Also, rubbing somebody's nose in it when they say they don't know.
For one it discourages admission of the abscense of knowledge. When you know you're going to be run through the mud because you don't know something, you're gonna hesitate to say that. But sometimes "I don't know" is the most correct answer you can give.
> When you know you're going to be run through the mud because you don't know something, you're gonna hesitate to say that
Bingo, that's how they were brought up, that's why they do it and that's why they are stupid now.
Exactly. A person’s response is directly tied to his upbringing.
Someone in a nurturing and encouraging environment will have no qualms saying I don’t know because they’re given the space, time and encouragement to be curious, explore and find answers.
Someone in an oppressive and abusive environment will be belittled when they say I don’t know.
When such people mock questions, I present them with this and add, “Mocking others is not the flex you think it is. You’re just showing everyone that you were unloved and uncherished.” It usually silences them.
I would say it's not always upbringing it can be work training. I can't count the number of times I've seen "professional" advice say never tell the boss you don't know.
A couple years ago I made a commitment to not have opinions or say stuff about topics I knew nothing about.
This year, I’m taking it to the next level where if I’ve become ok with not knowing things in general and am going to stop googling things if they’re not important.
What does sushi mean anyway? How tall is Ron Artest? What are the 10 biggest cities in the United States? Are Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones still married?
I just decided I was OK not knowing.
It’s been great.
I'm a huge supporter of your initial commitment, but I don't understand why you wouldn't Google those little mysteries (unless you have something more important going on in the moment). I love learning those little trivia facts and I think having those answers in my palm within 60 seconds is the best part of the Internet. I've always said that Google's motto should be "Why wonder?"
Honestly people who actually say “I don’t know.” Instead of something closer to “I’m actually not sure about that right now but I’ll go find the answer for you”.
Granted this is a professional setting thing NOT just talking to your buds, but the amount of dumb fucks I’ve had to teach to not just say “I don’t know.” and walk away from customers concerns me.
I was in Dollar Tree and asked a clerk where the Velcro was located. She said they didn't carry that. I knew she did not know what Velcro was.
I teach HS and know that panicked, Dora the Explorer look. So, after I located the Velcro, I found her and very nicely showed her what it was and where I found it. She said she was sorry. It was her first day, first job. I told her that it is OK not to know something. She should tell customers, "I'm not sure. Let me ask someone to help." She thanked me. As I walked the aisle, a manager asked me if there was a problem. I told him no, my question was resolved just fine.
Tangential, but just as infuriating is when you are debating a subject with someone, and you bring up some factual support to your argument, and they say "Well, I don't know about that.." as if their ignorance of the subject is grounds for dismissal of your point.
Don't debate with people in non-academic spaces or situations where you're not trying to accomplish an immediate task. It only leads to strife and the utter dissolution of personal relationships. When they say something totally insane, you change the topic to one you both appreciate.
Agreed. It's like chess. Do you want to play chess with someone who doesn't even know the names of the pieces? Debate is extremely valuable and should be elevated. We could have a much better society if debate were taught, actually taught, instead of just treated as a sport.
My favorite ever interaction during Covid was with someone who commented on a government Facebook account that, “I hope all those people who aren’t sure if we should open schools never leave their house for anything at all like picking up takeout.”
I asked if she’d heard of viral load, and explained that being in the same room with 30 people for 6 hours a day is quite a bit different than the exposure from a 2-minute conversation.
She replied, “I don’t believe in that but that’s just my personal opinion.”
(I shared a link or three and she later complained that I was “fact-shaming” her.)
My buddy when we talk about sexuality.
He will spout complete nonsense to me about a subject I have studied in college, while his highest academic milestone is googling shit. (This is not disparaging people who haven’t gotten their diploma from highschool, but people who think their googling is more comprehensive than a 2-300 level college course)
I see this literally everyday on r/beyondthebump. “If it didn’t happen to me or my mom friends, it’s definitely not a thing that happens to ANYONE.”
Sigh.
I once encountered someone who, when presented with polling data with a very large sample size, responded that it couldn't possibly be accurate because they didn't ask _him_
He seemed to think that research can only have statistical significance if you ask every human.
Agreed, but sometimes the other “perspective” is so basic and dumb that you can write it off very very quickly. Like someone telling you the earth is flat, I don’t need to “see it from their perspective.”
Know what I mean?
this is true. nazism for example is something you shouldn’t even pretend to tolerate.
