Cipolla’s 5 Laws of Human Stupidity

Carlo Cipolla's law of stupidity states that "always and inevitably everyone underestimates the number of stupid individuals in circulation." Even though Cipolla originally wrote about the principle and its consequences for society in the form of an amusing letter to his friends, it gained wide attention. Today Cipolla's law is often used to highlight the importance of critical thinking and careful decision making in order to counteract the potential effects of endemic ignorance.
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This video was made with the support of our Patrons: Alex Rodriguez, Andrea Basillio Rava, Angela, ArkiTechy, Artur, azad bel, Badrah, Cedric.Wang, Daniele Diniz, David Markham, Delandric Webb, Digital INnov8ors, Dr. Matthias Müller-Mellin, Duane Bemister, Esther Chiang, Eva Marie Koblin, Fatenah G Issa, Floris Devreese, Frari63, Gerry Labelle, Ginger, Harmoniac Design, ICH KANN DEUTSCH UND ES WAR EINFACH!, Isabelle, Jana Heinze, Jannes Kroon, Jeffrey Cassianna, Jim Pilgrim, Joanne Doyle, John Burghardt, Jonathan Schwarz, Jorge Luis Mejia Velazquez, jun omar ebdane, Khadijah Sellers, Leonel, Linus Linderoth, Liskaya, Marcel, María, martin, Mathis Nu, Mezes.Macko, Michael Paradis, Mindozone, Natalie O’Brien, Nick Valerio, Nicki, Okan Elibol, Oweeda Newton, Paul Hopkins, Peter Bishop, Raymond Fujioka, Roel Vermeulen, Scott Gregory, scripz, Sebastian Huaytan Meder, Si, Stefan Gros, Stephen Clark, Stuart Bishop, Susan Schuster, Tetiana Gerasymova, Thomas Aschan, Tristan Scifo, Victor Paweletz, Yvonne Clapham, Zlatko Minev and all the others.Thank you! To join them visit www.patreon.com/sprouts
COLLABORATORS
Script: Jonas Koblin
Artist: Pascal Gaggelli
Voice: Matt Abbott
Coloring: Nalin
Editing: Peera Lertsukittipongsa
Production: Selina Bador
Fact-checking: Ludovico Saint Amour Di Chanaz
Sound Design: Miguel Ojeda
SOUNDTRACKS
Toys Are Alive - Studio Le Bus
Nice Toys - Studio Le Bus
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Classroom Activity
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CHAPTER
00:00 Introduction
00:44 5 Basic laws of human stupidity]
01:42 4 Factors of human behavior
02:26 The effects on society
03:32 Cipolla's point of view
04:21 What do you think?
04:49 Patrons credit
04:57 Ending
#sproutslearning #stupidity #cipolla #law

[@glenbateman5960]

"Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups." - George Carlin

[@andrewbogle3350]

Carlin also famously quipped “Think of how stupid the average person is. Then realise that half of the people are even more stupid than that.”

[@johnreidy2804]

Antifa

[@jchapman8248]

George Carlin was a social and societal prophet for our times and we need him more than ever! Sadly he's gone and the stupid people have come home to roost.

[@tylerkriesel8590]

Sounds like BLM or Antifa.

[@zacharynunley9677]

Aka: Congress

[@mathiask7959]

Never git into an argument with a stupid person They’ll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience --Mark Twain

[@rogerrynearson2500]

He may have been paraphrasing Dietrich Bonhoffer's book, an interesting read on the subject of stupidity. My Dad ingrained in us to not to hang out with stupid. He said stupid would get you in trouble hurt or killed.Remember RUN ! From stupid.

[@lucindasavona2278]

@@rogerrynearson2500 My Dad said something similar only he add: "don't waste your time arguing with stupid people". They think that their own opinions are the only ones that matter & that their opinions are the only ones in existence.

[@ShutUpWesley]

​​@@lucindasavona2278 How did you conclude, that you and your dad were not the stupid people? Perhaps you are so stupid, that you don't realize it. Indoctrination is hell of a drug/mind warper. I also bed, that the people you think are stupid, think they are the smart ones. I am stupid, so I'd like to learn how not to be stupid. So if you can tell me, what tools to use to make me less stupid, then I'd be greatfull.🖖🏻 /Think I need to add: That this is not a personal stab at you specifically. Just for Fun, and also an honest question on how do we actually conclude: Who really are the stupid ones?

[@drakoronus]

No. Get into them and embarass them. If you don't break the mindset of a stupid person, they will forever believe they are right

[@vinsplayer2634]

@@drakoronus If they truly are stupid they won't believe you. I think the difference between stupid and intelligent people is actually less in that stupid people cause harm and intelligent ones good, and more in that stupid ones won't change what they believe. Let's say for example, somebody believes the earth is flat, because they've been taught that. Then, if someone else shows them evidence that the earth is actually a globe, then a stupid person would refuse to believe. An intelligent person on the other hand would accept they've been wrong.

[@RitzCaraldo]

I think a lot of stupidity is actually caused by formed habits and social interactions. If your ideas are not challenged (especially in groups) as a child you'll never develop the habit of doubt. Doubt causes people to double check and expand their knowledge to related topics in order to make sure they are correct.

[@frankdeleon4209]

I disagree I think genuinely stupid described by Mr cipolla like abusive ppl parents companions are a reflection of how evil they really are

[@tombo9063]

Genetics are important as well but like you said, bad conditions while the brain is developing can make irreversible changes and cause stupidity

[@RitzCaraldo]

@@frankdeleon4209 I'm not sure you were the intended audience for this clip.

[@frankdeleon4209]

@@RitzCaraldo I disagree. I consider myself the perfect audience. My thirst for the truth and knowledge are very healthy

[@ryugo7713]

Doubt causes chaos and one’s own demise.

[@mangojulie123]

"Some people are born stupid, some achieve stupidity, and some have stupidity thrust upon them." William Shakespeare.

[@mlongpre100]

some are born great others have greatness thrust into them - said every rich person

[@SSingh-nr8qz]

*A great example of this in society are celebrities and athletes.* People assume they are intelligent just because they are famous or rich. While they might be smart at their skills in their career, people follow their advice on things they might actually be stupid in such as politics. The dangerous part is these stupid people can influence millions of people in a democracy and create bad laws that impacts everyone.

[@bobburnitt5761]

Bingo!!! Dead on Correct, BB

[@burnsnight1]

Bob Geldof for example.

[@williamkinnell79]

IMO People are not born stupid after all they learn to walk and talk, however during time their logical thinking paterns branch off and follow the same route as monkeys. WKK

[@bobburnitt5761]

@@williamkinnell79 Surely you are joking.

[@amrisyafari3946]

Then, the ones that follow these stupid celebs are also stupid, right? Even more dangerous. 😱🥵🤯

[@hahamorehaha6869]

Everyone does stupid things. But the smart ones learn from their mistakes and apply that knowledge to future actions.

[@TremereTT]

the smart ones learn from other peoples mistakes.

[@RichWoods23]

@@TremereTT The saying usually goes, "The clever man learns from his mistakes, but the wise man learns from the mistakes of others."

[@rhuttrho88]

​@Rich Woods You know what he is saying! No need to get technical!🤦🏿‍♂️🤷🏿‍♂️👌🏿👍🏿😉

[@lokelaufeyson9931]

true, we all make mistakes but what differs stupid people from smart people is that a stupid person will repeat the mistake and the smart person will notice the mistake and avoid it in the future.

[@lokelaufeyson9931]

@@RichWoods23 its both somewhat correct and not, people in general learn best from their own mistakes since it will hurt themself or it will come back to them directly, its harder to learn from other peoples mistakes since its no punishment for you personally if you dont learn from it... Its a basic "oh i didnt learn today but no worries, no harm no bad".. Im not saying that its the general rule but the majority of people all over the world learn better from their own mistakes, try and tell a kid to take it easy when he ride a bike and you get a zero repsonse but when that kid go down and do a street surf on the hard ground he wont go that fast anymore.. Like with bills for example, if someone else dont pay the bill they get hurt in some way but you who learn from the sideline wont experience that lesson and you will have it easier to say "i will learn it later" compared to the person who have to take out a bank loan or commit into a fight to save hes life and future.

[@marverickmercer1968]

Stupidity and Intelligence is not about IQ, it's about net good/harm done. That's the most eye-opening things I have ever witnessed when I first learn of this.

