Why are people stupid

[Shep]

No seriously, why are people stupid. I talk on the phone all day long to people all across Ohio and other states as part of my job. Half the population is fine. They can have a conversation easily and without problems. The other half has the IQ of a 4 year old and the manners of teenager. People amaze me. Anyone have similar experiences?

Sorry to rant, but people are driving me crazy.

Don't worry, everyone here is on the good side.

[billwmeyer]

I know how you feel. I used to work at the unemployment office before I got laid off several years ago. I always thought that everyone was employable, and most are, but I found a few that were just not able to compete genetically. They were healthy and not handicapped, just couldn't seem to light the light bulb.

Bill

[cabinetman]

Half the population is fine. They can have a conversation easily and without problems. The other half has the IQ of a 4 year old and the manners of teenager.

I think that ratio could be re-evaluated. Probably a percentage of the 4 yr olds are really more like 5 year olds.
.

[gsmittle]

No seriously, why are people stupid. I talk on the phone all day long to people all across Ohio and other states as part of my job. Half the population is fine. They can have a conversation easily and without problems. The other half has the IQ of a 4 year old and the manners of teenager. People amaze me. Anyone have similar experiences?

Sorry to rant, but people are driving me crazy.

Don't worry, everyone here is on the good side.

I hear ya, bro! Spending all day every day with teenagers is no picnic, either! I seem to get my share of the lower half of the bell curve…

g.

[cgallery]

I agree. I'd go even further and say half the population is stupid, and ther other half is insane.

But I'm not telling you which half I'm in.

[Woodwerker]

I used to work at the unemployment office before I got laid off several years ago.

Is that even possible? Where do you file for unemployment. Not meaning to make light of the situtation, its just something I have never though about.

[Mr__Bill]

No seriously, why are people stupid.

If I may quote my daughter, she was working in NYC a job dealing with the public at the time.
"Face it, People are stupid! Get over it."



Bill
ooooh stars, haven't seen those in a long time

[LCHIEN]

so is it hereditary or acquired (can't say they "learned" to be stupid).

[LinuxRandal]

Dealt with enough of them, that I still wonder how much of it is genetics (inherited), how much is biochemical (this could be the switching dna), how much is shear laziness (whether they were taught to think of themselves that way or not), and how much is caused by drugs/accidents (external biochemical or other external forces).

I've met them in every category and wonder why we call it "common" sense.

[sparkeyjames]

One size fits all education is also a small factor in people being stupid. Not all people learn at the same rate or in the same way. Educators who don't care and inattentive parents who take no part in their child's education are also factors. Stupid parents do not always beget stupid offspring although it is more likely. Due to the aforementioned reasons. On the other hand some people just have the stupid and there is nothing you can do about it but lock them up when the stupid overflows and they cause serious trouble. Darwin awards for the win.

[natausch]

Face it, we've made our environment too safe not to breed more and more stupid people. Barring all the lights going off or some sort of zombie apocalypse we're looking at a Eloi/Morlock situation somewhere down the road.

[phi1l]

What gets me are the ones that seem to take pride in their stupidity. They seem to act like they work hard at being stupid, and think it is a goal to be proud of. They have no intention or desire to improving themselves.

[cgallery]

What gets me are the ones that seem to take pride in their stupidity. They seem to act like they work hard at being stupid, and think it is a goal to be proud of. They have no intention or desire to improving themselves.

Agreed. Some people are very bright and just self-depricating. Others actually boast of their stupidity like it is an accomplishment.

[docrowan]

I was shocked when I first read Huckleberry Finn (at around 12 years old) and Huck's father purposefully kept him down and prevented him from learning to read because he did not want his son 'better' than him. As I grew older, I came to realize that this is not strict fiction, there are indeed some parents who think this way, and deliberately insult, denigrate, and otherwise drag their children down. I guess if their children were 'better' than them, they would have to face up to their own faults and foibles.

[germdoc]

Well, I don't want to offend anyone--I enjoy a redneck joke or a country music song as much as the next guy, but when I was growing up being called a redneck was an insult. When I left the South to live among the Yankees I was always aware of having to overcome that stereotype.

Now when I go back I feel out of place because everyone wears the redneck label with pride. My own family included--they are proud to be backward on certain issues, because it means they don't have to think.

Of course, there are dumb cheddarheads up here too, it's just too cold for people to expose their necks to the sun.

My take on it is that the world has gotten so complicated that many people have just given up and go for the lowest common denominator of learning and culture. Jokes and dumb songs are fine, but I hope the guy that designs the brake system for my car has a PhD in engineering and is proud of it.