities are precluded.

Possibilities...thats what intelligence is about. Given that a flies' food source is stable . Man and his food sources have been anything but stable i.e. Climatic change , extinctions , or mans' predilection for exploration/expansion .
A very sucsesfull/specialized species faces extinction when sucsesfull mutations don't keep pace with relatively minor environmental shifts, contrast this with mans' adaptation to nearly every habitat on the planet. An achievement not based on physical mutation taking multiple generations but rather upon vitual mutations (changes in behaviour affected by intelligent choices which changed our physical sucsess as a species) taking much much less time. If the idea is powerfull enough , such as throwing spears, keeping fire , or symboligy in speech , our course was changed radically and rapidly.
Secondly to say that human evolution is not taking place , consider the demographics relating to intelligence and birth rate. If the studies are to be believed the epsilon- population is reproducing at a rate 4x the alpha+ population is squirting out rugrats.
I am a firm believer in itelligent behaviour . We are charged with the care and feeding of our techno-economic society which is in dire need of intelligent input. Unfortunately this does not exert evolutionary pressure on us .
So... what i say is "We must go to the mattreses , in the offices , or in the petri dishes, alpha+s' unite..unite like crazy ! Breed like super rabbits" Oh yes there's the not so little detail, besides spawning all these genuses (geni?) take the time required to:
install the basic tools of thought
instill decent morals
provide proper home environment which
is coducive to leraning
protects them from harmfull people
protects them from inapropriate issues(age appropriate developmental filter system)
is supportive of independent thinking
is emotionally sound as role models
is financially adequate and stable to provide for there physical and academic needs as well as recreation/sporting activities.
is a good role model privately and publicly.etc..etc...etc....oh yea have a challenging rewarding carrer on all levels before attempting any of this!

It seems in writing this I realize that there
considerable environmental pressure to not reproduce if you stop to consider the ramifications and responsibilities, so don't.
If your IQ is over 140 Breed with wild abandon as early as possible you have a duty , a calling to save humanity , irresponsibly is your ally, organize mensa mating orgies thinly diguised as think tanks.
Operate online mating services where only alphas' get hooked up , tell the rest that there test results indicate a personality so warped it should be forwarded to
Homeland Security ,FBI ,and posibly the phone police but if they agree to therapy (provided by alphas')they can in time rejoin the mating dance . Secretly fill there minds with self loathing and suicide. In reality their graduation ceremony and first Mating Dance is a thickly disguised Jim Jones style Kool-aid party in an isolated (privately owned ) third world island country.
Or alternately, since it is hard to discern normal from not early on. Just shoot all the alphas' in the head on their way to pre-shool
just to make sure you get the ones like me....

[Mendz]

Well... Duh... What's that again?

We just happen to be the more informed generation. But it doesn't stop us from thinking, inventing and making the better out of what we know.

Just like not everyone's a genius in the past, not everyone can be a genius today or tomorrow. But the advantage now is that most people can be informed of the latest information at the same time as in the other side of the globe.

Convenience is what we get from these technologies and we are simply enjoying it.

[Mendz]

Well... Duh... What's that again?

We just happen to be the more informed generation. But it doesn't stop us from thinking, inventing and making the better out of what we know.

Just like not everyone's a genius in the past, not everyone can be a genius today or tomorrow. But the advantage now is that most people can be informed of the latest information at the same time as in the other side of the globe.

Convenience is what we get from these technologies and we are simply enjoying it.

[Mendz]

Well... Duh... What's that again?

We just happen to be the more informed generation. But it doesn't stop us from thinking, inventing and making the better out of what we know.

Just like not everyone's a genius in the past, not everyone can be a genius today or tomorrow. But the advantage now is that most people can be informed of the latest information at the same time as in the other side of the globe.

Convenience is what we get from these technologies and we are simply enjoying it.