[@SotiCoto]

Not really, no. High IQ is indicative of efficient problem-solving ability, which lends itself to a greater awareness of the outcomes of one's own actions, as well as those of others. And greater awareness will tend to lead to more effective advancement of self-interests, and to a far lesser extent avoiding the problems caused by aggravating others. So IQ is a better indicator of intelligence, while net help / hindrance is more of a biproduct.

[@Random_Lurker]

@@SotiCoto High IQ is indicative of pattern recognition. There is no problem solving involved in IQ tests because IQ tests are a manmade conceit specifically designed and refined to test/search for pattern recognition. IQ is not an accurate gauge of anything beyond that pattern recognition.

[@samfeldman1508]

Not to brag but I took an IQ test and my score allowed me to join Densa.😜🤪🤷‍♂️

[@rockysandman5489]

@@samfeldman1508 ..... Was it an online test? If so, I'm not sure about its credibility.

[@samfeldman1508]

@@rockysandman5489 It was an online bit and I’m not sure of it’s funny ability?🤪😜

[@lindajonesartist]

As a person who has been studying neurological development and psychology for more than 40 years, I'm familiar with the type. I think that stupid people don't know they're stupid. Helpless people know they're helpless. Intelligent people know they're intelligent. Even Bandit people know they're selfish or inconsiderate of others, and if you ask them if they're narcissists or sociopaths, they'll happily admit that they are. But stupid people don't know they're stupid. What's worse is that you can't convince a stupid person that they're stupid, and they will go out of their way to NOT listen to intelligent people and insist on doing things their own way even with other people telling them the harm that will happen, and sometimes even to prove that no harm will happen to themselves, just because they're stupid. Stubbornness is a form of stupidity. And stupidity is not a lack of intelligence, but rather an insistence on doing things their own way, ESPECIALLY if people try to tell them to do things a different way. They don't read instruction manuals. They don't listen to the instructions that other people give them. They think they know enough to do things without those things. The more people try to hold them to following instructions, the more stubbornly they'll buckle down to resist. If it's not their idea, they reject it as though it is some sort of slight against themselves. I think that people with choleric personalities often fall into the stupidity category, and that it's more to do with unconscious influences on personality than on anything conscious. They can't control it, they can't change it, and they can't be taught to fix it. It can't be changed through psychological means. Somehow, society is going to have to come up with some other medical treatment to fix stupidity, because you can't change them through education or counseling or through negative punishments. The thing about stupidity is that it forms over time. Stupid people don't start out as stupid babies. They develop along the same stages that other babies develop. Stupidity really starts to show itself around the age of puberty when the brain begins to pare out excess pathways. And somehow, their brains pare out the wrong pathways. I don't know if it's because they have screwed up sex hormones, or because they have screwed up genes or what. But Stupid people tend to run in families, so it has to have some sort of genetic component, or it is taught through role modeling somehow, and it appeals to their particular inherited temperament. I do think that we won't make any progress at fixing the problem if we continue to label them as stupid people, because they will be offended by that label. And one last thing to note: stupid people don't always have bad luck. Stupid people aren't always impoverished failures. Sometimes stupid people can have incredibly good luck and be quite successful. One of the things that makes people so resistant to change is that they have good luck so much of the time. And they think that proves they're not stupid people. They may be completely unaware of how often other people bail them out. Or may assume that other people bailing them out is just their due right. And kind people often bale stupid people out because we all make mistakes, and it's just the nice thing to do, right? Except that it enables stupid people to continue to behave in stupid ways. The fact that stupid people aren't always total losers makes it especially hard to convince a stupid person that they're stupid. It can also make them difficult to spot, and make a lot of other people fall victim to them.

[@aprilrahee]

Is there any way of measuring whether I'm stupid or not?

[@louis-philippemaurice1607]

@@aprilrahee You should mostly focus on trying to get better instead of labelling yourself as smart or stupid. You should think about your actions and choices, try to learn from your mistakes, listen to other opinions and try to figure out if their opinions is good or if yours is better. Write your thoughts in a small notebook that can fit in your backpocket with a retractable pen. Write on your computer, phone, etc... Cipolla thinks that people are born stupid and stay stupid but I'm not sure that's actually the case. We can always do better, even the most intelligent person can do better.

[@RickMohammed-co3ur]

You sound like a very intelligent person. You somehow put all my thoughts into words. I could never give an explanation, like you, even though I can think and understand your view.

[@jefflittle8913]

@@aprilrahee I have noticed that many of the descriptions here match with a lack of curiosity. Also note that if you are familiar with System 1 and System 2 theory, the "stupid" people seem to be stuck in System 1 and they think that is normal.

[@jefflittle8913]

@@louis-philippemaurice1607 My impression is that people with an anxiety disorder tend to get pushed into system 1 thinking and therefore become more hardened in routine and avoidant of self-reflection (anxiety in terms of adrenaline, not in terms of lack of serotonin).

[@Bob-qk2zg]

This is the single most useful piece of sociology you will ever learn. Notice there is no reference to race, gender, religion, politics, or any other divisiveness.

[@DeadRepublic]

Of course not. The video is clearly designed to warn against stupidity. Not encourage it.

[@pencilpauli9442]

Seriously? It's highly flawed. For example, the comment that stupidity is caused solely by nature, followed by, "...the damaging potential of the stupid person therefore depends on amount of stupidity in a society." But if nature is the sole cause of stupidity there's nothing society can do to redress the problem, other than go around cleaning up after them. But if stupidity is turned into policy by those in power, good luck with that. Secondly, the so called five laws consisted of "Stupidity be bad" with no actual laws stated, other than "there is no benefit to anyone". This video by this definition is banditry , as it causes harm if people take it seriously and benefit to Sprouts cos he gets views, likes and financial benifit.

[@DeadRepublic]

​@@pencilpauli9442 I don't get where you think society can't do anything about natural stupidity. Obvious solution is obvious: Firstly, abandoning the delusion of equality. Next, establish a meritocratic society with a high rate of social mobility. The result: A natural hierarchy will form placing stupid people at the bottom. Problem minimized.

[@nickiemcnichols5397]

Exactly. 100%.

[@pencilpauli9442]

@@DeadRepublic Might be obvious to you, because you've totally ignored the supposed natural stupidity inherent in society. Secondly, how do you create a meritocracy? Since the people with power and able to effect change maybe stupid themselves, and therefore not act in promoting an overall net gain of "good". I fail to see how you can guarantee meritocracy if Cipolla's model is correct. Which leaves me to the biggest problem. Is Cippola correct. If this video is anything to go by, he was talking bollocks. It's not even a peer reviewed paper. What methodology and research did he base his hypothesis on? Hope it was better than his other non published idea that black pepper is an aphrodisiac, which caused a population explosion in the middle ages. Why is anyone taking Cippola seriously?

[@shaned93]

"To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason, is like administering medicine to the dead." - Thomas Paine

[@redrustyhill2]

Or like playing chess with a pigeon. It knocks over all the pieces, shits on the board, then struts away thinking it won.

[@amberturdcoloringbook1733]

Like trying to convince a trump supporter that trump is a con-man.

[@huveja9799]

Socrates expressed it better much earlier, there are only two ways to move someone, by way of force, or by way of argumentation, the second cannot be done if the person refuses to listen (to reason).. you can find it in "The Republic" ..

[@coltonwilliams4153]

@@amberturdcoloringbook1733 All politicians are either conmen or idiots. And the biggest fools are the ones who believe their nonsense and put them in office. For a single example of both Trump and Biden’s stupidity, whoever thought that Trump was serious about his little wall were willfully stupid, as just getting the surveyors to check the land and get the project started would’ve taken most, if not all of a single term. And anyone who thinks that Biden was actually going to remove the debts of countless people’s federal school loans are laughably stupid. Including Biden. I can’t decide which is the worst part about that nonsense: either him actually believing that it would go through, or people actually buying it. It was honestly more unrealistic than the stupid wall. Wait… I just realized that I horribly insulted someone. Calling politicians conmen is an unforgivable statement, and I deeply apologize to all conmen and thieves who were hurt by my words. You deserve better than to be equated with the worst, most useless, beings in existence, and I’m sorry.

[@franksmith3636]

Taylor Green

[@TheNeoVid]

My old tabletop group hit on this concept by the most roundabout and nerdiest way possible. We were speculating on the most powerful and influential thing someone could be a god of that wasn't already claimed. The answer quickly hit us: The god of stupidity. Would you have a large number of potential followers and tools? Yes. Would you have followers in positions of power? Hell yes. Would anyone be honestly able to deny how powerful you should be? Nope. Would you have ordinary people making tributes to you and your domain? Yes. "God, how could I be so stupid!?" "You're welcome!!" The one sticking point was who would willingly claim the title of god of stupidity. It would either have to be someone of such legendary idiocy that they embody the concept, or a genius manipulator who realizes how powerful the role would be.

