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@fmf saidOkay. But you said as a "species", implying you're referring to our evolutionary progression.
High school athletes are not representative of the ordinary students who make up the majority of people of their age. I'd say with widespread obesity, diabetes and other lifestyle circumstances, that your average high school age kid is probably weaker than his or her counterpart 70 years ago.
If you want to argue this current generation may be weaker than those in the past due to the factors you mentioned, that's different from humans being genetically weaker.
@vivify saidNo I was talking about individual men we may be getting smarter but weaker physically. This is what I am telling you. I know I wouldn't want to go up against a man who lived 100 years ago with his strength in today's world. That only takes us back to 1922.
Okay. But you said as a "species", implying you're referring to our evolutionary progression.
If you want to argue this current generation may be weaker than those in the past due to the factors you mentioned, that's different from humans being genetically weaker.
-VR
@fmf saidFor a meaningful discussion define "progress" and "weakness".
Despite the progress we have made, what has made human beings weaker as a species?
And to show that I did think a bit:
* As a species we are more individuals since the advent of the big city than before. That could be a sign of being a "strong" species.
* the number of babies born by cesarean secition has increased since the advent of big cities. That could be seen as a sign of progress (less dead babies and mothers) and as a sign of wekness (daughters of mothers with small hips will face (with high probability) the smae problem) or as strength (after all we keep people alive).
@very-rusty saidAnd some of them aren't even getting any smarter by way of compensation.
No I was talking about individual men we may be getting smarter but weaker physically. This is what I am telling you. I know I wouldn't want to go up against a man who lived 100 years ago with his strength in today's world. That only takes us back to 1922.
-VR
It's just "lose/lose" with some people.
@vivify saidThere will always be outstanding individuals.
I disagree. Athletes are constantly breaking each and every record they set and have been doing so for over a hundred years. Jesse Owens couldn't hang with today's track stars.
I believe his focus was "as a species."
For everyone breaking records there are scores sitting on their ass getting arteriosclerosis.
@ponderable saidPoint taken. Define them as you see fit. If anything I've said about weakness or progress has been neaningless to you, I'm ok with that.
For a meaningful discussion define "progress" and "weakness".
@very-rusty saidmen are breaking all record as are women, faster, stronger,fitter & longer living.
No I was talking about individual men we may be getting smarter but weaker physically. This is what I am telling you. I know I wouldn't want to go up against a man who lived 100 years ago with his strength in today's world. That only takes us back to 1922.
-VR
@vivify saidOK, fair enough.
Athletes all across the board at all levels are better, not just the "exceptional specimens". A high basketball player now is incomparably better than high school player from the 50's.
What about this?
'Each new generation of humans that populates the Earth is incrementally weaker than its predecessor in terms of what it would take to prevail in the aftermath of a planet-wide total loss of the technology of its era.
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@fmf saidWe certainly “depend”, or seem to, on new technologies and as the “older” generations pass on, a lot of what they have passed on to the younger ones is forgotten, when the time for it’s use, is needed. History most often, repeats itself.
OK, fair enough.
What about this?
'Each new generation of humans that populates the Earth is incrementally weaker than its predecessor in terms of what it would take to prevail in the aftermath of a planet-wide total loss of the technology of its era.
@badradger saidThese are trained Athletes not your common joe!
men are breaking all record as are women, faster, stronger,fitter & longer living.
-VR
@ponderable saidAren't writing and the printed word forms of technology?
About coping: We do have books and can at least with some effort relearn "forgotten" technology.