STUPID PEOPLE
The most dangerous individuals in a society are stupid people.
Consider this statement in the light of your own experiences.
Stupid persons are those who, by their words and actions, cause others harm or loss, but derive no personal gain or benefit from it.
It is regarded as politically rude to refer to someone as stupid. Some may even argue that it is spiritually immature to refer to someone as stupid.
Being politically correct and spiritually ignorant is unfortunately the breeding ground for evil and the root cause of both physical and emotional trauma.
Sugar-coating or explaining away the dangers that attack our moral standards, threaten our wellbeing and ultimately even our physical safety, is a fatal mistake. You may find it comforting to refer to terrorists as freedom fighters or to stupid people as non-rational – but do it at your own peril.
There is an interesting theory (presented by an Italian economist – Carlo Cipolla), that proposes five laws of stupidity.
According to this theory people can be divided into the following four broad categories:
- Intelligent people.
- Ignorant or naïve people.
- Bandits or criminals.
- Stupid people.
By their actions people are placed in one of these categories in the following ways:
- Intelligent people – they and others both benefit from their (intelligent people) actions.
- Ignorant or naïve people – others benefit from their actions, but to their own (the ignorant) detriment or loss.
- Bandits or criminals – they benefit from their own actions, but others suffer or experience loss due to their (criminals) actions.
- Stupid people – both they (stupid people) and others both suffer or experience loss due to their (stupid people) actions.
This is explained in the diagram below. Click on the image to enlarge.
Cipolla’s theory proposes five “Laws”.
Law #1: The number of stupid individuals in circulation is underestimated. In other words, there are more stupid people than you think.
Law #2: The probability that a certain person is stupid is independent of any other characteristic of that person. In other words, stupid people are present in all areas of life (from Nobel laureates to the uneducated). It is their words and actions no other factors that define them as stupid.
Law #3: A stupid person is a person who causes losses to another person or a group of persons while himself deriving no gain and even possibly incurring losses. In other words, stupid people say and do harmful things for no apparent (logical) reason.
Law #4: Most people usually underestimate the damaging power of stupid individuals. In other words, people do not appreciate the danger of the actions and words of stupid people.
Law #5: A stupid person is the most dangerous type of person. In other words, stupid people, because of their unpredictable words and actions, are a danger to our safety and sanity and also pose a threat to whatever is present in the environment where they are.
Definitions of stupid people differ and is mostly subjective, but categorising human stupidity helps us to move beyond our dangerous underestimation and the havoc these individuals can cause. Their devastating impact on society, as well as their sheer numbers are factors we should acknowledge and manage.
How do we do this on a personal level?
- We identify and avoid them.
- We speak out against their destructive behaviour – without debating it.
- We do not give them a platform for their words and actions.
- By our words and actions, we live the examples of mutual benefits to all.
The key is awareness – you need to decide who you allow in your life. Consider the theory of stupid people and how you can identify them in your interactions with others. The choices you make shape the world you live in.
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