[@michaeldelay3925]

Very good comment

[@SotiCoto]

Meanwhile a group I roleplayed with for a while had the notion of the Filth Dragon.... who was basically the god of all perversity. And while it started as an in-joke, it devolved into Clerics of the Filth Dragon being able to manipulate kinks and corrupt the innocent into the path of debauchery... and eventually the D&D equivalent of spam "Make your penis larger" emails being beamed into peoples brains... because once the idea of the Filth Dragon was incepted, nobody could stop thinking about it because everyone is at least a little bit perverted.

[@Random_Lurker]

A god doesn't have to personally manifest his portfolio. Especially if you're talking D&D style lore. The god of stupidity doesn't need to be stupid any more than the god of barbarians and war does. That said, a manipulator in the vein of a "fool" or court jester type figure who is very intelligent but acts in counter-cultural ways that ~seem~ stupid, either because he's working toward an inexplicable goal or because he's keeping up a facade, would be very fitting.

[@user-ep1wz9jl7x]

Trump

[@Random_Lurker]

@@user-ep1wz9jl7x gotta love dumb trump comments inserted in places they make no sense

[@maxxon99]

You can definitely learn a ”nothing matters” attitude, which will hugely contribute to actually doing stupid things. In these four classes of people, the stupid are the irrational actors who do things without considering the consequences.

[@JS-ce1vd]

A "Nothing matters" attitude can also be taken up my people that are driven. i.e. nothing else matters but my goal: research, discovery, wealth, artistic endeavors. Maybe that is a "nothing matters but" attitude.

[@maxxon99]

@@JS-ce1vd That's not what I meant, though sometimes the practical consequences can be similar. Someone with an extremely tight focus of interest usually causes problems through _neglect_ of other things. They rarely _actively_ do stupid things like throw rocks off a freeway bridge.

[@Twitchy_McExorcism]

The second seems like the most important lesson. It's _so_ easy to think "Oh, that guy's a doctor/congressman/any kind of "expert," they _must_ know what they're talking about," but that's not always the case. You'd think their stupidity would keep them from getting anywhere near those kinds of jobs, but all they really have to do is slip by unnoticed for long enough. Hell, with nepotism at play, too many idiots have a fast-track to positions they're not qualified for.

[@watchchimp3102]

One of the first things I learned as a professional was that being successful is not a measure of intelligence. But, it is understandable why people who are successful think that they are intelligent. And, to a certain extent thinking that you're intelligent can be a sort of gateway to learning. I often say there's a difference between intelligence and common sense. One is measurable in finite terms, the other, less so.

[@jamespardue3055]

I've seen many people pass for intelligent or get into leadership positions just from being tall, or good looking, with a sonorous voice. It's a little bit like the Jedi Mind Trick. People actually do sometimes fall for it.

[@watchchimp3102]

@@jamespardue3055 Certainly there is a bias towards attractive people. My career did much better when I was young, thin and good looking. Once I got older, married, hair started thinning, started getting a dad bod and oddly had Lasix for my eyes and stopped wearing glasses. All within a few years. I noticed a subtle change in the way people treated me and less favorable assignments that got worse as time went by. I also noticed how people who can "talk sports" do better. I've gone to meetings where people spent the whole time talking about golf, baseball, football, etc. We hired a salesperson straight out of junior college who was the child of one of our customers and was "a scratch golfer" (he didn't last long) So yes, I've seen it many times.

[@billmullins6833]

I nominate Anthony Fauci as the living embodiment of principle #2.

[@jebeda]

It is also easy to think "Oh, I've got lots of smarts and skills, I'm not one of those 'stupid' people." but not being able to recognize when your own opinion is probably not as well informed as others' is VERY hard. Or maybe I'm wrong about that....

[@paulthomson2288]

Social media certainly makes it clear to me when someone has no idea how dangerously stupid they are.

[@Dan-ud8hz]

Jordan Peterson provides himself as a great example on Twitter.

[@ericappleman5843]

@@Dan-ud8hz Are you saying that Jordan Peterson is a stupid person? That’s rich!

[@bishopp14]

"It is better to remain silent at the risk of being thought a fool, than to talk and remove all doubt of it." ~ Maurice Switzer

[@thunderspark1536]

@@ericappleman5843 In terms of the current scientific understanding of gender, yeah he's pretty stupid.

[@beingsshepherd]

That might be your bigotry talking 🤔 How to determine?

[@jeremyevans8374]

This video makes me shrink in my chair. My biggest fear is my own stupidity. I try to laugh at it, but it's that desperate quivering laughter on the verge of tears. I made the mistake of getting educated later in life which had the effect of placing the idiocy of my younger adulthood on clear and bright display. I could open a museum of human stupidity full of exhibits from my 20s through my 40s. I can even break it down into categories: macho stupidity, rock and roll stupidity, drug and alcohol stupidity, FINANCIAL STUPIDITY, philosophical stupidity, fashion stupidity, automobile stupidity, romantic and sexual stupidity, dietary stupidity, hairstyle stupidity, employment stupidity...it's a vast and wonderful rainbow. Even as I type this, I am engaging in egregious automobile stupidity...it's a special sub-genre.

[@dggm19]

Best 👌 ever. Now that you're no longer stupid you know why intelligent people are a minority. It hurts being intelligent because you realize your stupidity. It's a form of masochism

[@sar4659]

OMG! what a courageous self analysis! ... many of us can relate!❤

[@kbmblizz1940]

If ppl know they're stupid, that automatically make them not stupid. I can't deal with friends that are proven stupid by actions, it is very frustrating.

[@BuildinWings]

Truth is that people move between these 4 roles depending on the situation. If you think you don't dip your toes into stupidity, helplessness, or banditry, you're not being honest about yourself.

[@TheRewers78]

100%

[@TheRewers78]

Agree with you. I think that most people (including me) act stupid AT LEAST some of the time, (Each person at different areas) but they are mostly not aware of it. I also wander how many of the viewers allow themselves the thought, that they are probably stupid to some degree in at the very least one area of life. It's just so funny to read the comments and see that suddenly EVERYONE are the smart ones. So where are the stupid one's? They can't write or what? Isn't that an absurd? Apparently most people are stupid, but also all comments are written by wise people. You think you're smart because you are watching this channel or you've read some books or you can quote a wise thought? Most people we label as stupid are basically just like us. We all have lack of understanding in many things and can be considered fools by those who know more. This circle practically never ends. Oh and I will confess. I am also stupid. In many many ways. Slowly learning in this game of life just like everybody else.

[@JohnDoe-yi8rn]

You should be on top of the comments

[@JohnDoe-yi8rn]

Also the trick is trying to indentify stupidity and stop it on oneself and others if given the moment

[@nahuelbilliani734]

​@@TheRewers78I always consider the paradox of the test of madness to consider if someone is stupid, but with your comment i gained a new perspective. Thanks. The paradox goes: In the First World War there was a special examination for recruits, in which if the participant showed signs of insanity, they were given permission not to participate in the conflict. Many participated objecting that they had some form of madness (maybe yes maybe not) only so that, when it came time to get the results, the manager of the test gives them the argument "only someone who is not crazy would seek to participate in this exam, therefore you are not insane"

[@lordofspearton8643]

I worked at a McDonald's as a Crew Trainer for far too long in my teenage years. Within a few weeks, I had my own motto that I still rely on to this day "Never rely on the intelligence of other people".

[@MattMussett]

So true same with being a delivery driver .

[@owenb-r5271]

Reminds me of a motto I derived from when I was getting my driver's license of: "Never put yourself in a situation that relies on the competence of others". Too much stupid on the road to trust everyone when driving.

[@ThePowerflake]

“Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.” - George Carlin

[@georgedennison3338]

I have simplified your motto further: Don't rely on ANYONE, paid or not, unless they have proven themselves. (Then, still be cautious.) It took me 40-50 yrs to come to this conclusion, & in the last 20-30 yrs I am reminded, EVERYTIME I fall off the wagon, & rely on someone. 08.26.2023 Hi, my name is George, I am a believaholic. I have been clean for 7 days. I fell off the not-believing in others wagon in July, when I hired someone to sandblast a fire damaged cabinet for me. Nice shop, nice custom cars; I really believed I would get a good job done. Problem was, the guy who the shop & cars belonged to didn't do, or oversee the work, his son did it. I confronted my demons, a week ago, sent a letter & photos of the half-azz job & got ½ the money back. Appropriate, ½ price for a half-azz job. It only cost me $225. One day at a time. I will persevere to not believe in others.

