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Stupidity

onepercentrule.substack.com

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Re: Stupidity

#11

Post by smgit »

Quothling wrote: post #5

I spent 7 years in the public sector in Denmark and one of the things I experienced there was that people who question the stupidity of MBA type systems are very valuable. We have a lot of good intentions which get ground into these spreadsheet analytics and checklists which can inhibit smart solutions in our social policies and systems. I think this article touches on this sort of "systemic stupidity" that is rarely…

Its more like a dance that goes back and forth over time. Rules get proposed to solve one problem and create another down the road.

That's the nature of dealing with complex ever changing systems. There is no free lunch unfortunately. Unless AI comes up with something that our own cognitive limitations individually or as a group block out.

Re: Stupidity

#12

Post by drcwpl »

openrisk wrote: post #7

People can pretend to be stupid if it suits them. People can seem to be stupid if their reasons for action are not known. People can't help but be stupid if deprived of factual information or if presented with false or confusing information. Finally, all people are not trained to avail of the mental tools that civilization has honed over millennia to fight stupidity. In the end "stupidity" is a social phenomenon, dee…

Very well said - "all people are not trained to avail of the mental tools that civilization has honed over millennia to fight stupidity."

Re: Stupidity

#13

Post by drcwpl »

ena0autos wrote: post #9

No example given about what stupidity is. Then how can you tell the diff stupidity vs intelligence since there is not a point refence my friend? Should i take your word for it? "According to Cipolla’s "Basic Laws of Human Stupidity," a stupid person is one whose actions result in negative consequences for both themselves and those around them, irrespective of intent" Whould strongly argue against this.

Fair comment -- As I say at the start of the essay - it is not easy to define or measure stupidity and sought to show how researchers have attempted to define stupidity in different domains - hence my definition. I can certainly provide many examples from my own life of stupid choices that have impacted others and me!

Re: Stupidity

#14

Post by drcwpl »

Quothling wrote: post #5

I spent 7 years in the public sector in Denmark and one of the things I experienced there was that people who question the stupidity of MBA type systems are very valuable. We have a lot of good intentions which get ground into these spreadsheet analytics and checklists which can inhibit smart solutions in our social policies and systems. I think this article touches on this sort of "systemic stupidity" that is rarely…

Exactly, "collective stupidity" is a good way to define the institutional stupidity... I will write more about the functional stupidity in organizations - thank you for the example.

Re: Stupidity

#15

Post by drcwpl »

android521 wrote: post #2

in the real world, this word is mostly used to attack others who disagree with you. "He is so stupid" can usually be interpreted as "he disagrees with me/he can't see things my way". It is true especially in politics 99% of the time. Eg, just google how many times Elon musk is called stupid by people who disagree with him. Trust me, Elon is not stupid.

Agree. As I write it can be 'derogatory' which is why I sought to explain institutional stupidity rather than focus on purely individual stupidity... trying to avoid the judgment and show what the literature says (and does not say) about stupidity

Re: Stupidity

#19

Post by SebFender »

I've played intelligent stupidness for decades - especially when it comes to ridiculous rules and regulations... stupidity at the right moment is a very strong tool - more than one can imagine.

On this note - I'm mostly interested in validation deficit that has strong prevalence in recent years - now that would be a great article.

Re: Stupidity

#20

Post by Gupie »

android521 wrote: post #2

in the real world, this word is mostly used to attack others who disagree with you. "He is so stupid" can usually be interpreted as "he disagrees with me/he can't see things my way". It is true especially in politics 99% of the time. Eg, just google how many times Elon musk is called stupid by people who disagree with him. Trust me, Elon is not stupid.

No doubt he is intelligent but intelligent people can still behave stupidly, a "wise fool" to quote Gandalf.
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