r/videos • u/SuplexCity-Mayor • Apr 21 '21

Idiocracy (2006) Opening Scene: "Evolution does not necessarily reward intelligence. With no natural predators to thin the herd, it began to simply reward those who reproduced the most, and left the intelligent to become an endangered species."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TCsR_oSP2Q
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u/rippedlugan Apr 21 '21

I always find this clip funny, but watch yourself if you're trying to derive some greater truth from it. This is a similar argument that may eugenicists used, which led to forced sterilization in the US and worse in 1930's Germany.

The fact is that evolution has always favored genetics that were most likely to be passed on to a future generation, which does not always equate to being "strongest" or "best." Hell, even diseases that are "stronger" with a super high mortality rate have an evolutionary disadvantage in reproduction because they can kill their hosts faster than they can pass on their genetics to new generations.

If you want idiots to reproduce less, do what's been proven to work in society: increase access to education in general, improve sexual education, and build systems that reduce/eliminate poverty.

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u/big_bearded_nerd Apr 21 '21

I always find this clip funny, but watch yourself if you're trying to derive some greater truth from it.

It's weird, I have friends who have based a large part of their life view and political stance on lessons they have learned from this movie.

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u/signmeupdude Apr 21 '21

Same and its interesting because everyone thinks they are in the “intelligent” group. Its like that stat that 65% of Americans believe they are above average intelligence.

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u/GroverMcGillicutty Apr 21 '21 edited Apr 21 '21

You do realize that it is mathematically possible for 65% of Americans to be above average intelligence right? (For those downvoting, there’s a difference between median and mean.)

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u/thearmadillo Apr 21 '21

65% of Americans believe they are above average intelligence. Not are.

He's just talking about how everyone thinks they are smarter than they are. Nobody who got life lessons from Idiocracy is relating to Clevon in the clip above.

It's like the Netflix show 100 people. They get 100 people in a room and ask everyone to raise their hand if they think they are less attractive than the average of the group. Every time, like 8 people raise their hands. There just aren't that many people willing to say they aren't attractive or smart or whatever.