Question:
 

Why are people stupid?


I work in a museum.
And all I see is more and more evidence that Joe Public has the IQ of a rock.

Well, Ellie ....

It all comes down to this.

There are TWO universals. Hydrogen and Stupidity.

Well, there are two reasons why one might think that a large percentage of the population is stupid:

1) Stupidity is more easily observable than intelligence, particularly by the casual observer.

2) Most people are stupid.

I hope that helps.

It's never the wrong time for a George Carlin quote:

"Think about how stupid the average person is. Then realize that, by definition, half the people are stupider than that!"

To take it a step further and generalize... compare the amount of energy involved in the following activities:

1) Actively seeking out the truth, and attempting to verify it through multiple sources

2) Actively questioning the truth of what you see, hear or read

3) Believing the majority of what you're told is the truth, on face-value

4) Not even bothering to watch the news, read the papers, surf the web, ask other people, or otherwise generally find out what's going on

How many people get up to #3 on many topics, let alone beyond that, unless they have a personal stake in the issues being discussed?

(Of course, I just reflected on the fact that it would help to define "stupid." Is it an inability to comprehend? A lack of education or worldliness? Ignorance, willful or otherwise? Lack of forethought in word or deed? Gullibility?)

Hey , I represent that! Maybe you have a superiority complex.
Don't forget that guy wiping snot on his sleeve (or yours) may be able to take apart and reasemble a precision machine of 1000 parts.
Or the woman pushing a baby stroller out in front while she checks for traffic may have a Phd in art history.
And maybe, just maybe, I don't have a clue. :D

I'm gonna guess that certain people turn on their loud stupid in museums.

What museum is it El?

I'm going to guess either the Art Museum or the Franklin House.

I hate dealing with the tourists over at Independence Mall. But fortunately, that's only for another 2 1/2 months.

Is the public any stupidier than they were say 10...20...30 years ago?
I think it's just part of the human condition. Some people just don't take interest in anything that doesn't either help advance their careers or get them through the day.

Hmm. Good question. One important skill for developing any kind of skill or knowledge is to be extremely self-critical about what you can and cannot do (or know). I got a double dose of this in my college days in terms of music lessons, and in my writing. But many people never develop this... ask anybody who frequents amateur music or theater groups, and they'll tell you about folks who are rotten performers but they think they're fabulous because they never developed the ability to look at what's wrong with what they're doing--and if you can't see what's wrong you can't fix it. I think a lot of "stupidity" results from people who don't consider that a) they may not know everything they need to know or b) there may be a better way to do something.

Academy of Natural Sciences. I generally work in either the Live Animal Center or the butterfly exhibit.

Most common things we get to say:
"Please do not bang on the glass."

"Please do not touch, grab, catch, chase, or kick the butterflies."

"Yes it's hot in here. Please keep your clothes on anyway."

"This is a museum. We ask that you not run screaming through the exhibits."

"No, butterflies can't hurt you."

Things I want to say:
"Yes, ma'am, you're right. That powder on their wings DOES make them able to fly. Just like pixie dust. Isn't that cool?"

"Yes, Billy, if you touch a butterfly, you'll kill it. Because you have the Hand of Death. So do me a favour and don't touch me either, ok?"

"Please don't eat that fruit. It's food for the butterflies; it's been sitting out for a few days; and it's covered in fruitfly maggots. Have a nice day."

"Why, yes, that WAS a cockroach. Why do you ask?"

"Yes, they're highly poisonous. Lethal, in fact. You may want to take your children and walk-not-run to the exit, thankyouverymuch."

...Of course, I may just need a vacation.
(Ya <i>think</i>?)

Heh - I spend too much time with PHD-candidates to feel superior all that often. ;)

..great breakdown..

Quote:

(Of course, I just reflected on the fact that it would help to define "stupid." Is it an inability to comprehend? A lack of education or worldliness? Ignorance, willful or otherwise? Lack of forethought in word or deed? Gullibility?)

Hmmm.
I confess to being more focused on ignorance.

How about "Excuse me, screaming little girl, would you care for a snack? That's it, eat up...here have some more."

Museums as a collective type are wierd places because expected behavior in them differs. So not knowing how to act, or what is expected is kind of understandable, but still annoying. Is this the history museum with the costumed interpreters that ask me to play along? Is this the science museum where I'm supposed to exlore and touch everything? or the childrens museum where I roll around? or the art museum with the hard marble and heavily armed guards?, or the natural history museum with the low lighting all the stuffed critters frozen in diaramas?...I love those diaramas...:)

I almost got thrown out of the Philadelphia Art Museum last summer...not like I was doing anything really bad, but I think I made the guard nervous.

