Where are all these "stupid people" that supposedly exist?
- Thread starter ImBigBob
- Start date
Although truly stupid people do exist, if you yourself are not stupid and associate mainly with people who are also not stupid, and thus meet new friends through them, your chances of meeting a complete idiot, at least an obvious one, are slim.
It's more that the average person might not be stupid, but still isn't all that bright. Even people of above average intellect overall tend to have a few blind spots where their prejudice, preconceptions or pride hamper their judgement.
In other words, almost everyone does something really stupid now and then.
My use of the term comes from my opinion that the average person, although seemingly in possession of common sense in regards to day to day activity, behave stupidly in the ways that matter. They get wrapped up in superficiality, use terminology they don't really understand, make statements that, although soundly structured grammatically, are either totally obvious or built from incomplete logic.
I'm talking about the kind of person who answers serious questions with shit they heard from self help novels, argues in favor of opinions they don't understand for reasons they can't explain.
It might not be obvious, but try to talk to the average person about something of real substance, and it'll go right over their head.
It's more that the average person might not be stupid, but still isn't all that bright. Even people of above average intellect overall tend to have a few blind spots where their prejudice, preconceptions or pride hamper their judgement.
In other words, almost everyone does something really stupid now and then.
My use of the term comes from my opinion that the average person, although seemingly in possession of common sense in regards to day to day activity, behave stupidly in the ways that matter. They get wrapped up in superficiality, use terminology they don't really understand, make statements that, although soundly structured grammatically, are either totally obvious or built from incomplete logic.
I'm talking about the kind of person who answers serious questions with shit they heard from self help novels, argues in favor of opinions they don't understand for reasons they can't explain.
It might not be obvious, but try to talk to the average person about something of real substance, and it'll go right over their head.
If we're talking about stupid Facebook comments, people sometimes change when they go online. They see a screen of protection in front of them so they act like children to relax or something. If you're incredibly interested about stupid people, go watch a college dorm hall. Eventually something stupid will happen or be discussed.
First, I'd like to mention I really don't like the hate going around online making fun of supposedly dumb people. Really gotta tone down the hate. For all our supposed superiority we're really just being jerks sometimes.
But I still remember going to public school and there are definitely some dumb people. I personally still know someone from high school that is really just skin deep. There really is nothing more to him than the first ten minutes of knowing him. Which makes him an asshole because he always try to be cool, by well, being an asshole.
But I still remember going to public school and there are definitely some dumb people. I personally still know someone from high school that is really just skin deep. There really is nothing more to him than the first ten minutes of knowing him. Which makes him an asshole because he always try to be cool, by well, being an asshole.
Turn on your TV, go to any channel that has reality TV on and see how long it takes you before you start wanting to punch people in the throat.
Looking at the pure definition of stupid, as per the dictionary, we have...
1.
lacking ordinary quickness and keenness of mind; dull.
2.
characterized by or proceeding from mental dullness; foolish; senseless: a stupid question.
3.
tediously dull, especially due to lack of meaning or sense; inane; pointless: a stupid party.
4.
annoying or irritating; troublesome: Turn off that stupid radio.
5.
in a state of stupor; stupefied: stupid from fatigue.
Most people are referring to definitions 1 or 2. The problem is, 2 is subjective, and thus it has expanded to fill a whole lot of space.
People who lack the ability to think quickly and at least around an average level of intelligence, do exist. This is not the average. Chances are, you will not meet many of these people in your lifetime. This is where your "mentally slow" or so forth folk come in. It is a neurological incapability to think on a level of intelligence that is on par with most humans of their age, or some such.
Now, we get to definition 2: foolish or senseless. What is foolish to me, may not be foolish to you. What is senseless to you may not be senseless to me. But, most humans want to think they're right when they have an opinion. This means that the word "stupid" has been used to refer to basically anyone that does something you think is silly, ridiculous, or foolish, meaning that the person may not be *objectively* stupid (definition 1) but can still be called stupid (definition 2). I suspect Definition 2 is a more modern definition created by the expansion of the word to be used as an insult rather than a simple descriptor. An even more expanded form is Definition 4, which basically can be used for anything, so the word sort of loses its meaning around that point.
Thus...yes, stupid people are everywhere, if you choose to think that anyone who does something that doesn't meet your arbitrarily set standard for "intelligence", is stupid. You get to choose how many stupid people you meet, and it's not by hiding in your room.
1.
lacking ordinary quickness and keenness of mind; dull.
2.
characterized by or proceeding from mental dullness; foolish; senseless: a stupid question.
3.
tediously dull, especially due to lack of meaning or sense; inane; pointless: a stupid party.
4.
annoying or irritating; troublesome: Turn off that stupid radio.
5.
in a state of stupor; stupefied: stupid from fatigue.
Most people are referring to definitions 1 or 2. The problem is, 2 is subjective, and thus it has expanded to fill a whole lot of space.
People who lack the ability to think quickly and at least around an average level of intelligence, do exist. This is not the average. Chances are, you will not meet many of these people in your lifetime. This is where your "mentally slow" or so forth folk come in. It is a neurological incapability to think on a level of intelligence that is on par with most humans of their age, or some such.
Now, we get to definition 2: foolish or senseless. What is foolish to me, may not be foolish to you. What is senseless to you may not be senseless to me. But, most humans want to think they're right when they have an opinion. This means that the word "stupid" has been used to refer to basically anyone that does something you think is silly, ridiculous, or foolish, meaning that the person may not be *objectively* stupid (definition 1) but can still be called stupid (definition 2). I suspect Definition 2 is a more modern definition created by the expansion of the word to be used as an insult rather than a simple descriptor. An even more expanded form is Definition 4, which basically can be used for anything, so the word sort of loses its meaning around that point.
