Stupid people

@Deckard,

Deckard;122056 wrote:

Why do most people believe that most people are stupid?

I think a lot of people include the above premise in the foundation of their belief system, their ethics, and their sense of self-worth. I'd like to take a poll but that feature is disabled. Do you think most people are stupid? I'll go against the grain and say: "No." However, I may be denial. I'm interested in hearing arguments from the other side. Does anyone have any proof? There are plenty of examples of stupidity but one example does not suggest that most people fit that example. So, if you provide evidence, please provide only evidence of the alleged wide spread stupidity of the majority and not specific examples of isolated stupidity.

I knew a chemist who helped invent spandex. As an old man, his view was that most people are stupid.

Kurt Vonnegut wrote a story that suggested that human intelligence turned out to be a grave threat to the species and thus human intelligence degenerated as a survival mechanism. Some people say that there is a dumbing down process going on in our society. As it happens, standardized IQ assessments of school children have suggested that youngsters have been growing significantly more intelligent for several decades now. I spoke to a 17 year old kid whose explanation was that young people these days have an increased ability to process large amounts of information simply because so much information is available to them.

I have no idea if most people are stupid. I know I sure can be.

@Deckard,

Deckard;122056 wrote:

Why do most people believe that most people are stupid?

I think a lot of people include the above premise in the foundation of their belief system, their ethics, and their sense of self-worth. I'd like to take a poll but that feature is disabled. Do you think most people are stupid? I'll go against the grain and say: "No." However, I may be denial. I'm interested in hearing arguments from the other side. Does anyone have any proof? There are plenty of examples of stupidity but one example does not suggest that most people fit that example. So, if you provide evidence, please provide only evidence of the alleged wide spread stupidity of the majority and not specific examples of isolated stupidity.

The average IQ (by definition) is between 90 and 110. Some people above, and, of course, some below. Draw your own conclusion. (Of course, ignorance, or lack of education or training, is not the same as stupidity).

@kennethamy,

Everyone else is stupid because they do not know what I know and would not do what I would do in a given situation. In short you are stupid because you are not me.

@kennethamy,

STUPID IS AS STUPID DOES!

We are all as stupid or have just the same cause for stupidity.
Capasity and capability.

People confuse stupidity with intellect because people are always trying to not be stupid, and the only way people can think to hide from their stupidity is to expand their intellect.

Smart beats stupid. WRONG.

'If I am smarter than someone I am less stupid' WRONG.
Everyone is stupid because humans are inherently stupid beings.
More new dies than survives.
And we are new every second of every part of our lifetime.
We are almost or are anyway stupid for every one of those seconds.

But this would not be fare/fair if we did not point out 'common sense' as well. But this seems to be something also that everyone is almost or are common sensed, or old of every second of every part of our lifetime. Possibly the marker for smart is common sensed. So you definately can tbe smarter either.
But the facts dont lie, more new dies than old survives.

So I am no more stupid that the first next, just as I am no less stupid than the next last.

Now in knowing this; presuming everyone is smarter (possibly the common sensed being) than me so as to diminish my stupididty actualy works, though at the price of something, still works for me.
It is always lovely when you think find out you are smart, though just as with stupid never smarter than the next first or last.

Why do most people believe that most people are stupid?
Because they aren't willing to face their own stupidity, face themselves.
Deflection, people for some reason have a hard time accepting that they are stupid and will do anything to try and put their own burden upon someone else rather than carry their own load and just deal with it. If you just accept it, it becomes lighter indeed.

Are people more or less stupid than before?

Yes and no, really just the same.
With more or less things to prove your stupidity, with more or less stupid about or around.
dont want to be about or around so do less with their lives so as not to prove themselves what they actualy are. Now that is stupid. Cant get a break can we? Smile

NOTHING IS PROVED MORE THAN FAILURE.

Why people do less with their lives is because they are afriad of being more stupid afraid of failing.
What if i told you stupid does not have a scale? is not more is not less? Is just stupid? But not a failing? Just is.

Realising I would rather be stupid at lots of things than be stupid at just a few things is the great weight of comparative competitive intellect lifted.
Wise is a competition?
Wise is any less stupid?
Less stupid by doing more?

My stupidity does not weigh me down, i weigh my own stupidity,
and end up not being as bothered by the result because i dont find it heavy.
You might even say i put myself down so as not to be squashed.

@GoshisDead,

GoshisDead;122075 wrote:

Everyone else is stupid because they do not know what I know and would not do what I would do in a given situation. In short you are stupid because you are not me.

That may be why someone thinks someone is stupid. But the person who is thought by me to be stupid because he is not like me, probably is not stupid at all. In fact, I am stupid for thinking he is stupid because he is not like me. Since that is really a stupid reason for thinking someone else is stupid.

