http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/devolution
Sorry but it has nothing to do with optimism. It's the intelligence level of viewers. If your entertained by characters screaming obscenities at each other and losing limbs, then you're probably not looking to think much. Then there are the people that like shows with good storytelling and likeable characters that don't resort to childish or stupid antics to get laughs. Most of the people who watch anime are the intelligent crowd of adult swim viewers. They enjoy the in-depth stories and well written and likeable characters.
The comedies that Adult Swim keeps greenlighting all seem to have the same things in common. They are poorly written, poorly animated, on a low budget, and seem to be targeted at people who enjoy alcohol, and being under the influence of narcotics. If this is the larger audience then it's quite obvious that the intelligence level is degrading. Though it's almost a fact that the majority is usually never the smartest bunch.
It also proves that it's obvious that Adult Swim doesn't really care about the quality of their programming or about who watches it. It's nice to make money and be on top, but most of the time the top companies are the ones that make a superior product. Adult Swims strategy is to make a cheap product that appeals to the simple, which there is clearly more of.
Message Edited by Solar on 02-08-2009 08:15 AM