[@generator6946]

I have a complete set of ‘mottos’ or as I call them The Rules of Engagement. If something is screwed up somebody somewhere wants it that way. Never do them a favor. It can be done by someone else tomorrow. If can be done right the first time it won’t be. Never do today what you can do tomorrow. You may find that it should not be done or somebody else can do it much better. If you clean up a big mess today it will be a bigger mess tomorrow. And a new one in retirement: Always have a safe place to hide and watch the disaster. A cold Beer is a big help.

[@uncommoncentz]

The difference between genius and stupidity is that the genius have limits. -Some smart dude

[@davegoldspink5354]

Absolutely brilliant video thanks for sharing. Personally I’m within the helpless group but I’ve been told largely by several psychologists I’m more a doormat helping the wrong people way to much. I believe that in our modern society we’re seeing more and more self entitled individuals with stupidity is coming more and more to the forefront. I also believe that if there is intelligent life elsewhere they’d be totally avoiding this planet as the human race has become way to stupid and dangerous to be contacted.

[@JimReynolds-dd4fn]

Too?

[@KevdragonH32]

When taking this and Bonhoeffer's Theory of Stupidity into account, my thoughts are that regardless of nature or nurture, Stupid People are ALLOWED to be Stupid, be it by their own actions, or because the people they are surrounded by are allowing their stupidity to continue and offer continuous excuses with no effort for improvement. It is possible for a Stupid Person to become what would be considered an Intelligent Person, but they have to be willing to accept when they don't know something, and have a desire to want to actively learn more and improve, and be surrounded by actual Intelligent People that can actually teach them.

[@simonebernacchia5724]

You forgot Ego is a beast of obstacle

[@elonever.2.071]

@@simonebernacchia5724 That falls under emotional intelligence. The Ego is a self preservation emotion spewing defense mechanism that kept us healthy and safe in the past but has less and less relevance as individuals and society evolves. The more someone understands that the Ego is only one aspect and option and often the least beneficial response to most situations the more emotionalyl intelligent they become. Like everything else it is a process.

[@greencertifiedweb]

Maybe stupid is just another word for lazy in some cases.

[@MrHaighahatta]

@@simonebernacchia5724 When you factor in the Dunning-Kruger effect wherein the stupid consider themselves "stable geniuses."

[@superhuman_1234]

But their stupidity is the obstacle

[@judit576]

There's an old saying in my country (explained by a parable), that states that it is better to have an intelligent enemy than a stupid friend.

[@Lanuzos]

You know that you have to dodge the intelligent enemy sniper, but can you trust your comrade behind you who isn't reliable on gun safety?

[@somechupacabrawithinternet8866]

an honest enemy is better then a lying friend

[@danieldumas7361]

Is this available on a T-Shirt???😛

[@Bob-of-Zoid]

It's a very intelligent analogy!

[@DiceWarwick]

On the idea if a person is born stupid or not, I lean to that people are not so much born stupid, but are born with a higher likelihood of falling into a stupid mindset. Stupidity, like the other three, are a mindset people can find themself in, or train themselves into. Stupidity is often reached when a person has enough information to know about what their doing, but so much self confidences that they believe their doing it right without ever checking. Some people, like the kind who don't self criticizes, will often fall into a stupid mindset. So a smart person, who is so sure their right and don't check if they are or not, can fall into a stupid mindset.

[@tiagodecastro2929]

As far as intelligence, my personal belief is that there are different types of intelligence, and each individual person will vary in the amount of each intelligence they have. For example, the ever famous "book smart vs street smart." For example, a man might be great at construction but can't learn how to manage people, whereas his brother might be a fantastic manager due to his people skills but can't swing a hammer for the life of him. Personality also plays as much a role as genetically inherited intelligence. For instance, a person might tend to not learn from his or her mistakes because of a natural inability to think, or they might have that learned stubbornness that you described in your original comment. These things can probably be changed, personality significantly more so than natural intelligence, but then you run into the problem that although people generally tend to be capable of changing, they also generally tend not to. As with everything else concerning human nature, it's a spectrum.

[@reidflemingworldstoughestm1394]

It's so nice when you can put every person into one of just a few neat boxes and tell yourself you understand humanity.

[@A._is_for]

"there'a always one more stupid person than you counted" good lesson from my father

[@nickiemcnichols5397]

Assuming that the human race is smart is stupid.

[@ameennasar2583]

Stupid people with high IQ always pose danger to non-stupids with normal IQ. Life experience

[@jjm1123]

I think he meant you should have counted yourself too

[@darksidegryphon5393]

And for me, that extra person tends to be me.

[@A._is_for]

@@darksidegryphon5393 it works even if I count all the people in a room....

[@StepBaum]

The effect is nicely portrayed by Cipolla, but the way he thought someone becomes stupid is simply wrong. There are multiple sociatial, traumatic, environmental, genetical and educational effects that take part in that. Good video

[@sprouts]

Thanks 🙏

[@Ban_Helmers]

I understood that he saw stupid people as born that way....as a person is born with red hair....one doesn't "become" stupid. It appears as though he saw it as a hereditary trait. (Of course, this was just a short video, so it would probably behoove one who wants true understanding to look into it further himself.) As you pointed out, and what Cipolla likely could see himself, there are more factors affecting stupidity than mere genetics. But, if one starts out disadvantaged in some way, he must work harder (and/or be assisted) in order to overcome the effects of those disadvantages. And weaknesses can, of course, be exacerbated by outside influences, as well. Generally speaking, I reckon old Cipolla would see it that way, too...but I have not looked into it further, so my assumption is only as good as any other assumption - meaning not worth the bits it took to write here😉😊 Have a lovely day!!!

[@bobburnitt5761]

Those things contribute but these people are BORN. I have a sister that was born stupid. My parents knew something was wrong with her as soon as she started trying to talk. Then of course the society we live in fed her more stupidity, but her natural stupidity DREW her towards the MORE stupid. She gets her knowledge of the world from Mary Tyler Moore reruns etc. She is hopeless. You try to help her, you explain something to her and by the next day she has it all scrambled in to a word salad.

[@bobburnitt5761]

@jordypoe I am not going to argue on Yuotube, but I have done nothing to her, I have HELPED her many times and so did her parents. But she was BORN with something wrong with her. My MOTHER bought her a Brand New HOUSE and GAVE it to her because my sister could not pay for one herself. Also, she married a drug dealer and my mother was afraid of HIM. It is a very long story, she is 70 years old, there is no hope for her.

[@bobburnitt5761]

@jordypoe You are trolling me, have a nice day

[@frankdeleon4209]

This is so enlightening. Not only is it accurate but its bringing to light what we already know. Like were lifting the rug to address the mound of dirt we tried to hide

[@paulipuhakka8788]

As I say, I love watching "stupid"!!! We've all been there, but, some more so than others! This is priceless 👍

[@MrSeeuu]

The “Peter Principal” I think is more accurate. It says that people are promoted to positions beyond their abilities (promotions are based on past performances in their old position, expected to be beneficial to the new position) and thus serve society or business in a failed capacity. While serving in this failed capacity, they recognize their own inadequacy and perceive others with talent as a threat to their new position. When it is necessary to recruit additional talent, the now person in power makes sure they don’t hire anyone who is more talented or smarter than themselves, thus preserving their position while denying the served organization of necessary abilities. A talentless race to the bottom. It literally is cancer for any organization over time. The professors who modeled the Peter Principal concept won a Nobel prize for their study and findings. Look it up, you will find quite interesting.

[@nickiemcnichols5397]

I agree. I’ve been fairly more successful as an assistant manager than as a department head. It’s all about aptitude and attitude.

[@TrikesterHal]

First there was the Peter Principle, then he wrote the Peter Perscription and finally the Peter Plan. All three are excellent works. For a school teacher he was wise.

[@williamkowalchik572]

Man, I've not heard that one in a long time. Also, the 6 P's. Prior planing prevents piss poor performance.

[@thepub245]

British politics certainly seem to have fallen foul of the Peter principle.

[@dennisdose5697]

@@thepub245 our current administration in the US: "hold my beer".

[@kylecooper4812]

I think one of the most important things to understand about this is that people are often smart in certain areas but stupid in others. Just because a person is very smart at getting people to like them and vote for them doesn’t mean they’re any good at leading effectively.

