| If the main topic of The Dumbest Generation were a | | | | nation's youth. |
| human with an ailment, the results would have been | | | | 1.) On top of the basic techno gadgets, 25% of kids |
| the equivalent of an MRI. Subtitled "OR, DON'T | | | | in the group of third to sixth graders sport digital |
| TRUST ANYONE UNDER 30," Mark Bauerlin casts the | | | | cameras. This figure moves to 43% within the sixth |
| glare of outspoken contempt on what he defines as | | | | through twelfth grade range. |
| a peculiar kind of illiteracy. | | | | 2.) Video cameras echo of similar stats for both of |
| Within this 2008 publication, Baurlien raises a warning | | | | these groups. DVD burners - 31 to 59%, with video |
| flag about the "Millenial" generation. He decries a | | | | game players taking a whopping 55%. |
| youth mentality spawned of electronic kids toys and | | | | 3.) Also referred to as the .net generation, these kids |
| the Internet. | | | | see themselves as unique. Evidence supporting this |
| The virtual world requires a spacial kind of thinking. | | | | phenomena shows up in a 367% growth rate for |
| Thought patterns required for reading books leans | | | | MySpace in one year, and something close to that |
| toward a more linear type of thinking. | | | | for the previous three years. |
| Baurlien's documentation covers an age group that | | | | Comparing the Hippie revolution to the techno |
| reaches from infancy up to 29 years old. | | | | generation movement brings out a few similarities. |
| He tells of an intolerance towards reading books, and | | | | Yet there's a profound departure when it comes to |
| how easily a kid can get bored. The fast pace of | | | | the virtual world. |
| electronics is to blame. | | | | "They play rock and roll and hook up at parties just |
| This read did force me to take a hard look at the | | | | like Boomers, and Xers did, but their parents never |
| outcome of the electronic revolution. I also felt the | | | | loaded a thousand songs into a palm sized gadget..." |
| plight of tired moms coming home from work using | | | | says Baurlien. |
| "electronic baby sitters." | | | | The bulk of Millenial kids have all the electronic |
| Rather than having kids in the kitchen while she | | | | trappings in their own bedrooms. The social |
| works, mom gets to completely sidestep tripping on | | | | networking and close bonding with friends creates a |
| kid's toys. (At this point this reader stumbles upon | | | | powerful group element as never seen before in |
| more citations.) It seems infants as young as three | | | | history. |
| months old watch television with remarkable | | | | I can't deny the massive undertaking of this |
| concentration. | | | | publication. Almost encyclopedic, this book has indeed |
| Challenging the educational qualities touted by | | | | provided a contribution to humanity. I can also |
| Internet enthusiasts, Baurlien continues. The "new | | | | understand, as a writer, why a sensational title is |
| bibliophobes" carry cellphones, and have their own | | | | necessary, but . . . why so mean sounding? |
| computers. Read on for more statistics about our | | | | |