There are all kinds of things we could say to try and discredit those kids accomplishments, and yes- kids have easier access to information and no- they aren't on the whole any smarter than kids of the past. But dont you dare belittle them or suggest they are any less smart or not hard working. Whatever excuses you have for why things are easier on them- being at the top still takes hard work. These kids are doing the un thinkable, breaking records, and blazing new trails. Isn't that what we want? Isn't that the point of society? Generations past created the industrial process so that those lazy 1800's kids didn't have to make everything by hand. Because of that they were able to create automobiles and airplanes. And so it goes. Don't we want to make it easier for the next generation to succeed, so they can reach farther and higher than we ever could? So don't you dare insult these kids. There are always bad eggs, but they are the ones who may one day live on mars, or cure aids.
They almost don't. Guy 1 says kids aren't smarter- guy 2 counters "we are good at sports and stuff!" Which doesn't prove intelligence. However the second part implies laziness- which those records do contridict as that takes hard work. If we are talking specifically about the original accusation of laziness applying to research only- then it's a self contradictory argument as the only steps extra between online research and library (printed) research is going to the library and physically moving pages instead of sifting web pages. Of course the library itself was a tool designed to make information easier to access as before public libraries one needed to either go find a subject matter expert to consult, search for a likely rare text, or gain access to a private library. So if you're so lazy you consider a trip to the libarary hard work.... well.
Right, more sports records DON'T have anything to do with being smarter or not. In fact, the second person is very "non-smart" using those things as an argument against the accusation that having quick information access only appears to make modern kids seem smart.
And as far as more athletic achievements, that points to:
-Better coaching methods (you can break down every movement to milliseconds and analyze)
-Better working and more undetectable drugs
-Finding talent earlier due to,sports being so I,pprtant in many people's lives...at one time, parents didn't go,to,every game a kid had, and now scouts go to see five year olds play.
And as far as more athletic achievements, that points to:
-Better coaching methods (you can break down every movement to milliseconds and analyze)
-Better working and more undetectable drugs
-Finding talent earlier due to,sports being so I,pprtant in many people's lives...at one time, parents didn't go,to,every game a kid had, and now scouts go to see five year olds play.