06-19-2003, 11:37 AM
I don't think most college kids are smart nor do i think higher education is a given. I know people who are into poli-sci and can't argue themselves out of jack because all they do is quote their new source (whether it be CNN or FOx News) and talk junk.
A good example would be someone asking me about gun control. I gave my answer (I won't tell you what it is). then he asks this question: "ok, in that case, what do you think of controlling assault rifles and other automatic weapons?". The obvious answer: "They're already illegal". His reply: "No they're not, the columbine kids had automatic weapons".
At this point I had to explain to him various laws of firearms, all the way from the ban on automatic weapons in the 70s and 80s, straight up to the limit on the amount of bullets in a gun's clip (all pistols are no longer allowed to have any more than 10 bullets in them). This had the effect on me that this kid knew nothing more than what he read in some sort of cynical liberal media article and the problem perpetuates itself for people who only read articles written by either liberals or conservatives, people who believe exactly what Fox news and CNN tell them and just don't actually research what is said.
Anyone can memorize a passage as yuo just said. In that case, I really don't find people who memorize things to be all that smart (as was the case in that argument I had, the kid just remembered an article he read and took it to heart), whereas people who are able to formulate what they have to say when they need to with out any sort of help from the news or other media I deem a lot more sound of mind.
A good example would be someone asking me about gun control. I gave my answer (I won't tell you what it is). then he asks this question: "ok, in that case, what do you think of controlling assault rifles and other automatic weapons?". The obvious answer: "They're already illegal". His reply: "No they're not, the columbine kids had automatic weapons".
At this point I had to explain to him various laws of firearms, all the way from the ban on automatic weapons in the 70s and 80s, straight up to the limit on the amount of bullets in a gun's clip (all pistols are no longer allowed to have any more than 10 bullets in them). This had the effect on me that this kid knew nothing more than what he read in some sort of cynical liberal media article and the problem perpetuates itself for people who only read articles written by either liberals or conservatives, people who believe exactly what Fox news and CNN tell them and just don't actually research what is said.
Anyone can memorize a passage as yuo just said. In that case, I really don't find people who memorize things to be all that smart (as was the case in that argument I had, the kid just remembered an article he read and took it to heart), whereas people who are able to formulate what they have to say when they need to with out any sort of help from the news or other media I deem a lot more sound of mind.