Most people have the capacity for at least reasonable intelligence, but the problem is that they've been brought up in entirely the wrong way. In the western world, the problem is that we have too much money, or rather we spend on the wrong things. Kids aren't brought up with books, instead by the media and a biased educational system. However, it's not the fault of the media. Of course entertainment will be mindless, it's a way to relax, to not have to think,to escape from our thoughts. But where and when did it become acceptable to overindulge so much? It's not long before to permanently escape our thoughts...
overindulgence became acceptable when society reached the point where people could overindulge and still lead acceptable lives
^not necessarily. people could overindulge in one area and still lead acceptable lives overall. for example, someone could be a weekend alcoholic with a good marriage and a successful career. or it could be as simple as a 14 year old straight A student with 200 close friends who just has to watch grey's anatomy every week. they are still overindulgences because they are negative overall, but people manage to get on ok anyway
I honestly disagree. It's not simply 'just the media' or just our faulty educational system. I think a pretty huge portion of it is what the individual him/herself strives for. A lot of this IS how they're raised, a lot of this IS what they see on TV. A lot of this IS what they are being taught. But the cool thing about the human mind is that it can always change. People think they, themselves as well as society are completely 'doomed' or hardwired for certain ways of thinking, but if you can process this thought yourself (everybody can), then there's hope for you yet. Seriously, though. I've seen so many people break the chains of their bad childhoods, I've seen people actually accomplish something that once had nothing - and then, I've seen people who were given every chance in their life and they'd rather get hooked on prescription medication and be a different kind of lowlife for the rest of their lives. All in all, it comes back to the same basic principal - we're INDIVIDUALS, and it's up to the very INDIVIDUAL to make something of themselves. No matter what society becomes. Besides, TV sucks anyway. Lucky for me, I'd rather read a book than watch the fucking 'real world' and get plagued by advertisements all day long like most kids my age. Shit's crazy.
