I mean this actively: stupid people aren’t theoretical brings who exist outside this discussion we are having here. Many people in this thread qualify. There’s regular stupid, which is just most people. That’s the benign kind of stupid which maybe is indicative of a lack of training or bad circumstances for learning in earlier life. You can also find double down stupid in this thread. The flat earth conspiracy, “consciousness” mysticism, and can barely craft a sentence kind of stupid.
The general public is even worse.
People are all willing to admit that stupid exists, but most won’t point the finger. Close your eyes and point and you’ll hit someone, bless their hearts.
Economist Carlo Cipolla groups people into four categories - Intelligent, the people can benefit themselves while producing benefits for others. Helpless, who can benefit others, but cannot benefit themselves. Bandits, who can only benefit themselves by destroying benefit for others. And finally the Stupid, who can only destroy benefits for others but cannot benefit themselves.
He believes that the Stupid are genuinely dangerous because their chaos is unpredictable (they have no realistic plans) and other types will always underestimate how much destruction they’re capable of generating (because they persist in thinking the Stupid operate from reason).
I’m curious how many of these people are truly stupid, or is it just a lack of education? Or lack of interest in education?
These are the same people who don’t understand how bad things are in society until they hit at home. Are the not capable of expanding their world view enough to fit in new information, or do they prefer to stay in a child-like ignorance?
I think too many people are encouraged not to use their brains, at least here in the US. Questioning things is discouraged from childhood, while conformity is rewarded. People are terrified of standing out, or at least of having the appearance of “causing trouble.” It’s drilled into every generation at least til Z (I have no information on how gen Alpha is faring yet.) I’m Gen Y/Millennial and for sure my public schools, in a blue state, were very heavy on punishment and shutting down student dissent, even when the students are objectively right (like when a teacher shares a false idea as fact.) Those who stood back and watched didn’t get in trouble, and learned impactful lessons on what happens to those who dare question what they’re told. We’ve been trained for authoritarian rule since our youth, and some people wholeheartedly believe whatever their authority tells them. Their ability to critically think/think for themselves has atrophied.
Even when there’s a spark of understanding, pressure to remain in the “in-group” can override it. Cognitive dissonance lulls them back to the apparent safety of their “tribe,” where everything is as they believe it is, and some strong ruler is totally looking out for them. New ideas aren’t rewarded in this system, so there’s little point in trying to learn things. In fact if they learn too much, they could risk being alienated because of it. Again, that’s a big no-no. Must remain with the in-group.
The good news is, plenty of people break out of these cults groups. Those who do break out can attest to how bad it is. I really can’t overstate the amount of allegiance and deference we’re taught to give to others, and I’m not surprised so many people have taken the easy route and straight-up surrendered their brains. It’s all they’ve ever known.
Hi this was me, accidentally responded from another account (there’s a certain feature you can’t get on piefed so I switched back to lemmy for a second).
Mostly I was just making a joke (since you’re willing to call other people stupid I feel like it was fair game). You’re probably not actually stupid, but you do seem extremely arrogant.
Mostly I was just taking issue with lumping in the consciousness “mysticism” with flat Earth stuff. That’s something you would only say if you didn’t understand the topic at hand. If you want to check out the discussion we’re having on this topic in this thread, you’re welcome to (here’s the start of the thread; click here if you want to cut to the chase of why there’s actually more to it then you think). If you want to explain why you think this stuff is stupid, or just join the discussion, then you’re welcome to join us in that thread.
I might pop over and check out the discussion. I added it to the list because I frequently see people in my family prefer “mystical” explanations of pretty direct scientific phenomena and it makes me nuts. I won’t yuck your yum if you think ghosts exist or you want to measure the strength of your consciousness because you’ve been reincarnated or something, but maybe we don’t use that as argument against vaccines and general health, you know? Someone also explained to me I my town how he was pretty sure climate change was a hoax and the earth has just been “knocked off it’s axis”. That’s not mysticism, but it’s the kind of stupid that speaks to why I included it.
And of course theres no question I’m an elitist lol. It’s an easy reservoir of perspective to draw from if you want something controversial.
Stupid people exist.
I mean this actively: stupid people aren’t theoretical brings who exist outside this discussion we are having here. Many people in this thread qualify. There’s regular stupid, which is just most people. That’s the benign kind of stupid which maybe is indicative of a lack of training or bad circumstances for learning in earlier life. You can also find double down stupid in this thread. The flat earth conspiracy, “consciousness” mysticism, and can barely craft a sentence kind of stupid.
