When did becoming stupid become trendy? When did intelligence become a negative trait to sweep under the rug? In today's culture I have noticed that being dumb is cool and being intelligent makes you lame or a total loser as the kids say. In this day an age working at mickey d's is cooler than having phd's. I was watching that The Soup show on E and they had a clip from the teen or tween Disney movie Camp Rock. Girl A said something like "you always trash what everybody else likes!" While girl B retaliated with a series of cringe inducing forehead sign language including the L to the forehead for loser. Girl C translated that Girl B said "whatever major loser." Thank you Disney for making America's kids stupider. Now this particular clip focuses on young girls but I've noticed that Disney is starting to portray all young people as brainless, bubble gum chewing, herd following drones. Sadly it seems this trend has affected 11-17 year old women more than any other group. This trend happened when i was in high school ten years ago so Disney is not the only one to blame.
Young girls intentionally dumb themselves down in junior high and high school to be popular and to receive attention from guys. If they think this is the only way to fit in socially they must have the self esteem of an overweight manatee. Something must explain this phenomenon of brains = totally megalamers. Text messaging isn't to blame either even though sometimes when I laugh I think to myself lol and just want to kill myself. I suppose shows like Saved by the Bell when I was growing up were no different. Stupid equaled cool then and it equals cool now apparently. Maybe someday I will be able to figure this out but I'm going to stop searching for answers so as not to be appear as a smart major loser.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
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20 comments:
Dumb is the new stupid? I'm finally hip and cool!
That Soup clip cracked me up...because it was just SO incredibly dumb. I even went back to watch it again (What? I tape The Soup...so sue me.) just so I could make sure I had my hand signals down so I could do the W-E-M-L sign to my husband at parties.
Having both a teenage boy and a teen girl, I would say it is equally cool to be perceived as stupid. It's a sad situation where the kids who try to excel are called out and made to feel like uncool freaks. My son, along with several friends, actually filled in the answers on their PSAT test to draw pictures and have bragging rights for blowing off the test. I think you post is right on target, unfortunately. Stupid is cool.
Hey Micky D needs workers! Besides, the way the economy is going, the PhDs will be working the counter with the "Dumb" kids.
I think the girls are pretending to be dumb as part of their plot to take over the world. I have always theorized that Pinky was really the smart one. (Pinky & the Brain).
I'm a teacher so I hear first hand some of the cool, dumb things tween girls say. I actually had a 6th grade girl come up to ask me what kind of animal rice came from! Another girl thought that giraffes were carnivores! It is amazing how little they pick up during the course of their so-called education.
Hey, you really like to bash the Disney Channel - lol. I didn't see this Talk Soup thing or really that particular movie, but some of the shows they have on there are ok. It beats the alternative to other shows kids can watch, my kids are getting older for the PBS type shows and Disney and Nickelodeon are really the best alternatives for kid shows. Better then the major networks.
I've got a couple of years on you, but I'm thinking it's always been uncool to be a nerd. There's a show from the 70's called "Square Pegs", starring yours truly Sarah Jessica-Parker, about a group of high school nerds and at the time the coolest one of them was this blonde, lanky, punk-rock, sunglass wearing kid who went around saying "TOTALLY" all the time. No, things haven't changed.
I agree completely and I have to admit I did this myself sometimes (actng dumb). I have two girls and hope that they won't feel the pressure. Great and insightful post!
I had never really thought about it but you make a point in this post. Do you have any idea why it is that being "intelligent" or smart is considered not so cool? Especially when we are talking about girls here I can't help to wonder :"Would this then be the result of 40 years of women's liberation?" I wonder ...
I have found that one of the main strengths of very successful "funny people" is their ability to look at the world around them with a magnifying glass and "see" what is really going on around them. You my friend are one of these "funny people" that I speak of.
Interesting post blogger.
Not.
I love Disney Channel, personally. Would you rather have kids watching shows like Degrassi and South of Nowhere on the N and learning that it is ok to make out with other girls outside of Chemistry class or maybe get abortions at the age of 13 like those kids do? Disney Channel is quality programming. It is just reflective of teen life.
As far as stupid equalling cool, it's been this way since the beginning of time. I think the problem is that everyone thinks they are cut out for college when they are not. And in my opinion, the kids who are working their asses off flipping burgers at McDonalds ARE cooler than the rich kids who are put through school by mummy and daddy until they are freaking 30. Phd shmee-hd.
Nick Jonas is freaking hawt. If he wasn't 15, I'd hit it.
Word.
"when I laugh I think to myself lol and just want to kill myself."
lmao-you too? Sorry I had to do it!
I know plenty chicas that dumb down to save the male ego...not this sister "getsmartgal"!! I make that boy smart up and I have never had problems-its all in the additude ;)
I grew up in the 60s-70s watching 50s SciFi movies. There was always a beautiful girl in danger, a strong hunky guy who always got the girl, and the brilliant nerd who saves the world and goes home alone. ... My delete key just rescued you from a tiresome, whiny rant about how my life could have been so much better if our society were composed of intelligent beings. I'll stop here before I get cranked up again. Good post. Peace.
That is one of the many reasons I don't allow my kids to watch tv or read magazines. It's ridiculous. I have 2 girls, and I hope to God that they hold onto the ability to just be themselves!
I definitely did dumb myself down in grade school and high school to get da boys. I think my self-esteem was actually really healthy for a young girl. It's just that the boys I was attracted to were put off by smart girls so it was my bad judgement I guess. Disney sucks.
There is a lot of stupidity out there...the good thing is I never have to worry about running out of material for my blog, lol.
Thats why Im only going let my kids watch Predator!
people are reading less and less in today's order of things, I think that is a major issue. too many tv, too many video games, everything is instant and superficial.
great post Soge.
When did becoming stupid become trendy?
Since boys won't date smart girls No idea
Makes me think of Pink's "Stupid Girls" video. It's hilarious, like you, and spot on what you're talking about...
This is compelling stuff T-dawg. I would like permission to run with this and link back. Great observation.
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