Because they vote, and there is no requirement to do so with actual knowledge of issues. And because they represent the future, that if enough of them get involved and successfully push their agenda, the rest of us will have to live with it, for years to come. It is more than just low-information voting taking place. It is a pronounced l…
Because they vote, and there is no requirement to do so with actual knowledge of issues. And because they represent the future, that if enough of them get involved and successfully push their agenda, the rest of us will have to live with it, for years to come. It is more than just low-information voting taking place. It is a pronounced lack of critical thinking skills -- something that a good liberal arts education instills and a finance degree cannot buy.
It's about the importance of primary sources too. You can tell that woman had no respect for primary sources. She bases her opinion on other people's opinions. We editors have never been so devalued and underemployed, which is a shame because we're sorely needed out there.
You might appreciate "The Death of Expertise" (Tom Nichols, I think). His recounting of how college freshman treat PhD professors is sad and revealing. They think googling something gives them equal standing...
Most of the people that I encounter in my retirement have no concept of what is a primary source. They think it’s the source that they use the most (regardless of it being secondary). I explain until I’m blue in the face, but to no avail. The only real success that I ever had on the issue was with my students. They got it…which gives me hope. But my relatives, neighbors, and even some old friends, just don’t get it…which gives me headache.
Because they vote, and there is no requirement to do so with actual knowledge of issues. And because they represent the future, that if enough of them get involved and successfully push their agenda, the rest of us will have to live with it, for years to come. It is more than just low-information voting taking place. It is a pronounced lack of critical thinking skills -- something that a good liberal arts education instills and a finance degree cannot buy.
It's about the importance of primary sources too. You can tell that woman had no respect for primary sources. She bases her opinion on other people's opinions. We editors have never been so devalued and underemployed, which is a shame because we're sorely needed out there.
You might appreciate "The Death of Expertise" (Tom Nichols, I think). His recounting of how college freshman treat PhD professors is sad and revealing. They think googling something gives them equal standing...
Yes, I loved both of Nichols books. He's got a real "get off my lawn" energy that I appreciate. (I'm not kidding. Someone has to be the curmudgeon.)
Agreed.
Most of the people that I encounter in my retirement have no concept of what is a primary source. They think it’s the source that they use the most (regardless of it being secondary). I explain until I’m blue in the face, but to no avail. The only real success that I ever had on the issue was with my students. They got it…which gives me hope. But my relatives, neighbors, and even some old friends, just don’t get it…which gives me headache.