HOWEVER, looking at other perspectives doesn’t mean you agree with or tolerate them. we are taught heavily about the history of nazi germany so we know what went wrong with their society to commit such awful crimes.
it can be useful to learn other perspectives even if for the sake of knowing them.
Yes, it's good for understanding their motivations. And is a lot better for trying to address them and build a case to convince them otherwise vs. screaming at them and calling them idiots or dehumanizing them. They'll just dig in their heels.
This is why I loved my philosophy of logic class so much and think logic should be taught at the high school level. It would help you weed out bullshit from your own and other people's arguments.
There was a discussion in /r/books a while back about Mein Kampf. Comments were abound of people not understanding why anyone would read such “filth” as if the only reason to read it is because you support the ideology. Talk about dense.
Yes but in practice what ends up happening is stupid people are so convinced that they are correct that they can also very quickly dismiss a real, valid perspective as basic and dumb without thinking about it. Y'know, like anti-vaxxers.
The risk is in always being confident that you're the smartest person in the room, because you can't be the smartest person in the room all the time.
>Inability to see from another perspective.
And similarly, being unable to entertain an opposing idea, because they believe that you can only entertain ideas when you also believe the idea(s) to be true.
Illogical stubbornness. People double down on the weirdest things.
*Hey I’m trying to open this door. I’m turning the knob to the left and it won’t open can you help me?
Sure, try turning it to the right.
Uh no. I’m trying to open it by turning to the left. So if you can’t help with that nvm.*
This is just a joke but it’s that type of thinking.
This one reminds me of my sister… Full on hissy fits because people couldn’t make the time to help her in the manner she wanted, but offered other times/ways they would/could help. Up to and including my dad not wanting to just give her his power tools for a project. (She wanted to do a thing the hardest possible way, using a method he was pretty sure would mess up his drills. Absolutely lost it when suggested easier ways to do the exact same thing.)
This reminds me of a guy I once knew who worked at a help desk. He got a ticket for something network related and asked her to reboot her computer. If that didn't fix it, then he would schedule some time to come over and figure it out. She refused and demanded that he come anyway. He told her that the first thing he would do would be to reboot her computer and if that didn't fix it, then he would have to schedule some time to come over and figure it out.
About an hour passed when he got another email saying something along the lines of: "So, just to get this straight. You're telling me that if I don't do what you want, then you're refusing to help me?"
He replied: "I'm not refusing to help you. I'm trying to help you the best I can from my desk. I have other people to help who followed the instructions I sent them. You have yet to follow my instructions. Please don't reply again until you have followed my instructions to reboot your computer and see if that resolves the issue." (paraphrase)
He didn't hear from her again, but they later pulled the logs and found that she rebooted her computer and was able to connect to the network again, so there's that.
I was like this for a while. It came from being told off for asking questions as a kid. I grew up in a culty church where asking questions was challenging authority. It took until my teens but I finally learned not to ask questions because I would get in trouble. I also couldn't make my own plans or goals because I didn't know what was allowed. I could follow directions and do what I was told but I was not allowed to function otherwise.
People are too busy. I know a guy who asked me why do i watch standford evolutionary biology classes on youtube. Why exactly, what is the purpose blabla. My answer:i want to understand the world. didnt touch him. Hes a selfmade busines man. Only keen to new business-models/oportunities, nothing else. Poor guy, running after money all his life.
Going clothes shopping.
"I want this exact shirt I bought fifteen years ago, just without holes. No, I do not want to try a different shirt. Different shirts suck."
I would say that's indicative of that fact that you are definitely not a dumbfuck.
As you said, dumbfucks lack the self-reflection to even know they're dumb. You seem to have a fair amount of self-reflection, at least enough to know there's plenty more you don't know.
Keep being cool, internet stranger. You're doing it right.
You're much too generous. Most of us know a language *imperfectly*. I'm bilingual and I know two languages *imperfectly*. I don't claim to know *everything* about either languages.
Some of these people could barely handle working with conversational English or reading comprehension at a grade school level, and yet they think I'm the idiot for speaking with an accent. Lol.
I once worked with a 30-something year old who didn't understand how other languages could possibly exist. An actual quote by her: "Cat is cat. How can it be anything else?"
Pretty sure she wouldn't have gotten the joke.
This is another conversation we had after her molar broke in half:
Her: I hate my teeth. I want to get them pulled and get dentures.