[@rebeccamuir3389]

Exactly. Nobody can possibly be intelligent & knowledgeable about every possible subject or situation

[@Joao-id4dn]

But an intelligent person will realize that and be aware of his abilities and limitations. Stupids are incapable of self criticism

[@noskillzdad5504]

have i got great examples of that!

[@SotiCoto]

I wouldn't use the same word to refer to two people with completely different skill-sets, as the distinction is important and deserves word distinction as well. As such, no, I wouldn't refer to simply being good at one particular thing to be any sort of "intelligence" any more than I would call them "strong" for it. Intelligence is the ability to analyse available data and derive more data from it that is internally consistent with what is already known. Getting people to like you isn't intelligence. It isn't "smart". That is a matter of charisma. It is a talent, for sure, but it is not intelligence.

[@Random_Lurker]

That's not being smart. That's being good at something. Getting people to like you doesn't make you smart, it makes you persuasive, charismatic, or skilled. A skillset is not intelligence. Even within this video, the distinction between intelligence and education was drawn. Intelligence is understanding and the ability to pick up new skillsets. To take in data and incorporate it into your life and the way you operate. To learn quickly.

[@lifeofameji]

I've always thought that by trying to do good & do the right thing even at my own loss, I was being a good person & doing the obvious thing but this just made me realise I was helpless & me loosing so that someone could gain isn't intelligence but being weak. That changes today. Thanks Cipolla because this has made alot of things make sense to me.

[@georockstar09]

I can relate to this. I think it's about maturity. I've seen a lot of my (mostly male) classmates randomly damaging school property for no reason whatsoever, just because they could, or no one told them not to. It's a behavior that hopefully diminishes with age.

[@pughoneycutt1986]

It is important to understand the difference between stupid and ignorant, stupid people are incapable of learning, but the ignorant person can be a person who is intelligent but not had the chance to learn, but can learn when they are exposed to new information

[@sprouts]

You have a point!

[@stevegilbert8486]

Will Rogers famously said "We are all ignorant, just in different subjects ".

[@markae0]

ignorant people , in general, do not want to change. Only children (innocent) who have little pride to hurt, are willing to listen and learn something different, and accept they might be wrong with their current way of thinking/behaving.

[@patrickbodine1300]

...if they want to.

[@vacyIII]

...isn't this common knowledge?

[@skyislands8887]

I worked as a Trades person in a facility where there were astrophysists, scientists, mathematical geniuses etc. Highly intelligent and consecutively extreemly stupid, often bandits towards each other, ineffectual in the real world, but effective in thir respective fields.

[@Georgia-Vic]

Educated idiots🤔

[@ftniceberg874]

Sounds like they act exactly like I refer to these "smart" people...operation paperclip Not see mad scientists.

[@SerunaXI]

Educated does not mean intelligent. Educated means you have a lot of formal study in a subject(however accurate that study may be). Intelligent means you are able to process information and determine the better values based on what information is available while extracting possible information that is not. An educated person may know that If A, then B. But they might not understand Why if A, then B.

[@Georgia-Vic]

@@SerunaXI Yes! and along with that to be educated it means: You have to have an excellent memory in order to pass those tests,to NOT be able to think critically,to NOT be creative,to be a sheeple,to be willingly indoctrinated and you are given the money in which to study at those institutes, that in these times constitutes "intelligence!"

[@Broomer52]

I’m a contractor. I’ve bared witness to astounding levels of stupidity in areas you’d assume have smart people. A moment that will haunt me forever was me walking past a man doing repairs to the wings of a Jet. He stood up and said “Good enough” I’ve seen people walk past bright yellow signs telling people to not enter that are stretched across the barrier of a door and look me in the eyes like a deer in the headlights and ask if it was closed. What idiot asks that question when you ducked under a bright yellow Closed Sign just to ask me that?!

[@justforrow]

Worst to Best: 1. Stupid (hurts both themselves and others) 2. Bandit (hurts others but helps themsleves), 3. Helpless (helps others but hurts themselves), 4. Intelligent (helps both themselves and others). Ineffectual is a special term for people who neither hurt nor help others or themselves.

[@TesserId]

A couple decades ago, there was a news item saying that the Scientific community had come to a decision on the nature vs. nurture problem. They said it's half and half. A little while later, they came again with a clarification. The said: "but when we said half and half we did not mean exactly 50/50." That just cracked me up. I had to wonder what kind of people were getting it wrong.

[@TesserId]

BTW, note that because of the way that the developing mind acquires some knowledge in a relatively permanent way, a person can acquire traits from their environment (nurture) that end up seeming to be innate (nature). I don't know why this doesn't seem to be part of the discussion.

[@charlesphillips1468]

Two thoughts occurred to me while watching this: 1) his definition of intelligent people aligns with the economics concept of super-rational actor (one who chooses that option that will bring max benefit to both parties without knowing if the other person will act super-rationally) and 2) The example of leaders and military people who are stupid reminded me of the CIA's assessment of Kim Jong-Un: "Crafty and clever, but ultimately stupid."

[@beingsshepherd]

What's their assessment of commander-in-chief Biden? 🤔

[@EliTheGleason]

Makes sense, he was an economist primarily

[@liverworm9917]

@@beingsshepherd Biden probably stole the assessment and put it next to his corvette.

[@danshive4017]

Given the sheer number of reasons a person could act stupid (by this definition), the fact that people could occupy more than one of these roles depending on context, or that a person with the potential to be stupid may well be trying to be a bandit with mixed success, or intelligent with mixed success… I’d say it’s complicated, yes.

[@studgerbil9081]

agreed. Consider trolling. Many otherwise intelligent and helpful people (irl) troll online for fun, perhaps unaware of the collective damage they can do. Most don't troll out of malice, or wish society real harm, but the result often can be harm.

[@lolexguy]

And this feel a little bit unfair to ppl with adhd since were basicly just getting dunked on by his interpretation of stupid.

[@danshive4017]

@@lolexguy Oh right. If we factor in a bunch of adhd and/or spectrum traits... Yeah, that's problematic.

[@Metal0sopher]

@@lolexguy Ever considered that adhd may be one of the symptoms/causes of stupidity?

[@dalysianepgen6102]

We really should remember there are 50 shades of Grey,,, some Cardinal, some mutable, and some fixed,,,, the seasons all flow accordingly,,,, everything we breath is a Circaduin Rhythm,,, ebb and flow,,, The Great Spirit - Creator made it all,,, fragmented, dualistic thinking causes harm, integration GIVES PEACE x

[@Kanonamos]

I think stupidity is a potential we all realise sometimes, some more than others. Guard against your own stupidity.

[@malaficus]

The difference between ignorance and stupidity. Ignorance is not knowing any better. Stupidity is knowing better but doing it anyway. Being stupid is a choice.

[@Caldoric]

Tbh, I think it's a combination of "born" and "made". Some folks are born more _susceptible_ to bouts of stupidity (be it in volume or frequency), while their immediate and semi-immediate environs provide a fluctuating number of _opportunities_ to _be_ stupid (as well as encouraging/discouraging a habit of falling into stupidity over time). It's a whole dynamic thing, and as our society continues as it currently does, folks are more readily tempted into stupidity.

[@johnphelps7519]

Tempted, hell.... more like taken by the hand and led right into it!🤣 (like the teaching of "equality of outcomes" e.g.)

[@cevgunnerF]

This explains a lot about people I have worked with. As to born vs learned stupidity, I would offer that people are born with a measure of stupidity, and either grow out of it, or, learn to embrace it - "victim" culture/ mentality as an example of learned stupidity. Learned stupidity is well suited to a dependence culture, as the stupid will look to" experts "for their wants and needs.

[@davidhoward4715]

This is a stupid comment.

[@inasez]

An extraordinarily robust source of stupidity is in the areas of empathy, emotional regulation and introspection. So many folks are so poorly developed in these areas they honestly can't see how stupid their philosophies of contempt for those they deem deficient or weak are and how that ultimately renders them powerless to improve society or even themselves.

[@beachcomber2008]

To have the propensity for intelligence is to have the propensity for stupidity. Factual truth tends to make a difference. You''ll end up *_thin, smart, and sad._*

[@TheMonstercreator1]

I think I would argue that victim culture/mentality is more of a mix of people with a learned helplessness trait or a bandit mentality. Mostly cause it can actually benefit the people doing it in their immediate social group, and the more that are converted the more certain individuals within such a group benefit.