@kennethamy,

Oh Ken I agree that it not a very smart reason for thinkining one is stupid, but that doesn't make it any less the reason.

@Deckard,

When people say stupid they aren't usually talking about raw intelligence. Very intelligent people can be stupid.

Deckard wrote:

Why do most people believe that most people are stupid?

I imagine it's similar to the way most people think they are above average drivers. Pretty much every time you drive somewhere you'll see someone driving poorly, or making some mistake, but of course you only forget your blinker once a month. So you think "I hardly ever make mistakes, but other people do all the time. I must be an above average driver". People will judge someone to be stupid because they pronounce a word wrong, think a country is in a different place than it is, listen to a certain band, etc etc.

Most people are able to get a job, handle relationships and lead a life that's something like what they want. All the things that we would call a mensa member stupid for not being able to do.

There aren't many really smart people though.

@GoshisDead,

GoshisDead;122087 wrote:

Oh Ken I agree that it not a very smart reason for thinkining one is stupid, but that doesn't make it any less the reason.

True. People think things for all kinds of idiotic reasons. It does not make them any less idiotic, though.

@kennethamy,

Am i made stupid by others stupidity?

@Jebediah,

Jebediah;122088 wrote:

When people say stupid they aren't usually talking about raw intelligence. Very intelligent people can be stupid.

I imagine it's similar to the way most people think they are above average drivers. Pretty much every time you drive somewhere you'll see someone driving poorly, or making some mistake, but of course you only forget your blinker once a month. So you think "I hardly ever make mistakes, but other people do all the time. I must be an above average driver". People will judge someone to be stupid because they pronounce a word wrong, think a country is in a different place than it is, listen to a certain band, etc etc.

Most people are able to get a job, handle relationships and lead a life that's something like what they want. All the things that we would call a mensa member stupid for not being able to do.

There aren't many really smart people though.

People will judge someone to be stupid because they pronounce a word wrong, think a country is in a different place than it is, listen to a certain band, etc etc.

But (except for the band thing) that would be confusing ignorance with stupidity, and not making the distinction between ignorance and stupidity is fairly stupid itself. Although, it is true that it is sometimes hard to tell the difference because stupid people tend also to be ignorant.

@kennethamy,

kennethamy;122092 wrote:

People will judge someone to be stupid because they pronounce a word wrong, think a country is in a different place than it is, listen to a certain band, etc etc.

But (except for the band thing) that would be confusing ignorance with stupidity, and not making the distinction between ignorance and stupidity is fairly stupid itself. Although, it is true that it is sometimes hard to tell the difference because stupid people tend also to be ignorant.

But surely if ignorant you are without the measure, without the information, without the scope to be expected to be more or less, than stupid?
Surely to be without something means you cant be that which makes you a thing.
Surley to be without the ability means you cant be judged to be less when you dont have it to lose?

---------- Post added 01-24-2010 at 04:17 AM ----------

ignorance takes away failure?

---------- Post added 01-24-2010 at 04:19 AM ----------

ignorant people tend to be just as smart as stupid people.
ignorant people tend to be just as stupid as smart people.

@sometime sun,

Have people always been so obsessed with intelligence or the lack there of? Maybe in different places or in different times courage is the thing and cowardice the primary insult ascribed to the masses or "most people"?

Or sinner of course! That used to be the main insult thrown around.

Many of the other insults have been banned from the publicly spoken lexicon such as racial slurs or the thousands of words used to call someone a homosexual. Calling people "stupid" is still PC (so long as they aren't mentally retarded). You can say it openly at school and at the office. I think that's one reason why I hear that particular word so much. Insulting people's intelligence stands in for all those insults that can't be said anymore.

@Deckard,

Deckard;122056 wrote:

Why do most people believe that most people are stupid?

I think a lot of people include the above premise in the foundation of their belief system, their ethics, and their sense of self-worth. I'd like to take a poll but that feature is disabled. Do you think most people are stupid? I'll go against the grain and say: "No." However, I may be denial. I'm interested in hearing arguments from the other side. Does anyone have any proof? There are plenty of examples of stupidity but one example does not suggest that most people fit that example. So, if you provide evidence, please provide only evidence of the alleged wide spread stupidity of the majority and not specific examples of isolated stupidity.

I don't think that most people are stupid. I think instead that most look for a distraction, something (usually associated with 'stupid') to fill their time up when they aren't doing important things (whatever those are).

@mister kitten,

mister kitten;122111 wrote:

I don't think that most people are stupid. I think instead that most look for a distraction, something (usually associated with 'stupid') to fill their time up when they aren't doing important things (whatever those are).

