From the USA Today story:
"Columnist Kevin Leininger suggested it was basically "an evil Liberal Media Conspiracy." He pointed out that eight of the 10 smartest cities were in blue states, and eight of the dumbest were in red states. He says it's not a coincidence that "a certain amount of cultural elitism was at work here." "
"Gloria Diaz, a Fort Wayne native and columnist for the Fort Wayne Reader, the local arts and entertainment newspaper, says the city suffers as much from low self-esteem as low grades."
Low self-esteem, I've heard that mentioned about Toledo.
A May 2004 story from the Fort Wayne Reader about that city's growing underground arts scene. Again, familiar-sounding speak ...
"Yes, Fort Wayne might be the City of Churches, The Great Place to Raise A Family, but if you're looking for a city with a vibrant arts scene, well. . . other terms might jump more easily to mind. Like conservative. Pedestrian. Twenty years behind the times. A place where nothing happens. A place where, frankly, if you're an artist, getting taken out in a kiln explosion might be the best you could hope for. At least you wouldn't die of boredom."
"But somehow, things started to change. Perhaps it was [playwright] Neil LaBute filming his career-making indie film In the Company of Men here. Or the debut of the confrontational Poetry Slams at Cinema Center. Perhaps it was the return of the city's best and brightest, the young ones who lit out for New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago only to discover that "making it" meant "making rent." Maybe it's the growing sophistication of Fort Wayne audiences. Maybe it's a committed group of artists who decided there was no reason why Fort Wayne couldn't become the next Santa Fe."
"Don't look now, but dowdy, provincial Fort Wayne is on the verge of becoming one of the best underground arts cities in the Midwest."
posted by jr at 11:54 A.M. EST on Fri Jan 21, 2005 #
Just a quick observation....
I have several graduate degrees, and always try to take at least one or two college classes during the calendar year.
HOWEVER, I AM THE FIRST TO AGREE THAT HAVING A COLLEGE DEGREE DOES NOT (EMPHASIZE NOT) EQUAL INTELLIGENCE.
My father never completed high school, but I still consider him one of the most intelligent people I ever knew.
In my work place, I have met many college educated people who had the intelligence of a pile of rocks.
posted by Guest at 11:59 A.M. EST on Fri Jan 21, 2005 #
It's the magazines that are stuipd!
posted by Chaz at 07:17 P.M. EST on Fri Jan 21, 2005 #
You'd figure that Carty's re-election had to place Toledo a bit higher on the "list o' stupid".
posted by Guest at 03:20 A.M. EST on Sat Jan 22, 2005 #
Face it, liberal or conservative, their methodology blew. You're probably better off counting how many people try to talk on their phone and drive at the same time to measure stupidity.
posted by Guest at 02:44 A.M. EST on Sun Jan 23, 2005 #
You figure that Jack Ford, Toledo City Council, and the Toledo Blade drag the collective IQ of the City of Toledo down several notches. Also, the fact that the voters of Toledo keep voting for stupid politicans time and time again (e.g. J'Foe, Carty, Gerken, Skippy, McCloskey, etc.) doesn't help things much either.
posted by Guest at 02:08 P.M. EST on Sun Jan 23, 2005 #
Minneapolis was not only found to be the "smartest", its residents watched less TV than any other city. Coincidence?
posted by Guest at 07:26 P.M. EST on Mon Jan 24, 2005 #
Doubt it. If you're watching things like SpongeBob Squarepants, then it might influence the brain.
I'm disagree with the degree mattering about intelligence. It might not influence intelligence as much, but if you're aware of how the world is, then you'd work harder to survive. And if you were smart enough to be aware, then good for you. However, it IS better to be aware than sitting at home watching tv.
Also; it's not easy to get into a specific college, especially a good one. Some colleges are really bad and you don't need the intelligence of an ant to get in. If you're graduating from Harvard....insult one of them about intelligence and you'll get a 20 page long lecture as to why that's wrong.
posted by Guest at 09:20 P.M. EST on Thu Jan 27, 2005 #
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