[@inasez]

@@TheMonstercreator1 I would also argue that too many folks who insist there is such a thing as "victim culture" have rejected out of hand that some people have sincere and legitimate concerns s about the tendency of social groups/cultures/societies to refuse to interrogate the power dynamics and power imbalances occurring in that very group/culture/society. Many adopt an attitude that the status quo itself is an eternal victim, always in danger of being lost, and urgently in need of defense, regardless of whatever that status quo may be.

[@frankiewally1891]

I like your simple readable presentation of the stupidity ....and its dangers to all of us.

[@n11ck]

Damn i love this channel so much. Yes, i think what causes stupidity is much more complex. Like for many other aspects, “nature vs nurture” comes into play. There is no doubt that genetics play a big role in determining someone’s intelligence, as not all men are equal. But nature is also a huge influence. For example being born in a part of the world where there is scarce education vs being born in a highly developed country. While it cannot change your genes or braincells, education (and many other things) can help you develop a cognitive mechanism which could become very advanced and surpass someone’s who’s naturally intelligent when it comes to knowledge, logic, etc. So, to put it short, genes are highly determinant on what kind of person you are, but it’s impossible to not be influenced by external forces. Every human is different because each one is a different combination of genes and experiences, and i think it’s beautiful

[@oudr9858]

I am agree with cipolla "stupid person is a very dangerous one " you can't predict what can they do.

[@tompurcell1499]

I’d go that bit further. In Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Letters From Prison (He was a Lutheran pastor executed by the Nazis in 1945), Bonhoeffer goes on to say that rational, good people can always fight against evil people, but against the stupid, there is no defence. Indeed, I am also reminded of somebody stating that while it is very difficult to win an argument against an expert in the field, it is impossible to win an argument against someone who’s irrational. In short, stupid people (often the useful idiots for bad actors) are the most dangerous.

[@nunyabiznes4471]

Well, you can predict what they will do: the most stupid action available from all of the options. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@lesparker5605]

The only thing you can predict is that they always do something stupid and will harm at least one person or millions of they are in a position of power

[@Ming1975]

Predicting them isn't the problem, not able to deal with them is.

[@MarcoPolo-xu9te]

I think stupid people are the most creative and spontaneos people: when you think there is no way to something get worse, the stupid guy comes and finds a way. And as Cipolla says, out of interest.

[@thefedup9921]

I have always assumed that a FULL 70% of people are idiots. I have yet to be let down.

[@MattMussett]

🤣🤣🤣

[@HollyMoore-wo2mh]

I saw a guy with that on his t-shirt. (70% of the people are stupid...) He tried to walk out the wrong door. I hurt myself trying to not laugh at him.

[@Coincollector81]

Seeing how many people smoke weed, cigarettes, drink excessive amounts of alcohol and use drugs. I would go minimum of 80%.

[@thefedup9921]

@@HollyMoore-wo2mh 🤣🤣

[@momirbaborac5536]

oh the rampant optimism, try 110%

[@itachi65ful]

Its not stupidity it Emotional and Logical. The good and bad aspects of both.

[@gold4scott]

I wholeheartedly agree with this premise. Even in 1st grade WE could easily determine amongst ourselves who were smart and who were stupid. The smart kids knew who the stupid kids were, and the stupid kids knew who the smart kids were. WE ALL KNEW.

[@nordicexile7378]

Whew! It is a huge relief to learn that my ex is wrong about me: I'm not stupid, but helpless. (And she is a bandit!)

[@nehpets216]

Bandits do their best to find the helpless to harm, partially because other bandits will retaliate and intelligent will try to fix and / or leave

[@ftniceberg874]

She's your ex...You are no longer helpless unless you blind yourself to the next female treating you as a resource.

[@nordicexile7378]

@@ftniceberg874 Unfortunately if I want access to my son I still have to put up with her bullshit. 13 more years until he is an adult! 😭 (Hopefully the leash will loosen when he becomes a teenager. Until then, MGTOW is looking pretty appealing... 😂)

[@chriskourliourod1651]

In my world, bandits disappear, and the grass is seemingly greener.

[@beingsshepherd]

@@chriskourliourod1651 Until you realise society is the real bandit.

[@harmonicazhin]

Great men have always said stupidity is the main cause of suffering.

[@akiemfreeman6711]

They literally hurt themselves & blame others very very stupid.

[@renegroulx7029]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6e0qGaErqZ_h9E

[@MattMussett]

Thats relatively

[@somechupacabrawithinternet8866]

malice is number one when both are fused you get twitter

[@mikemarkowski7609]

"You can't fix stupid!" Stupidity seems to be an inherent trait inseparable from the practitioner thereof! And practice makes perfect!

[@booksteer7057]

When I was a kid, I had a friend who was so dumb I actually asked his parents if he had ever had his intelligence tested. Years later, I would think back on how damaging he was and regret how mean I could be to him. 😕

[@ninehundreddollarluxuryyac5958]

I am so old, I graduated high school in 1976. Even then, the kids talked among ourselves that "they" were dumbing down the population. They also paid us less than our parents. We all knew that our salaries would not keep up with inflation and we would be poorer and poorer, but they would do it slowly so we never hit an inflection point where we all revolt. We never thought it would get to the point where working people live in tents because rent is more than they earn at their job.

[@rickb3650]

Almost a decade younger, but I can verify this. We of the baby bust generation were the first generation sacrificed to the bandit's NWO. The stupids have grown to such an overwhelming number that I can no longer see any way out of this plethora of looming catastrophes. It has happened more quickly than we thought it would.

[@TheTrueAdept]

Because the situation is not dire enough to revolt, and it hasn't reached a critical mass either; losing would mean losing everything.

[@terrancenorris9992]

The "dumbing down" actually began in the 1920s.

[@eddiek6390]

@@terrancenorris9992 I don't really know. The 1920's we see high school replace the liberal arts and the college readiness with "practical arts" that were not very practical. However, both inflation and education are probably closer to bandits than stupidity, since the individuals in charge made choices which benefited them at the cost of society. An example of stupidity would be how many people supported Nixon because military murdered unarmed civilians at Kent State and others Not a single person was punished and the bystanders involved were doxxed and harassed. That doesn't benefit either society or the individuals.

[@rhocat362]

I graduated in 1975. My response was to remain childless

[@theoriginalchefboyoboy6025]

What I know is they are everywhere, but the most important thing is to let them get in front of you, especially while driving, so you can keep an eye on them and avoid getting hurt by them...

[@keithperdue4993]

Right, I always do this so I'm not distracted trying to keep an eye on them via my mirrors. Easier to avoid them from behind if they do something REALLY stupid.

[@HustleMuscleGhias]

@@keithperdue4993 That works for a while. Eventually they will slam on the brakes and you'll find yourself turning your car into a very expensive and large chunk of scrap metal and recyclable plastic.

[@nickiemcnichols5397]

@@keithperdue4993 that’s how I drive. I want the before me, I have more control that way. My dad used to say “drive like hell, you’ll get there”.

[@barrysherwin3297]

@@HustleMuscleGhias So it's sensible to keep well away from them ,or find another route !

[@pg77338]

i LOVED THE GRAPHICS. Great content. Describes our current culture to a T. People can be born unintelligent, but people have to be made (or make themselves) stupid.

[@KJ-ud9uf]

I find that people aren’t born stupid… but once they become stupid (which can happen early on), it’s incredibly hard to make them not stupid.

[@markae0]

Without the correct food growing up a child will become stupid from the deficiencies of nutrients. Physically, the obvious one for birth defects is spina bifida , a lack of folic acid. Try to fix that in an adult.

[@nickcrispe1321]

that's complicated to evaluate. I don't see how you tell if a small child is stupid, they need to be both physically active and able to talk in sentences before stupidity can reveal itself. It's hard to sort out nature/nurture here.

[@cameronballz6154]

The more stupid someone is, the harder it is to remove that stupidity

[@vitalyl1327]

more so, becoming stupid is a conscious personal choice in most cases. It's a consequence of a stream of bad but easy choices. So we should not be civil with the stupid - they are 100% responsible for their condition, unlike, say, some of the overweight, mentally ill, etc.

[@4uRicki]

As my dad used to say “ there ain’t no cure for stupidity .”

[@skylex157]

This is something i understood myself for a long time, no matter the group, no matter the circumstance, no matter the cause, idiots will always be among them It can be your favorite political group, your favorite music band, you group of friend or collegues, no matter what, all groups have idiots

[@janestarr4403]

I've made a lot of stupid choices in my life, but I find a way to benefit from them. Either I turn my frizz brained moments into funny "misadventures" to entertain people who might consider me threatening or I try to find why I keep repeating the things that cause me harm.