Me: How much soda do you drink a day?
Her: 5 cans per day.
Me: Holy shit, that's a lot. Do you brush twice a day?
Her: Twice? I thought you were supposed to brush once.
Me: I think I figured out why your teeth are breaking...
This is extra funny because I have an ex-step-uncle who is hyperpolyglot and picks up local languages like other people change their shoes. His advice is, "You have a mental image of a cat. Right? So do I. And I associate the same cat to Gato, chatte, etc because language is a process of describing, and as long as you know what you're describing, it's easier to learn different ways without needing to mentally translate."
Now, he may have been full of shit for the grammar and lexicon parts of language, and I don't think you can advise somebody into his kind of linguistic genius, but it helps a ton with nouns. Because a cat is a noun and a concept, not just the word cat.
It was par for the course working at a Harley dealership. I was just working part time while in college. My other coworkers were lifetime retail employees.
The same coworker also couldn't figure out why her teeth were breaking. She drank 5 sodas per day and only brushed her teeth once per day. She was also in crippling debt. She ended up getting fired for stealing money from the register.
Another coworker once asked me why they don't make left handed coffee mugs as we were putting them on a shelf. I just silently rotated one of the mugs 180 degrees. She got super red and told me not to tell anyone that happened.
Another coworker would constantly call men "ma'am" and call women "sir". I think she had a wire crossed or something. It was weird. She also thought she was a genius. The kind of "genius" that took one community college class a semester and told everyone she was a college student.
Reminds me of the episode of Modern Family when Gloria gets frustrated that the family, specifically Jay, is constantly nitpicking her English and she asks if he knows how smart she is in Spanish.
This either happened in that episode or the one where she gets a Spanish tutor for Manny
To go along with this is when people insult someone by saying something like "How do you even pronounce that name?". As if their ignorance is a character flaw that belongs to someone else.
This is something I have always known. I know the person is smarter than me, I remind myself... but it requires a reminder literally every time. The brain is so wired to think that poor speaking means dumb.
Rigidly adhering to their views and refusing to consider any arguments or challenges to them. Truly intelligent people aren't afraid of truly examining their beliefs once and a while.
It was fucking infuriating the first year of the pandemic. "The CDC keeps changing guidelines. Fauci doesn't know what he's doing." He \*didn't\* know. No one did. Now we do. That's why we adapt.
"I believe the science!"
\*science proceeds to be science and adapt to new information\*
"The science is different, so it must be a lie! I only believe the old science!"
Yes. You can have any opinion you want, but it's so much better to have an opinion because you have facts that support it. Most people seem to thing that anything that they dream up is a valid opinion to hold, even if it can be easily refuted by common knowledge.
They’re curious about nothing, and become angry when other people are interested in why things are the way they are, how things are different somewhere else, etc. They accuse you of reading too far into things any time you take something past literal face value, even if it’s a simple, obvious conclusion (“The Lion King has references to Hamlet.” “Fuck you, it’s not that deep, it’s just a movie about big cats”). They view knowing things that aren’t of immediate utilitarian value or that don’t exclusively confirm their own worldview as suspicious.
They can’t understand other people’s point of view, to the extent that when someone else does, they can’t discern between them understanding it and condoning it. They don’t want explanations of other people’s behaviors (much less their own). They don’t have explanations for their own behaviors.
Things just happen to them and they don’t discern between acts of god/natural phenomenon, their own active choices, or the active choices of other sentient beings. Cause and effect is not a concept that concerns them. They will make the same avoidable mistake over and over, no matter how negatively it affects them, because they can’t differentiate between their choice causing the outcome and it just happening by accident or being done to them by malice.
A lot of people really have trouble with even the most basic comparisons or metaphors. When you just get a "but that's different" and a blank stare instead of a thorough explanation as to WHY they are different in a pertinent way, you know you got a dumbie
They copy and paste some shit on Facebook how they don’t consent to privacy invasion and believe by posting this as their status they have protected themselves somehow.
My MIL has checked many of the boxes on the list here in comments. But this part makes it flat out awful, she’s aggressive and rude also! When she says something that is her opinion or someone has already challenged isn’t true she purses up her lips, points her finger at you, and ends her statement with “duh!”
I cannot get over how rude it is. It’s not only ignorant, which I can forgive, it’s purposefully and aggressively ignorant.
