Do you think humans are using their ability to retain information less nowadays, than they did before?

Question

(In other words, using their memory less. )

Why or why not?

Consider that long ago there was no form of writing, or it was less common, people relied on spoken reference.

Answer 1

The Egyptian god Thoth, who was believed to have invented writing, in antiquity, did so, but it came with a warning...

That now with the advent of writing, people would begin to lose their memory!

Answer 2

People remember different things now.  

We don't know specific tasks related to survival, but it's not necessary.  Most people don't hunt for or grow their own food - those who do, know how.  Most people shop for clothing in stores.  If you enjoy sewing, you know how to make your own.  Many people have do-it-yourself skills of some sort, and also know how to shop for those same items.  Sounds more complex to me.

Information becomes obsolete.  This has even happened in the recent past.  Anyone still use a slide rule?  Or a reel-to-reel tape recorder?  Has it adversely affected our lives?  No.  It's been replaced with more efficient technology.  

We remember how to get information and navigate our way through our modern, complex, bureaucratic society.

Ever read an owner's manual?  One not written by a native speaker of English?  A tax form?   Apply for any government benefit?

Operate a computer?

The least able among us is expected to do all this routinely.

Answer 3

before cell phones i remembered all the important phone # s . now i know only 4. that answer your ?

Answer 4

Definitely!!!!

I would suspect that the ammount of information currently retained in peoples brains, is inversely proportional, to the ammount of electronic storage devices they own.

Answer 5

Its the human tendency to do things only when they are either forced to do or they are left with no alternative...in simple means...if u consider computer as one of the instance..it uses its different sections of memory to store different things...like ram,ROM,primary,blah blah!! So is human brain..when we have different means to store the data like books or on notepad..or any other d**n means,then why not go for a complete resource utilization rather than straining our brains to do that for us.

Answer 6

Yes, I think that we our using our memories less and less, with the invent of the palm pilot and cell phone, we have no need to remember phone numbers among other things.

Answer 7

human ability is far below our standard

always has been

in my years as observer i have seen little improvment

Answer 8

yes you are totally right, we are using less memory

Answer 9

yes and it all has to do with "conveniences". once upon a time you had to remember year to year where all edible plants grew, the migration habits of all animals, how to build a house, how to kill a bear, how to raise a child, the stories of the anscestors, creation myths, herbal medicine, how to make a fire, etc. now no one can even remember their own cell phone number!!!!!

Answer 10

With the advent of computers people don't need to retain information anymore. They just log onto their computers and retrieve the information they need from there. So to answer your question, yes, undoubtedly so.

Answer 11

As a whole no, the Human ability to retain information has remained the same.

We are just re-prioritizing what we are retaining.

Instead of having to memorize simple facts (like Columbus sailed the Ocean Blue in 1492); we can now retain advanced information; like how his sailing effected the Native populations (poorly!)

Conversely, I don't think we are prioritizing all that well.  Instead of trying to fix the problems we have- we are too busy discussing the Train wreak that is Brittany Spears' career.  

And besides; Oral Histories are not usually very accurate, and not everyone could tell them.  Each group would often have a 'lore master' or 'story-teller' or historian to tell these stories.   And with each re-telling, the story changes a little bit (those of you who remember the Epic of Gilgamesh's flood and the AMAZING similarities to the Hebrew flood; and the flood that happened in Greek Mythology, and most other Mythologies).

So when you can't remember someone's phone #, think what ELSE can you remember instead?  Maybe how the electoral college works, maybe how to write html, maybe how to make a really good cake.

Answer 12

Now the computers are of great help to those who wish to retain certain information that they would otherwise have forgotten. Personal memory is still necessary for maintenance of a person's own business. Peace, Love and God Bless.

Answer 13

did you know that the brain was smaller back then they started to get smarter and smarter

so they do remember better