Future Shlock

In 1918, over 500 million people across the world were affected by an influenza pandemic. 50 to 100 million of them – 3 to 5 percent of the world’s population at the time – were killed. In 1976, approximately 3,000 people died from the same disease – roughly 0.00007% of the world’s population at that time. What changed? Progress. A word Neil Postman doesn’t seem to acknowledge in his essay, Future Shlock. You see, Mr. Postman has a theory. He essentially states that after future shock, a phrase that describes “the social paralysis induced by rapid technological change”, a phenomenon called future shlock occurs. This phenomenon is a “cultural condition characterized by the rapid erosion of collective intelligence.” It’s a cute concept; one that was backed up by seemingly reasonable facts. But it’s literally just that…a concept. Medication, technology, architecture – all of those progress because with time, human intelligence is forced to progress. “Future shlock” doesn’t exist.
Credit must be given where it’s due. Postman’s argument is feasible. He talks about how the American media has changed the way its people think. However, a major issue in this essay is how conclusive Postman is with his thoughts. He never once regards his opinions as opinions. Future shlock is a belief, not concrete knowledge. The difference being that with knowledge, what is said is what is true. With belief, what is said is what is believed to be true, but nothing more than that. It cannot be proved. It isn’t fact. Postman doesn’t seem to understand this. Every single one of his arguments is easily counterattacked with simple logic. He starts saying “human intelligence is among the most fragile things in nature. It doesn’t take much to distract it, suppress it, or even annihilate it.” Well, Postman, I’d like to make a rebuttal. Human intelligence is among the most durable things in nature. It doesn’t take much to stimulate it,