Projects now underway to make just about every book ever published online will make the Internet the best source in history for research on any subject imaginable. Even today the Internet is a gateway to many paid and free sites that offer searchable newspapers, journals, and books not available in libraries. I have found images and data online that I would never have found at the largest libraries.

+1 internet is not what it use to be decade ago - now it's the king.

Most of what's written in the article is bullsh!t.

So what that young people (including me!) don't store info they've found on the Net? I know that in case I need it again - it's there. Many times even if I have the desired information on my hard drive, or on the bookshelf, I'd rather google for it - much faster.

So what that people don't type correctly while chatting via IM services? Language is only a tool, and can be customized if desired. It's the quality of information that matters, not the form of delievery.

About reading - modern man reads a lot more than his grandparent - reading stuff on the Net counts. I learn much more about interesting subjects by browsing the Web for an hour than my father could by sitting in the library for days. This includes subjects like nuclear physics, signal processing, synth programming, fixing my car, or whatever else I need to know.

The truth is, I don't even use hard copies of scientific text books anymore. Damn, I used Wikipedia to get ready for my final exams this semester (electronic engeneering). I only been to the university's library once. Does this make me not-reading?

So what that people like to play computer games? Personally, I think that just hanging out with my buddies drinking beers, or jamming on piano is far more attractive (not to mention my girlfriend), but if someone's finding videogames entertaining - so be it. Doesn't make him less smart then you or me.

Of course, there are always stupid/ignorant/close-minded people, in every generation.

Still, there are a lot of modern young people who read, can spell right if they need to, et cetera.

By the way, I'm barely 21, and English's not my native language. How's the spelling, huh?

Oh, yeah, while I enjoy Jay Leno's Jaywalking very much, I'm sure he spends hours on the street finding few morons to make fun of. And yes, it make USA look very bad in eyes of any foreigner. Contributes too much to distorted image of an average US sitizen. As McDonalds, gangsta rap songs and few other things do. Pay attention - none of these things are being run by teenagers.

Sorry if the message looks a bit angry, it just bothers me to be looked at through a prism of stereotypes..

Perhaps your pry \ pray \ prey comment went unnoticed ... ?

The most ironic one was about how young people are not in touch with reality and real world events. They say this and then go on to comment about how young people use the internet too much... huh? You can't get much more connected with the world than through the internet, maybe unless you're constantly traveling all over the world. Not in touch with realities? Why are there a record amount of young people voting and active in politics?

you're wrong - prey, preyed, preyed. Don't rely on the internet so much

I think the article specifically means retaining the information in one's brain, genuinely learning subject matter. That said, I think that non-retention has been a problem for generations. Most folks learn enough to pass the test, and then forget it as soon as it's no longer handy.

I think the biggest criticism is the self-glorifying nature of the internet that allows bloggers to offer self-indulgent opinions on anything. Opinions are different than fact and different than genuine research. The Internet teaches there are no absolute truths but there is that absoute right to say something crude, something dumb, to post vulgar pictures, to use communicaton devices in public, and in general to confuse connectivity with communication and to confuse opinion with real involvement.

I think the biggest criticism is the self-glorifying nature of the internet that allows bloggers to offer self-indulgent opinions on anything. Opinions are different than fact and different than genuine research. The Internet teaches there are no absolute truths but there is that absoute right to say something crude, something dumb, to post vulgar pictures, to use communicaton devices in public, and in general to confuse connectivity with communication and to confuse opinion with real involvement.

Of course this thread (and my posts) fits that criticism to a tee.

A small point here... but one thing, among others, that was left out of that "article" is the appalling lack of knowledge of history, and even geography. Even events of 20 years ago are a total mystery to some younger people, and some can't find their own country on a map.

Most of what's written in the article is bullsh!t.

So what that young people (including me!) don't store info they've found on the Net? I know that in case I need it again - it's there. Many times even if I have the desired information on my hard drive, or on the bookshelf, I'd rather google for it - much faster.

So what that people don't type correctly while chatting via IM services? Language is only a tool, and can be customized if desired. It's the quality of information that matters, not the form of delievery.

Damn, I used Wikipedia to get ready for my final exams this semester (electronic engeneering). I only been to the university's library once.

Sorry if the message looks a bit angry, it just bothers me to be looked at through a prism of stereotypes..

A small point here... but one thing, among others, that was left out of that "article" is the appalling lack of knowledge of history, and even geography. Even events of 20 years ago are a total mystery to some younger people, and some can't find their own country on a map.

This shouldn't be blamed on youth but rather the American School system. It is ridiculously under funded and understaffed.

That's a croc. There's so much mis-spent money in education. As an ex-teacher I take offense. Between union issues and the adoption of bad teaching models and the number of kids coming to school unprepared there's plenty of money to be reallocated. Some of the best teaching models go back to the one room school house and have nothing to do with warehousing 1500 kids in a school so the football program will have a great team.

The fact is an 87% graduation rate may be all the US can reasonably achieve because the incremental cost of improving the graduation rate is phenomenal. Much of that improvement needs to come from social intervention programs that have nothing to do with education per se.

I think it's MUCH more important to learn how to learn, how to find what you're looking for, etc. and be able to understand it than storing crap in the ol' noggin. There was an old story about someone asking Einstein for his phone number, to which Einstein told him he'd have to look it up and get back to him. The requester was surprised Einstein didn't know his own number and told Einstein so. Einstein replied, "why should I know my phone number? I never call myself."

I don't take offense, because I know I'm better that what the article says my generation is. Now, if you were to pigeon hole me as unintelligent or illiterate based on my nationality, age, race, or anything else, then that is more of a problem with you.