Have our brains' neural networks been destroyed by modern culture?

[podunkinak]

  it may not be that our minds are ruined but that we have become accustomed to solving problems in ways that may not be possible or practicle in the future. It may take a lot of creativity, flexibility and a willingness to try something new in order to survive.  Another big problem is going to be pride, some people just will not be willing to do the work they must because its "so ghetto" or "below our status" a kind of let the pesants take care of it mentality.

  We will likely see all sorts of things from people we did not expect to see. Sudden hard change brings out intersting traits both good and bad. I expect a learning experience.

[Bovine Blue]

yes it can happen, just like a person who is 150 pounds overweight and diabetic as a result of 40 years of eating junk and drinking can become much fitter and healthier but and this is the big BUT take a representative sample of 150 pounds overweight diabetics and very few are going to make that change.

But once culture changes so as not to allow their lifestyle, these people will be forced to make the change.  Some of them might not make it but the proportion who do change would rise. 

[Exponential Eddie]

Doesn’t it depend on how quickly the change happens? If we have a dramatic  fast PO crash then expect the worst - the dark side of the human to come to the fore - fighting for the last loaves of bread on the supermarket shelves.
If it’s a slow crash our neural pathways and culture will have time to relearn and adapt.
I’m not sure which is the best scenario, the first one leads to mass panic and a free for all the second scenario to a police state and a heavily restricted freedom. Seem to be heading in that direction already here in UK.

[Dennis from Oregon]

Matt, dumb question...   Look around, the evidence is everywhere...   Americans used to be hardworking, thrifty folks with higher morals.  We used to be proud citizens.  Just in my lifetime alone it has changed.  Now the people are fat lazy greedy consumers.  I only wonder just how much diet has played a role in this degradation.  The fact that we are wired different is obvious...

Now off to my PS3 and some Twinkies...  Im bored...

[gylangirl]

re the cat analogy.

Assuming we are talking brain wiring with canned food and not de-clawing, a cat can revert back easily. Many escaped species adapt well. Just look at the flocks of parrots

[Chip Haynes]

Someone once said (and wisely, I believe) that any society is only nine missed meals from anarchy.

We, too, are quick learners.

[Michelle in Ga]

So Chippy . . .ready to be a super hero?