Carl Sagan 1995, was he right? (1 Viewer)

[dkp993]

My favorite scientist and writer.  Was re-reading this book and this jumped out (again).  I believe he was right in the quote below, what say you?

“I have a foreboding of an America in my children's or grandchildren's time -- when the United States is a service and information economy; when nearly all the manufacturing industries have slipped away to other countries; when awesome technological powers are in the hands of a very few, and no one representing the public interest can even grasp the issues; when the people have lost the ability to set their own agendas or knowledgeably question those in authority; when, clutching our crystals and nervously consulting our horoscopes, our critical faculties in decline, unable to distinguish between what feels good and what's true, we slide, almost without noticing, back into superstition and darkness...

The dumbing down of American is most evident in the slow decay of substantive content in the enormously influential media, the 30 second sound bites (now down to 10 seconds or less), lowest common denominator programming, credulous presentations on pseudoscience and superstition, but especially a kind of celebration of ignorance”

Carl Sagan, Demon-Haunted World 1995

 

[wikkidpissah]

My dead white guy TSEliot, say, "Where is the Life we have lost in living? Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?". Bring on the enlightened piety, willful oblivion, passive-agressive powerplays and preening nebbishism of the New Dark Ages!
 

 

[Mister CIA]

Everyone has to believe in something.  I believe I'll have another beer.

 

[The General]

Look at the brain on Carl.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Everyone has to believe in something.  I believe I'll have another beer.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

I'd say he got that one right ... although in the next sentence, he goes on to denigrate Beavis & Butt-Head, which seems uncalled for.

 

[tonydead]

Love Carl Sagan. But no, I don't think he's right on this one, there is more of a divide that just makes those without critical faculties really stand out. Doesn't help that a bunch of them have the political and news spotlights either.  

 

[dkp993]

I'd say he got that one right ... although in the next sentence, he goes on to denigrate Beavis & Butt-Head, which seems uncalled for.

And Dumb and Dumber....

 

[dkp993]

Love Carl Sagan. But no, I don't think he's right on this one, there is more of a divide that just makes those without critical faculties really stand out. Doesn't help that a bunch of them have the political and news spotlights either.  

Interesting take.   

To me he’s dead nuts accurate.  Just look at click bait headlines, the increase of conspiracy theories (flat earthers jump off the page here), the domination of reality TV and it’s vapidness, facts not mattering anymore, and on and on and on. These all seem to be evolving at an exponential rate, what’s going to stop it?

 

[joffer]

he was usually right

 

[dkp993]

he was usually right

No doubt.  One of the greatest minds ever.  

 

[Man of Constant Sorrow]

My favorite scientist and writer.  Was re-reading this book...

I have only read two of his books - 1st Cosmos - and then Contact.

Both kicked ###, but - I read Cosmos during the summer between high-school & college - while I worked in a paint factory store.

One day - soon into the book, I found that it made more sense when I was stoned.

Only years later, did I learn that Carl wrote it stoned!

Hah!

Explains a lot....

2 thumbs up!

EDIT: Good story on it here