Question:

Elionwyr · 06-24-2003, 02:46 PM

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.

wolf · 06-24-2003, 03:08 PM

Well, Ellie ....

It all comes down to this.

There are TWO universals. Hydrogen and Stupidity.

hot_pastrami · 06-24-2003, 03:26 PM

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.

vsp · 06-24-2003, 03:42 PM

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?)

xoxoxoBruce · 06-24-2003, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Why are people stupid?

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.

Undertoad · 06-24-2003, 06:35 PM

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

What museum is it El?

elSicomoro · 06-24-2003, 07:22 PM

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.

Dr. Zaius · 06-24-2003, 11:09 PM

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.

SteveDallas · 06-25-2003, 09:01 AM

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.

Elionwyr · 06-25-2003, 09:08 AM

Quote:

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

What museum is it El?

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>?)

Elionwyr · 06-25-2003, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by xoxoxoBruce
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.

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

Elionwyr · 06-25-2003, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by vsp
...To take it a step further and generalize... compare the amount of energy involved in the following activities...

..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.

warch · 06-25-2003, 11:21 AM

Quote:

"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."

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...

elSicomoro · 06-25-2003, 11:43 AM

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.

Elionwyr · 06-25-2003, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sycamore
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..?

06-24-2003, 02:46 PM	#1
Elionwyr Coronation Incarnate Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 89	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.

06-24-2003, 03:08 PM	#2
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	Well, Ellie .... It all comes down to this. There are TWO universals. Hydrogen and Stupidity. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

06-24-2003, 03:42 PM	#4
vsp Syndrome of a Down Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: West Chester Posts: 1,367	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?) Last edited by vsp; 06-24-2003 at 03:56 PM.

06-24-2003, 03:26 PM	#3
hot_pastrami I am meaty Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 1,119	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. __________________ Hot Pastrami!

06-24-2003, 06:35 PM	#6
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	I'm gonna guess that certain people turn on their loud stupid in museums. What museum is it El?

06-24-2003, 07:22 PM	#7
elSicomoro Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 12,486	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.

06-24-2003, 11:09 PM	#8
Dr. Zaius Superior Inhabitant Join Date: May 2003 Location: Ape City Posts: 73	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.

06-25-2003, 09:01 AM	#9
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	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.

06-25-2003, 11:43 AM	#14
elSicomoro Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 12,486	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.

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