[@DeadPollo]

"do you know a stupid person?" "Well, of course i know him. He's Me"

[@KingUnKaged]

Stupidity is often contextual. Most situations in life are remarkably unintuitive without context. Someone who is brilliant in a specific field or context can come across as astonishingly stupid in areas with which they are not familiar, especially if their previous success leads them to believe that they are just naturally 'intelligent' and can succeed anywhere. You see this all the time when someone who is demonstrably great in one area, whether that's sports, music, science, etc. wades into another and surprises everyone by performing badly to the point of making everyone around them worse. (Think MJ's baseball career, Ben Carson's run for president, or the various contractors of Nobel Disease/Nobelitis)

[@ericricky808]

I think what you're describing is "ignorance". But you are right, brilliance and skills in one area of life doesn't always translate into another, which is counterintuitive if you think about it.

[@hunniebe6]

Your examples fall under Cipolla's description of the "helpless".

[@beingsshepherd]

_'Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.'_ ~ Albert Einstein

[@fordprefect859]

One of the more extreme examples would be Terry A Davis. The man built an entire, extremely lightweight, operating system in his own programming language that he made himself. This is roughly equivalent to one person designing and building the Eiffel Tower. He also had crippling schizophrenia and paranoia, to the point that he became convinced that a random number generator was the voice of god and that the US government was trying to kill him.

[@strether52]

It's like I always say: "You can't outsmart an idiot."

[@user-ru3rq4jv3f]

To paraphrase an old saying: while genius has limits stupidity knows no bounds.

[@SpaceMonkey23101]

Reminds me of: "I divide my officers into four classes as follows: The clever, the industrious, the lazy, and the stupid. Each officer always possesses two of these qualities.Those who are clever and industrious I appoint to the General Staff. Use can under certain circumstances be made of those who are stupid and lazy. The man who is clever and lazy qualifies for the highest leadership posts. He has the requisite nerves and the mental clarity for difficult decisions. But whoever is stupid and industrious must be got rid of, for he is too dangerous." - General Freiherr von Hammerstein-Equord

[@carlborneke8641]

While I believe that Stupidity is an innate trait I also believe that people can overcome it. The only exception is Narcissistic people who have no capacity to recognize and deal with their own ignorance.

[@m.f.richardson1602]

Preach Brother Peace 💕🇺🇲

[@rpgcraftsman520]

I would add sociopaths or psychopaths to that list, myself, since they have no ability to understand others' emotional states - including suffering or relief. I would also add that, much like @cevgunnerF mentions here kzbin.info/www/bejne/injVaZWDibh3atU&lc=UgyO_Phj1boEuCVlSRV4AaABAg , that Stupidity can probably be learned as much as unlearned. Granted, that takes serious indoctrination, brainwashing, or other forms of explicit lying to impressionable minds, but it's still a thing that can happen.

[@ChauntelleARussell]

Ignorance has Nothing to do with Narcissism. Narcissism is about vanity & ego. Narcissistic Personality Disorder is a cluster b personality disorder diagnosed based on patterns of characteristics & traits defined in the DSM-5. Educate before u say things u don't have any educational knowledge on.

[@JimReynolds-dd4fn]

What a perfect description of Trump. Well done!

[@GigaChad_169]

@@JimReynolds-dd4fnAre we still talking about him? You need to get a life! Not sure why people are so obsessed with the man. Maybe its some sort of repressed desire for him seeping out in the form of Internet comments 😂. You need help.

[@glitchberry327]

My god, the amount of what this video calls “stupid people” in my middle school honors class was LEGENDARY! Education status really doesn’t have much to do with it, I guess🤷

[@ChrisRedfield--]

This should be taught in school.

[@olivierdubreuil-gagnon2201]

Personally, I believe people are born with the capacity for stupid, but need to actively work against it. Which can be more difficult for some (or most) people, especially when there are many of them together.

[@noprim8]

How to avoid being stupid: Don't go stupid places at stupid times with stupid people and do stupid things! Example: Drive your already drunk buddies to another bar at 2 a.m. and get into a fight.

[@garynew9637]

Haha

[@nickiemcnichols5397]

Four guys enter a pub. They get drunk. They start a fight. Four guys go into a garage. They smoke weed and get high. They start a band.

[@Kokopilau77]

TBH, that could be a bandit doing that for their own amusement.

[@GoldPrince2468]

It’s natural but can be reduced with the right environments. I was a stupid kid (like Kindergarten brain in the 5th grade). Going into the 6th grade my other parent took custody of me and fixed me as best he could which allowed me to end the 6th grade at a 12th grade reading level. After an incident in the 7th grade I rebelled against the idea of school until 11th-12th grade where I was strong-armed into caring about it. School wasn’t going to help me either way and I recognize that I’m not the smartest but I’ve fallen into the Helpless role instead of the Stupid role. I’m probably smarter than my peers but it is their actions that affect how effective my actions are and it’s my shortcomings that make life unbearable.

[@j.j.5731]

Dunning - Kruger effect. It's a real problem.

[@kristidaemon4709]

As always, everything is more complex. There are some stupid people indeed and I find it quite crazy, that no one tries to control stupidity and how it damages the world around us. Those people should not have any power

[@jamesgough1887]

Excellent video. What I find about stupid people is their inability to see themselves, which I suppose is why they are the way they are and can't be changed very easily.

[@justinsimpleton833]

Non-stupid will avoid stupid, denying them the opportunity to become aware of opinions and information. Thus, a stupid person is actually just ignorant and with truthful information they can become effective.

[@Leslie-mw2zu]

Well put.

[@markh4926]

I've had guys attempt to move in with me. I live in a one bedroom cabin and not interested in living with stupid people. Of course they thought I'd allow them to park their camper on my property, or that my outbuilding would make a nice apartment for them. I overheard one of them call me a "Dog".

[@GWAYGWAY1]

@markh4926 Sounds like THEY thought YOU were stupid………

[@markh4926]

@@GWAYGWAY1 That's what I tell people who annoy me, "gway".

[@benjigray8690]

I think that "wisdom" and "intelligence" might be interchangeable labels, in this discussion. I look back over more than 60 years of life experience and I remember some of the "stupid" things that I've done. but I've learned not to repeat those things. So now, I think that I'm more "experienced" or "intelligent than I was 40 years ago. If we fail to learn from our mistakes, then we can truly be labelled "stupid"! After I made a fairly monumental cock up of a job, my old boss, who couldn't tolerate fools, instead of chastising me, said, "It looks like you've had quite a day here, have you learned anything? " now remember, the only people that don't make mistakes, are those that never do anything". Wise words indeed!

[@anonygent]

I don't think so. I have met some brilliant fools and some wise idiots in my time. My maternal grandmother wasn't what you would call a genius, but she was terribly wise in the ways of the world. Smart men thought she was an easy mark, but she cut right through their bullshit. As a brilliant but not wise kid, it was always an education being around her.

[@markthompson3398]

As a leader of large schools, I’d enveloped my maxim that if you can do something good for some one else you should. My deputies at first always cried but what about the precedent, my reply was we will deal with it if and when it happens, guess what it never not ever happened. The result of this was that so often in ways that I did not foresee people did really nice things for me. I never thought of myself as hugely intelligent, I have friends and family, who when discussing really complex things seem much more intelligent than me, but now it is really nice to see that I fit at least someone’s definition of intelligent. In y early sixties I stepped back from leading schools to teaching, the school I am with now I always tried to be a big net contributor, in a range of ways. In return now 67 years old the school stated they so valued me and wanted to retain me that I could work any number of days a week I chose. I chose one day a week, I get to retain the social contacts and keep my mind alive while enjoying a mostly retirement.

[@nickiemcnichols5397]

Excellent!

[@tiredbutstillkicking7596]

Kindness is a great investment. Good job.

[@beingsshepherd]

_No good deed goes unpunished._ _The road to hell is paved with good intentions._ _God helps those who help themselves._

[@ebob4177]

Certainly the truth is more complex, but this is a useful way to understand society.

[@albwilso9]

A good analysis of the topic!!!

[@JL-sm1gm]

I would further progress this ideologically and argue that there is either “good stupid” “good smart” “bad stupid” and “bad smart”. We should be able to agree that the intent of the stupid person and the bandit are bad in nature and vice versa for the good.