Most people are lacking in true purpose. They aren't so much stupid as they are frivolous. Maybe that's the kind of nuance I am looking for. Stupid is far too general.
"To forget ones purpose is the most common form of stupidity" - Nietzsche

@Deckard,

Is unintelligent stupid?

---------- Post added 01-24-2010 at 08:16 AM ----------

Deckard;122113 wrote:

Most people are lacking in true purpose. They aren't so much stupid as they are frivolous. Maybe that's the kind of nuance I am looking for. Stupid is far too general.
"To forget ones purpose is the most common form of stupidity" - Nietzsche

How does one know what their purpose is? Is by seeking it out and failing still stupid?
Are you stupid if you quest for something not knowing what it is?
How does one remember their purpose?

@sometime sun,

sometime sun;122095 wrote:

But surely if ignorant you are without the measure, without the information, without the scope to be expected to be more or less, than stupid?
Surely to be without something means you cant be that which makes you a thing.
Surley to be without the ability means you cant be judged to be less when you dont have it to lose?

---------- Post added 01-24-2010 at 04:17 AM ----------

ignorance takes away failure?

---------- Post added 01-24-2010 at 04:19 AM ----------

ignorant people tend to be just as smart as stupid people.
ignorant people tend to be just as stupid as smart people.

Please, don't call me "Shirley".

---------- Post added 01-24-2010 at 10:04 AM ----------

Deckard;122105 wrote:

Have people always been so obsessed with intelligence or the lack there of? Maybe in different places or in different times courage is the thing and cowardice the primary insult ascribed to the masses or "most people"?

Or sinner of course! That used to be the main insult thrown around.

Many of the other insults have been banned from the publicly spoken lexicon such as racial slurs or the thousands of words used to call someone a homosexual. Calling people "stupid" is still PC (so long as they aren't mentally retarded). You can say it openly at school and at the office. I think that's one reason why I hear that particular word so much. Insulting people's intelligence stands in for all those insults that can't be said anymore.

It seems to me to be expected that on a site like this, the posters would be sensitive about intelligence (although, I think "obsessed" is an exaggeration. There are not many threads like this one). Characters on "The Jersey Shore" for instance, worry much more about other talents e.g. the way their hair looks (although "stupid" is an insult for them too). Internet forums, and especially philosophy forums are not typical of what people worry about.

---------- Post added 01-24-2010 at 10:07 AM ----------

mister kitten;122111 wrote:

I don't think that most people are stupid. I think instead that most look for a distraction, something (usually associated with 'stupid') to fill their time up when they aren't doing important things (whatever those are).

If most people have IQs or either 100-110 or less, why aren't most people stupid (or, at least, pretty dull) by the only reliable measure we have?

@kennethamy,

I would say there are plenty of unintelligent people in terms of their core intelligence. But I think a better measure of stupidity is what people end up doing with their intelligence. I know plenty of people that didn't go to college but still have a good job they enjoy and live a life they are content with and I know plenty of people who got a phd and spend every day slaving away in a job they don't like. So I would see stupid as taking action that doesn't necessarily promote your happiness, rather than just a raw measure of intelligence.

@kennethamy,

kennethamy;122139 wrote:

It seems to me to be expected that on a site like this, the posters would be sensitive about intelligence (although, I think "obsessed" is an exaggeration. There are not many threads like this one). Characters on "The Jersey Shore" for instance, worry much more about other talents e.g. the way their hair looks (although "stupid" is an insult for them too). Internet forums, and especially philosophy forums are not typical of what people worry about.

I figured someone might get hung up on the word "obsessed". It's not the best word. I'm definitely not just talking about this forum. However, I do have intelligent friends and work with intelligent people so that's likely one of the reasons I hear about how stupid most people are all the time. Blurting out how stupid most people are has to my ears at least, become rather, well, stupid.

What I am really bothered by is that the stupid are looked down on with such contempt. This is much the same as a strong person looking down on the weaker with contempt. It has the stink of bullying. I don't mind recognizing the differences that exist between different individuals but why the contempt?

@Deckard,

Deckard;122173 wrote:

I figured someone might get hung up on the word "obsessed". It's not the best word. I'm definitely not just talking about this forum. However, I do have intelligent friends and work with intelligent people so that's likely one of the reasons I hear about how stupid most people are all the time. Blurting out how stupid most people are has to my ears at least, become rather, well, stupid.

What I am really bothered by is that the stupid are looked down on with such contempt. This is much the same as a strong person looking down on the weaker with contempt. It has the stink of bullying. I don't mind recognizing the differences that exist between different individuals but why the contempt?

The term "stupid" used as an insult doesn't really have much to do with its literal meaning, and you should not take it literally. I often call politicians I don't like, "idiots" but, of course, I don't mean it literally either. Just as when I call someone I don't like, "a bastard" I am really not commenting on his parentage.

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