[extropy-chat] you owe it to me to be funny: was IQ vs Uploads

spike spike66 at comcast.net
Sat Jun 11 17:07:01 UTC 2005


> ... Dirk Bruere
> > What most needs analysis are changes that are not captured in existing
> > trends. IQ has been increasing and that has had effects for a long time.
> 
> At around 3 points per decade...

I had always assumed that this effect was a sort of 
optical illusion caused by our increasing ability to
take IQ tests, perhaps from schools emphasizing such
training, but I am now rethinking that notion.

On a recent trip to Oregon, I listened to recordings
of old time comedy routines, classic stuff that has
survived the ages: Who's On First by Abbott and Costello,
off-color gags by WC Fields and Mae West, Fibber McGee
and Molly, etc, riffs from mostly the 30s and 40s.  The 
routines were not nearly as insightful, sophisticated 
or subtle as modern comedy.  

Even taking into account that comedy is cultural and 
context-dependent, the old stuff really wasn't all that 
funny.  Perhaps the luxury of modern living allows
more people the opportunity to sit around and think
up comedy routines.  I know I take advantage of that
opportunity early and often.  I am tempted to think
that people are just generally smarter now than they
once were.  

We are getting smart enough to entertain each other
by playing stupid.  This gives me hope that in the
future humans will become even more smart and ever more 
entertaining.  If I extrapolate forward enough on this
trend, we may spend so much time and intellectual energy
cutting up and laughing at each other that we will 
neglect our studies and become stupid again.  

If this be so, then you and I may be fortunate enough to 
have been born in times when humanity reached its zenith of 
funny.  Wouldn't that be cool?  The funny stuff we write
and say today will be maximum funny forever!  Therefore it 
is your ethical humanitarian duty to spend the maximum 
intellectual energy available trying to cause your 
fellow humans to laugh and enjoy themselves.    

spike







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