Are We Getting Dumber-Bob Davis Podcast 813

These days you have to wonder if people are getting dumber. A study done in Norway is the source for much of this discussion. We’ll talk about it in Are We Getting Dumber-Bob Davis Podcast 813.

IQ Down Eight Points

The Norwegian study says IQ scores of young men have been decreasing for three generations. IQ scores in this study are down as much as 8 points. More in Are We Getting Dumber-Bob Davis Podcast 813.

‘Merica Below Average

A recent study to assess adult competencies places Americans below international averages. Moreover the study shows Americans have problems problem solving in a technology rich environment. For example, making change and sorting email.

Why Are We Dumber?

Especially relevant is the discussion of what the decline in IQ scores is due to. Is it the environment? Our diet? Technology? Should we be measuring intelligence differently? Grading on a curve? We’ll talk about it in Are We Getting Dumber-Bob Davis Podcast 813.

Flat Earth, Sovereign Citizens and Vegans

I take a look at some features of our society that make me wonder. From Flat Earther’s to Sovereign Citizens, Vegans and people who are convinced the world has 12 years of existence left. (Big fun to be had watching Sovereign Citizens getting owned. Click here.)

Social Media Makes You Dumb. Among Other Things.

The most noteworthy example of lower intelligence is social media. Certainly this is one of my favorite punching bags. Furthermore one needs only to spend half an hour scanning Twitter or FaceBook to become convinced of the demise of Western Civilization.

Cause Science, Dude

Finally Science is usually the go to defense for almost any assertion. Truth is, science is often wrong, and for decades. I was surprised by the number of smart people fooled by ‘science’ and the findings of ‘scientists’.

How Do We Get Smarter?

In conclusion the real question is how do we get smarter? I did some research and certainly diet and exercise are big factors. So are certain activities including community, working with others and being open to new ideas. For men, raising testosterone levels can’t hurt either. I’ll give you a list to think about in Are We Getting Dumber-Bob Davis Podcast 813.

Sponsored by Organo. Change Your Coffee Change Your Life and Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul.

Are We Getting Dumber-Bob Davis Podcast 813

Podcast 553-AgoraFest’s Nik Ludwig

Podcast 553-AgoraFest’s Nik Ludwig. ‘Agorism’ or being an ‘Agorist’ has been defined a few different ways. Samuel Edward Konkin III says Agorism is simply “thought and action consistent with freedom’. Konkin also says Agorism is an “ideology…but it is also a scientific and definitely materialist way of thinking”, as opposed to say, a religious system of thought. AgoraFest celebrates Market Anarchy. It is not for the faint of heart, but if you have a weekend and you enjoy camping, listening to music, eating, consuming your choice of beverage be it coffee or beer, and endless substantive conversation, then you’ll enjoy AgoraFest. At last year’s AgoraFest – my first – I sat down with founder Nik Ludwig for a free wheeling conversation about the event and Agorist ‘way of thinking’. This year I continue the tradition. For last year’s conversation, check out  Podcast 416. This year we delve a little deeper into the concept of what real liberty is, with little reverence to the things mainstream ‘liberty’ advocates hold dear, like the US Constitution, American Exceptionalism, and a system of government sometimes reverently referred to as a ‘Representative Republic’. Joined by a phalanx of ‘AgoraFesters’, Nik shreds virtually all the preconceived notions of what most people on the right, even and especially the far right, think they are fighting for, and yes, even the Libertarians take their share of criticism. This is why AgoraFest isn’t for the faint of heart. Agorists don’t shred these notions because they’re advocating for their point of view. In fact, they’re more likely to disagree with you just because you agree with them (my kind of people, by the way). The whole point is open minds, the joy of discussions about any topic under the sun as long as it isn’t what they call ‘political violence’; the same old crap you hear on CNN and Fox News about the two party’s mainline candidates this year. You’re likely to sit down to breakfast and before you’ve had your coffee someone will ask you whether you think it is possible for a person to legally sell themselves into slavery, and in the next breath start talking about longevity drugs or fusion reaction. I can tell you one thing; Not one person brought up the Vikings, the Republican Party, whether they’d pulled the dock in yet for winter, or when the deer hunting trip is scheduled for this fall. Everyone was full on engaged in substance; even the question of whether Angelina Jolie was more beautiful than Jennifer Anniston, because value is subjective. So next year I’d love to see you at AgoraFest. Thanks to Nick and Steve and everyone else for making it a great weekend. Sponsored by Hydrus Performance.