Thus...yes, stupid people are everywhere, if you choose to think that anyone who does something that doesn't meet your arbitrarily set standard for "intelligence", is stupid. You get to choose how many stupid people you meet, and it's not by hiding in your room.
People, like Zombies, are most dangerous in large groups. They're easily influenced by others, and when someone with more charisma than sense starts influencing the herd, well?that's where the stupid comes in.
I'd point out this thread carries some wonderful examples of why OP doesnt see the stupid people, they very rarely exist. You just disagree with them and feel your evidence is better (even when it probably is not, CODBLOPS2 has just come out, some people like it are they stupid? no, its a fun game you just dont like it.
You voted Democrat/Republican/Conservative/Labour/National Equivalent/ last time, but your state/constituency/etc was won by the other party, were the people who voted for the other people stupid? no, not really you just have a different political viewpoint (and get positive reinforcement for it by only socialising with others of your alignment), Hell look at the Political Compass Thread that stuff is kinda scary how exactly alike so many people were.
I could go on, but well I think point is made.
Edit: Although given all this some people do make me despair utterly sometimes.
You voted Democrat/Republican/Conservative/Labour/National Equivalent/ last time, but your state/constituency/etc was won by the other party, were the people who voted for the other people stupid? no, not really you just have a different political viewpoint (and get positive reinforcement for it by only socialising with others of your alignment), Hell look at the Political Compass Thread that stuff is kinda scary how exactly alike so many people were.
I could go on, but well I think point is made.
Edit: Although given all this some people do make me despair utterly sometimes.
the average is average, but the majority of humanity is, plain and utterly stupid.BloatedGuppy said:
this is compensated with about the 1-2 procent top which is fucktardedly clever, and the 8% after that of more then above average intelligence
stil, one could argue humanity as a race, is just plain dumb.
Lucky you OP, I'm usually surrounded by/deal with stupid people 24/7. Most of the time it's my hipster roomies, but currently I'm dealing with either an idiot or a troll (can't tell) on deviantArt that keeps insisting that because of a demotivational poster I made about the original ME3 ending back when the game came out [http://soren7550.deviantart.com/#/d4sv254], I'm an idiot that knows nothing about the series or the ending, and that I'm trying to trick them with that YouTube video that shows all the original endings together, because they're not the actual endings.
you could always go work for state farm insurance. they have been steadily recruiting the stupids off the street to be agents. >.< my job at the state farm bank brings me in contact with the agents way too often.
If you cant find any stupid people then sadly your probably not smart enough too so just look in a mirror.
right next to you.
admit it. the stupidest person you know is your best friend. you know every stupid thing they have ever done and you know just how stupid a lot of their ideas really are.
and the internet. everyone is an idiot online. sometimes we don't even noticed we're doing it.
admit it. the stupidest person you know is your best friend. you know every stupid thing they have ever done and you know just how stupid a lot of their ideas really are.
and the internet. everyone is an idiot online. sometimes we don't even noticed we're doing it.
I've never really thought about it until this thread... Now that I think about it, no one really has "sub-par" intelligence. Some have "above-par" intelligence, but it's all about how the brain interprets information, and ideas. Some people interpret things one way, others in a different way. I guess intelligence/stupidity can be measured by how well the brain interprets information, but that's ultimately subjective so that doesn't quite work... But if we look at the bigger picture, there are people who interpret information and ideas quite poorly, such as not comprehending them, misinterpreting them, or not being able to properly judge what is true or not which skews their mental results. I like to view the subject in terms of religious belief. When confronted with X information, I decide I'm an atheist, someone else decides they're a theist. I think I'm right, they think they're right, I think they're wrong, they think I'm wrong, blah blah blah. Point is, different people interpret the same information differently and come to different conclusions. It seems to me like something similar happens in the case of "stupid" and "smart" people. But like I said earlier, cognitive ability is subjective since we judge it using our own subjective cognitive ability.
Well stupid people are not stupid all the time! I mean if they were they would suffocate while trying to walk and breathe at the same time. Some people might seem smart but then say pretty stupid shit like: "The Holocaust didn't happen, it was just the Jews saying that in order to make people feel sorry for them so they can make more money". Actual quote from a friend who's not 100% retarded.
There's the occasional retard moment we all have like trying to drink thinner after placing my brush on the coke I was drinking.
Or the full on retard that only comes out when in groups (that apparently decrease the general I.Q as per Cracked).
Also it really depends, stupid people surrounded by equally stupid people might think: "Hey I'm a smart person and all of the people around me are just as smart as me."
Those people just like to make fun of other guys. Or we can be in that group in the eyes of much more intelligent people
Like: "Look at the silly discussion these primates are trying to engage in" (Lol this example will look stupid in the eyes of someone else)
There's the occasional retard moment we all have like trying to drink thinner after placing my brush on the coke I was drinking.
Or the full on retard that only comes out when in groups (that apparently decrease the general I.Q as per Cracked).
Also it really depends, stupid people surrounded by equally stupid people might think: "Hey I'm a smart person and all of the people around me are just as smart as me."
Those people just like to make fun of other guys. Or we can be in that group in the eyes of much more intelligent people
Like: "Look at the silly discussion these primates are trying to engage in" (Lol this example will look stupid in the eyes of someone else)