The general public is even worse.
People are all willing to admit that stupid exists, but most won’t point the finger. Close your eyes and point and you’ll hit someone, bless their hearts.
Economist Carlo Cipolla groups people into four categories - Intelligent, the people can benefit themselves while producing benefits for others. Helpless, who can benefit others, but cannot benefit themselves. Bandits, who can only benefit themselves by destroying benefit for others. And finally the Stupid, who can only destroy benefits for others but cannot benefit themselves.
He believes that the Stupid are genuinely dangerous because their chaos is unpredictable (they have no realistic plans) and other types will always underestimate how much destruction they’re capable of generating (because they persist in thinking the Stupid operate from reason).
That seems like a thoughtful take, but it is more generalized than I really meant. I will need more than 10 minutes before bed to agree or disagree.
Particularly the depth of helpless and stupid I’m not totally sure about.
I’m curious how many of these people are truly stupid, or is it just a lack of education? Or lack of interest in education?
These are the same people who don’t understand how bad things are in society until they hit at home. Are the not capable of expanding their world view enough to fit in new information, or do they prefer to stay in a child-like ignorance?
I think too many people are encouraged not to use their brains, at least here in the US. Questioning things is discouraged from childhood, while conformity is rewarded. People are terrified of standing out, or at least of having the appearance of “causing trouble.” It’s drilled into every generation at least til Z (I have no information on how gen Alpha is faring yet.) I’m Gen Y/Millennial and for sure my public schools, in a blue state, were very heavy on punishment and shutting down student dissent, even when the students are objectively right (like when a teacher shares a false idea as fact.) Those who stood back and watched didn’t get in trouble, and learned impactful lessons on what happens to those who dare question what they’re told. We’ve been trained for authoritarian rule since our youth, and some people wholeheartedly believe whatever their authority tells them. Their ability to critically think/think for themselves has atrophied.
Even when there’s a spark of understanding, pressure to remain in the “in-group” can override it. Cognitive dissonance lulls them back to the apparent safety of their “tribe,” where everything is as they believe it is, and some strong ruler is totally looking out for them. New ideas aren’t rewarded in this system, so there’s little point in trying to learn things. In fact if they learn too much, they could risk being alienated because of it. Again, that’s a big no-no. Must remain with the in-group.
The good news is, plenty of people break out of these
cultsgroups. Those who do break out can attest to how bad it is. I really can’t overstate the amount of allegiance and deference we’re taught to give to others, and I’m not surprised so many people have taken the easy route and straight-up surrendered their brains. It’s all they’ve ever known.I agree you’re pretty stupid
As long as you agree I guess.
Edit:
For some fun, do you care to attempt to justify your position? I suspect you may be ill-equipped, but I’m happy to let you prove it.
Hi this was me, accidentally responded from another account (there’s a certain feature you can’t get on piefed so I switched back to lemmy for a second).
Mostly I was just making a joke (since you’re willing to call other people stupid I feel like it was fair game). You’re probably not actually stupid, but you do seem extremely arrogant.
Mostly I was just taking issue with lumping in the consciousness “mysticism” with flat Earth stuff. That’s something you would only say if you didn’t understand the topic at hand. If you want to check out the discussion we’re having on this topic in this thread, you’re welcome to (here’s the start of the thread; click here if you want to cut to the chase of why there’s actually more to it then you think). If you want to explain why you think this stuff is stupid, or just join the discussion, then you’re welcome to join us in that thread.
edit for spelling
I might pop over and check out the discussion. I added it to the list because I frequently see people in my family prefer “mystical” explanations of pretty direct scientific phenomena and it makes me nuts. I won’t yuck your yum if you think ghosts exist or you want to measure the strength of your consciousness because you’ve been reincarnated or something, but maybe we don’t use that as argument against vaccines and general health, you know? Someone also explained to me I my town how he was pretty sure climate change was a hoax and the earth has just been “knocked off it’s axis”. That’s not mysticism, but it’s the kind of stupid that speaks to why I included it.
And of course theres no question I’m an elitist lol. It’s an easy reservoir of perspective to draw from if you want something controversial.
Yeah I guess I can’t complain too much since I did ask for it with the title of this post