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Stupidity: A Dummies Guide - C C - Aug 9, 2025
https://www.acsh.org/news/2025/08/08/stupidity-dummies-guide-49663
EXCERPTS: We spend so much time talking about intelligence, pondering what makes someone smart. But what about the other side of that coin? Especially in an Internet-driven world, it is worth taking a few moments to consider “stupidity,” the disease that afflicts others, but not us.
[...] Leslie argues that in its simplest form, stupidity can be likened to a malfunctioning computer. Pure stupidity is the equivalent of defective hardware. Not “defective” in a biological sense or even in the sense of neurodiversity, rather, the mental processor is incapable of reliably identifying patterns or following logical arguments. It’s as though the motherboard came off the line without a graphics card—no amount of software updates can compensate for missing circuitry.
[...] With ignorant stupidity, the processor hums with potential; there’s nothing wrong with the machine, but the hard drive is nearly empty, reflecting an education gap, where individuals were never given or found the foundational scaffolding of knowledge required to build understanding...
[...] The third stupidity is characterized by Nobel Disease, where the expert or genius steps out of their lane, making bad choices because they assume their genius is a universal passport, failing to see that they've walked onto a different playing field with entirely different rules....
[...] Overthinking stupidity illustrates how competent individuals can become less effective precisely because of their advanced cognitive abilities. They overanalyze, searching for the intricate when the simple may suffice....
[...] rule-based stupidity, when we are trapped by already established systems, tools, and rigid ways of thinking – too much thinking “inside” the box.
[...] The final, and most challenging category, rests in our all too human “nature.” When people feel insecure or anxious, they find comfort in their “social group,” leading them to signal loyalty, like a wristband guaranteeing entrance to an exclusive party. ... It’s not necessarily about agreeing with the message; it’s about staying in the club... (MORE - missing details
RE: Stupidity: A Dummies Guide - confused2 - Aug 9, 2025
I've long thought we should have a standardised Intelligence Quotient test AND an equally standardised Stupidity Quotient. Like there's folks that can accurately predict the stress in 80 concrete beams in a structure .. without noticing there's actually only 40.
RE: Stupidity: A Dummies Guide - Magical Realist - Aug 9, 2025
What's really bad is when you have equal parts stupidity mixed with ignorance. People who not only can't think but who hardly know anything. Trump is a great example. With him there is even a third factor---the delusion that he is smart and knows alot.
RE: Stupidity: A Dummies Guide - Syne - Aug 9, 2025
(Aug 9, 2025 11:48 PM)Magical Realist Wrote: What's really bad is when you have equal parts stupidity mixed with ignorance. People who not only can't think but who hardly know anything. Trump is a great example. With him there is even a third factor---the delusion that he is smart and knows alot.
Lots of projection there. 9_9
RE: Stupidity: A Dummies Guide - confused2 - Aug 10, 2025
In many contexts the ability to convince people of things that aren't true trumps both intelligence and stupidity.
RE: Stupidity: A Dummies Guide - Magical Realist - Aug 10, 2025
In MAGA world maybe. But then grabbing women by the pussy appears to be admirable there as well..
RE: Stupidity: A Dummies Guide - confused2 - Aug 10, 2025
Quote:In MAGA world maybe. But then grabbing women by the pussy appears to be admirable there as well..In fairness I think Trump is a better man than many of his supporters .. set the bar low enough and some are sure to rise above it.
RE: Stupidity: A Dummies Guide - Syne - Aug 10, 2025
(Aug 10, 2025 12:50 AM)Magical Realist Wrote: In MAGA world maybe. But then grabbing women by the pussy appears to be admirable there as well..
That's just a lie... or more self-serving ignorance.
RE: Stupidity: A Dummies Guide - confused2 - Aug 10, 2025
(Aug 10, 2025 01:18 AM)Syne Wrote:(Aug 10, 2025 12:50 AM)Magical Realist Wrote: In MAGA world maybe. But then grabbing women by the pussy appears to be admirable there as well..
That's just a lie... or more self-serving ignorance.
Given Trump's age and the era he grew up in, also the type of women who would seek out the company of rich men - pussy grabbing may have been both normal and acceptable - or if not acceptable then at least accepted. No point in having money if you can't .. well .. there you have it.
RE: Stupidity: A Dummies Guide - Magical Realist - Aug 10, 2025
(Aug 10, 2025 01:07 AM)confused2 Wrote:Quote:In MAGA world maybe. But then grabbing women by the pussy appears to be admirable there as well..In fairness I think Trump is a better man than many of his supporters .. set the bar low enough and some are sure to rise above it.
There's a point below Trump's sleeziness and dishonesty that I stop keeping track of how bad a person can be. If there's worse people I haven't met them. I mean making fun of the disabled, disgust with wounded vets, sexist and demeaning comments about women, sexual assault accusations from 23 women, and then of course all the lying and BS and juvenile slandering of people who don't kiss his ass, which never seems to stop. I really don't know how any grown adult could be any worse short of being a rapist or murderer.