You ever look around and think, maybe society’s got a few screws loose? Feels like we’re all wandering around, eyes glued to screens, brains turned to mush with each mindless scroll. Yeah, I know, everyone says “kids these days,” but seriously, the numbers don’t lie—fourth graders who can’t even get the basics of reading, eighth graders lost in a sea of essays without a buoy in sight. Hell, adults ain’t doing much better globally, can’t even count or read with confidence anymore.
And then there’s Andreas Schleicher from the O.E.C.D. blowing the whistle, like, “Guys, we’re talking adults reading at a 10-year-old level.” Picture this—every third person you pass on the street squinting at a menu like it’s written in alien.
So, seems like reasoning, the whole foundational fabric of decision-making, is fraying at the seams. Jim Mattis and Bing West hit the nail on the head—if you ain’t devoured hundreds of books, congrats, you’re functionally illiterate. Life throws curveballs every day. Who to marry? Who’s worth your vote? Should you back that loan? Your friend confides in you, “My partner’s cheating, do I call it quits?” and you’re expected to help them wade through that mess.
Nat Malkus is eyeing those test scores like a hawk. Sure, the smarty-pants kids still acing their tests, but everyone else? It’s like they’re falling into a learning abyss. The gap’s widening, and America’s pretty much leading the race-to-the-bottom Olympic event.
So what’s screwing the pooch here, huh? Well, Covid did a number on education, but honestly, the rot started way earlier. 2012-ish, give or take. And lemme tell ya, screen time ain’t helping. Sure, Googling how to fix a leaky faucet might keep your synapses firing, but that mindless TikTok binge? Might as well bash your head against a wall for all the good it does.
I’m terrified we’re tossing our thirst for wisdom into the garbage fire. Once upon a time, we read everything — even the back of the cereal box. Now? Folks act like thinking’s a chore, like brain sweat isn’t worth the hassle.
Back then, folks tried to better themselves. Encyclopedias lined the shelves, Book of the Month Club memberships plastered homes, people sat through epic debates, hanging on every word. But now? Absenteeism in schools is sky-high, and if American parents cared, would a quarter of kids be AWOL? Don’t think so.
1984—almost 40% of 13-year-olds cracked a book daily for kicks. Fast forward to 2023? A measly 14%. College profs? They’re tearing their hair out, watching students flounder with the same old coursework. Anya Galli Robertson’s out there at the University of Dayton, using the same lesson plans, and her students? They’re drowning. It’s like they’re allergic to effort or something.
The Atlantic put it bluntly with the piece “The Elite College Students Who Can’t Read Books.” Gotta say, it’s a tragic shift from discussions on “Crime and Punishment” to academic deer-in-headlights moments.
Philosophy professor Troy Jollimore captured the despair—students and teachers once thrived on shared intellectual journeys, now he’s watching AI-driven assignments land on his desk, devoid of any human touch or genuine thought.
And what happens when the brains that should be running the show are warped beyond recognition? Enter Trump’s tariff policy—a masterclass in fumbling intellect. Policies that serve up a hot plate of chaos, devoid of logic, basking in self-righteous cluelessness.
This mess didn’t spring up overnight. It’s the product of years of neglect, shunning books, shutting doors on evidence. Once we thrived on storytelling—from epic tales to literary revolutions—and now? We’re watching the march toward screenland, civilization’s fun little experiment fading like daylight in winter.