Oh *really*? And how, pray tell, did you do that..?

By being an ugly retard.

..Would you believe some visitors have indeed let their kids partake of the squirmy fruity goodness? :vomit:

Quote:

Museums as a collective type are wierd places because expected behavior in them differs... (snippage) ... or the natural history museum with the low lighting all the stuffed critters frozen in diaramas?...I love those diaramas...:)

Ok. The expected behavior thing makes sense.
..Though I still fail to see how any parent could think it's ok to let Billy play pony on the dino mounts..

re: dioramas
Enjoy 'em while they last... :/

just kinda bad? come on whadja do? Tell us! Set the scene... Did it have anything to do with a Rocky imitation on the front steps? Were you checking the echo in the atrium? Or just general shiftiness near the breakables?

Most of the Phd canidates I've met, make me feel very superior. You know, calculate the density of Saturn's rings but wearing one shoe and one sneaker.:D

Ahhh...live critters. Well then, yes! 99% of the population are complete morons in regard to live critters and how to interact with/around them. Like the woman in Yellowstone, the Ranger caught smearing honey on her kids face so she could take a picture of bear licking her kid. Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrh.:mad:

Now there is someone who sounds like they should be up for the Darwin Award. :)

Be thankful! Most common things you DON'T HAVE to say daily:

paper or plastic?

ya want fries with that?

need any oil?

have you applied for your new XXX Visa today?

please keep your hands and feet inside the ride until the car comes to a full and complete stop.

will you hand me a rubber glove?

and..........


"Ma'am? Did you just pull this wad of wet dollar bills you gave me out of your bra?"

umm... did she get the pic?

No, they escorted her out of the park.:shotgun:

I pulled up to the toll booth on the Jersey pike and the guy in the van in front sticks his hand out to pay the toll. The woman in the booth is shaking her head no, repeatedly. Finally he pulls his hand in and after a minute or two sticks it back out with a bill, which she takes and gives him change. When I pulled up to the booth, I asked her if he was trying to pay with pennies. She said no, it was silver, that he spit into his hand right in front of her. :vomit:

Rho and I went to the Art Museum with her parents last summer. And I was in the impressionists gallery...I am completely fascinated by impressionist work. So, I'm standing very close to this Monet, noticing the fine pointillism work. Yet, I'm not actually breathing on it...I have my head tilted. All of a sudden, this angry looking security guard comes over, and says, "Sir, you're going to have to step back! Please do NOT touch the paintings." Then the guy kept his eye on me for the next 2 rooms.

To be honest, I don't know if I was *that* close to being thrown out or not. But given the worth of the art in that place, I figure I was fairly close. :)

I would have told him to lick my dick.

I say both of these.

Often.

Also "Please hand me the cup of urine."

Classic from last week:

wolf: Jim, why is your money wet?

Jim: Because I pissed myself.

I spent the next 20 minutes spraying his money with an industrial disinfectant (he had around $300 ... if it was under $20 I would have just told him to hang onto it so I didn't have to deal).

That's right, boys and girls, one of my "other related duties" is money laundering.

The classic. I myself have set off alarms (just looking closely, honest!) in the Minneapolis Institute of Arts -theyve got this Rembrandt that is so amazing- youre sucked right in. I set it off twice in one visit, drawing the guard stink eye. I've also seen guard totally tail people, dog them right out the door.

But I feel for the guards cause I was one once. And I know they gotta watch it, (Just not be such an asshole about it) Yes there are the previously mentioned stupids- Ive seen adults literally rub their hands down the surface of a painting, scratch at the paint with a fingernail, assist their kids as they mount a display case to grab on to some sculpture, breaking part of it off (was that wrong? should I have not done that?). And unfortunately,there are thieves and vandals trying to do damage- pens or other pointy things being the weapon of choice for whatever political or private gripe. Maybe theyre pissed at the guards.

I think this is changing a bit, but guards are the public face of most art museums. They are the only people visitors meet and interact with- and that can make or break the experience.

The good news is that urine is typically sterile. Gross, but not germ-laden. Money, on the other hand, is typically full of germs. Urine-soaked money probably needs less disinfectant than regular money!

1. You don't know Jim. He's icky.

2. I'm still not gonna touch it.

I've heard of looking for the silver lining, but.... damn.

I wonder if you would draw less ire, using a magnifying glass?

He he... Of course I spent a couple hours of my vacation allowing my unit to freak out the guards at the Getty. freaking awesome btw

FAMILY Unit that is!:o

The Getty or your "unit"?:eek:

Elionwyr, can you help with Billy's question on butterflies?