[@trublgrl]

This reminds me of a friend who told me of a paradigm in the military. There are two axes by which to judge a soldier, Smart vs. Stupid, and Motivated vs. Lazy. This gives us four types of soldier: The Motivated Smart one, the Lazy Smart one, the Lazy Stupid one, and the Motivated Stupid one. The most dangerous is the Motivated Stupid Soldier. The Motivated Smart one excels at tasks, makes few mistakes, and gets jobs done well. The Lazy Smart one gets nothing done, but causes little harm, because he finds ways to avoid work without doing things that will get him punished. The Lazy Stupid one, likewise, accomplishes little, but causes little harm because they don't actually do _anything._ They WOULD have made a mess if they had tried, but they never actually try. The folly of the Motivated Stupid soldier is that despite his inability to solve problems and complete tasks, he is gung-ho to put in effort, when his efforts are always counter-productive. This is the soldier who is told to clean his weapon, and so throws it in a barrel of water, or when asked to load cartridges, puts in extra gunpowder in an effort to make them "better" but only makes them "dangerous to the user." A soldier that is motivated and stupid keeps making more work for others, in repairing the messes he made while trying to do his best, and even puts his fellows in danger through bad decisions. However you measure it, stupidity does seem to be a constant.

[@beingsshepherd]

To place oneself in the vicinity of gunmen seems fundamentally pretty stupid to me. Tacitly inviting them to shoot you deliberately or otherwise.

[@trublgrl]

​@@beingsshepherd I guess you don't understand what soldiers are for. Sometimes fighting is the only other option to letting your way of life, your property, and your loved ones DIE. Violence doesn't cease to exist because you didn't show up. People do evil, they do more evil if left unchecked due to cowardice. Choosing to be responsible for the safety of others is not stupid, it's heroic. I hope no one relies on you for their safety.

[@beingsshepherd]

@@trublgrl Your reply goes way beyond this topic and in no way alludes to the imminent, unstoppable and far-reaching danger of firearms placed in nearby hands 😕

[@TheFoxchild]

Two thoughts - This is more a measure of how aware one is of how their actions/decisions affect others. Second, I don't know if it's that people are stupid, or just happened to do a stupid thing - it's easy to judge based off one thing you saw someone do, but they might normally fall into a different category.

[@nickiemcnichols5397]

Hate = stupid.

[@larrymotuz6600]

THIS IS THE BEST COMMENT ON THIS THREAD. His classifications are based on behavioral elements which he seems to take as consistent in people all of the time. I wish! Few fit three categories always, though my experience is that bandits, the 'takers', will usually try to get more than they deserve, directly or indirectly causing losses to others..

[@jameslyons6196]

Good points here, as our personalities are always varying like water changes. I caught myself in all those but truely dedicated to intelligence.

[@anul6460]

When you admit your own responsibility, remove toxic relationships from your life and try new things, you get ahead in ur life

[@scotttaxdal5297]

This explains almost every manager or supervisor in the business world. There must be a mathematical equation that companies use to explain how it's beneficial to put mental quadriplegics in charge of more intelligent and productive employees. What's truly baffling to me is how even after irrefutable proof that said manager or supervisor is causing financial loss to the company they seem to be immune to corporate discipline. Please help me figure out this equation, It is robbing me of restful sleep.

[@edwardwilliams5296]

The people who appointed them will never admit that they made an error...

[@scotttaxdal5297]

@@edwardwilliams5296 Yes, "the head office is never wrong" "because we said so"and "that's just the way it is". Makes me want to puke.

[@darthhodges]

He was half-right about stupid people. Some are naturally stupid. However the world's smartest person can, at any given moment, be stupider than the world's dumbest person, either accidentally or on purpose. Accidental stupidity can be random or be caused by outside factors like an irrational fear overcoming them or being unknowingly under the influence of something that affects decision making. I see on purpose stupidity every day at work from people who insist on using as few brains cells as possible. I've had conversations with them that assured me they were actually intelligent but they put in the minimum possible mental effort to keep their job. Anytime you willingly partake of a substance that impairs decision making you are also dumber on purpose.

[@nolesy34]

There is one time substance is ok When trying to be creative.. but as you said even the most creative inspired genius can be dumb for one second and pull a half kanye (i say half because THAT is so stupid it required all of his brain strenght to concentrate the amount of stupidity he had available)

[@who034]

It used to be that a person was born stupid. But for quite awhile now people as a group think have been encouraged to be stupid. Their stupid actions have been rewarded with pats on the back, atta boys and their ability to keep their jobs and status in society. This has encouraged more and more people to be stupid, as it is now seen as a good thing for a person to be stupid. I personally don't wish to be stupid. So in turn I am not a popular person. I am constantly encountering people wishing me to act stupidly by saying something stupid to me and hoping I will reflectively act with their stupid guidance. What is surprising is their blatant disappointment that their stupidity didn't work on me but also their persistence in keeping up with the same actions over and over again.

[@Leon-qc7fe]

I once had a person tell me this. " stop trying to learn about your problems or solve them. You will drive yourself crazy" This person went through life damaging and fighting with others all the time.

[@fabiomerlin8820]

Environmental factors can definitely enhance inherited stupidity. I happen to know some very clear examples. Great video.

[@wolfeprocter]

What are those examples?

[@tabularasa0606]

@@wolfeprocter Elon Musk. is an example. His buying of Twitter was clearly stupid. Nobody got better, not even he himself.

[@dangates5095]

I do know that stupid people often think there are simple solutions to complex problems & pursue their solutions with great certainty & aggression.

[@MagicGate814]

that's just dangerous. They're usually a danger to themselves and others around them.

[@edgarwalk5637]

Sounds like the conservative mantra to me.

[@Lampey22]

So, to him, someone can’t be evil and smart at the same time? Inaccurate

[@paulbutler3638]

"It is easier to fool someone, than to convince them that they have been fooled." - Mark Twain "It ain't what you don't know that'll hurt ya, it's what you know that ain't so." - Will Rogers

[@mlmbird]

The depiction of the stupid person fits so well with one of my coworkers that it seems almost criminal.

[@pacattack2586]

Ignorance can be solved - if someone is ignorant, you tell them and it's fixed. You can't fix stupid

[@chippysteve4524]

Right at the end you admit that this was never meant to be taken too seriously and yet you ploughed ahead with it anyway .

[@mr-fh2be]

Stupid is a way of life for many. I say this in the context that all people at one point or another do dumb things that seem right at the moment. It does not make one stupid, just doing something stupid. There are others whose whole life is sheer stupidity by their actions and choices, yet never learn from their mistakes.

[@timsummers870]

Bear in mind that people can move across those characterizations throughout their lives. It’s not that easy to label someone a “stupid” or an “intelligent” person. I guarantee you that many “bandits” are regarded as “intelligent” or even stupid by people in their social circle.

[@SotiCoto]

At least the way I'd characterise it, Bandits are intelligent and the Helpless are stupid, because ultimately the only way helping or harming others matters at all is IF one personally gains from it. But it is worth noting that antagonising people is risky business, and generally goodwill tends to pay off better in the end.... assuming those you're dealing with aren't idiots, which most people are.

[@TheHiddenPearl]

@1:23: this is actually hilarious when this clip saying: non-stupid people underestimate the damage the stupid people did! so actually stupid, too, isn't it? if you are NOT STUPID, you should know what stupid does to you and avoid them!

[@el0kadur]

Inteligence has its finest moments, but stupidity is always reaching new hights

[@shresthaditya9731]

Chipola's point of view: 0:24-Stupid people are the most dangerous and powerful in groups even more dangerous than bandits 0:45-Everyone underestimates the number of stupid people 0:56-Probability that the person is stupid is independent of factors such as education,wealth, status 1:12-A stupid person is someone who causes loses to people with himself deriving no gain 1:18-Non Stupid People Always underestimate the damaging power of stupid people and keep forgetting that dealing with stupid people is a costly mistake Intelligent people : Help Themselves and others simultaneously they cause net gains to society they , helpless people should always favour intelligent people Helpless people : Take Losses Themselves but helps others simultaneously. They contribute to society but they are taken advantage of by bandits Bandits: Help Themselves and give losses to others simultaneously they cause harm to society and in order to only benefit themselves they must be stopped by helpless and intelligent people Stupid: Give Losses to themselves and losses to others simultaneously, give losses to society for no obvious reason Stupidity is mostly genetic

[@MattMussett]

Hence walk alone and not in a group.

[@1practicaljoker]

It’s amazing how stupid people actually think they know all they need to know so they judge themselves to be smart. But intelligent people know that there is so much that they don’t know, they don’t judge themselves to be smart.

[@JackPhoenixCz]

We had a saying, though it's been out of use for a while: "An active moron is worse than a squad of trained saboteurs."