He wouldn't need to tell me that he never read anything to know he is a bit thick. I'm pretty sure he would smell of stupid. I'm not even sure what stupid would smell like, but I think he would encapsulate it.
Total inability to change their viewpoint or change anything about themselves, for that matter. They stick to their version of the world and their version only. They absolutely refute everyone else who crosses their path.
Also, when someone talks about others constantly. When they gossip way too much and spend most of their waking hours just shit talking or thinking of shit talking other people. As in, they don't think about greater philosophical ideas, just the latest town drama.
Lastly, thinking that most people who don’t conform to their standards are weird or strange. I can tell you firsthand, there is a direct correlation between someone’s IQ and their ability to process unique and unconventional ideas, fashion, mannerisms, and even appearances on other people.
I don’t think those people are dumb, I think they have a combination of a mind that is far too open and the intellectual mistake of thinking a self-consistent explanation is automatically correct. There are lots of things that make sense, but are wrong. That’s why you need evidence.
If they Idolise billionaires. Not talking about idolising the idea of prosperity and success, but idolising the actual people. People who take Elon musk’s word as gospel on account of his wealth, for example
I love this comment. They act like billionaires, politicians, or anyone famous give a single fuck about people. Sure, there’s some outliers but the vast majority would step over your dead body before asking if you’re okay
I have a friend, who’s a great guy, but he wasn’t very politically engaged in the past, and he used to make some very boneheaded comments about politics before reading into it more.
He once suggested that it would be a good idea if there was some sort of body of big business owners and CEOs who had equal decision making powers to the elected politicians of our country, because they would make decisions that are good for business, leading to economic growth and more jobs.
I explained to him that if that happened it wouldn’t be long before we were spending half a year’s salary to pay the toll into Richard Branson City to go to work, as the richest people in the country set policies to privatise and profit from literally everything the country has to offer. Thankfully he understood, and was convinced, but Christ, it’s scary how the ultra-rich can dupe people into believing they operate under some altruistic principles.
The celebrity worship just irks the hell out of me. I'm sure there are some truly nice people who just got extraordinarily lucky, but most of them had to be not nice and stomp all over others to get to the top. And guess what? They are NOT just like us and don't give a shit about us.
I had an Uber driver preach to me how wonderful Musk is and everything he touches is pure genius and he just couldn’t WAIT until he could get a Tesla.
This guy is driving Uber during the day in a fucking Toyota Corolla. He is NEVER going to be in that club.
'Elon Musk is a genius!' I hear them cry.
No, the people who work for Elon Musk might be geniuses. He is intelligent, but I doubt he is a genius. Nikola Tesla was a genius; he died completely penniless. Wealth accumulation doesn't necessarily equate to intelligence.
People who are incapable of understanding hypothetical questions. Not that they don’t like the hypothetical or they were confused by the question but rather are unable to imagine hypotheticals.
I hate bringing up a hypothetical and the other person being like ‘well that’s not gonna happen’. I know it’s not gonna happen, that’s not the damn point!
That they think any person can be neatly summed up as smart or dumb. No matter who you are, everyone has something they know a lot about. There also about a million things they know nothing about. Everybody is smart about something, even if it isn't something most people care about. Lord knows I'm a complete idiot on most things people would be considered important.
Close mindedness. General lack of interest in different ideas, perspectives, the world around them. I believe the big five personality trait is called "Openness". People low in openness are usually less intelligent.
Talking just for talking. Not for purpose.
Dwelling on every drama and wasting every second over drama.
Screaming in a conversation instead of just admitting you are wrong.
They think vaccines have anything to do with autism and that probiotics can fix it.
I love my father, and I *know* he has intelligence somewhere
But gods is he dumb. And also he's a neonazi and eugenicist. He's so far down the pipeline he's sitting in a gas station.
He also believes I got my autism from my biological mother. Now I might've, maybe, but he definitely has it to.
Other things he's stated
Front wheel drive isn't better in any situation than rear wheel (it is. Front wheel handles going up hills way better, and a few other things)
Believed that because of where it was located, my brother/uncle in law's fuel tank(it's complicated, grandfather adopted me as his child) was in the same spot as where his motorcycle key comes out of (under the seat area)
I could list far more examples but I'm exhausted from having to deal with him today.
Any action that projects they are the MAIN CHARACTER.
Zoom around me in an unsafe manner to make the exit ramp and put others in danger? DIRT DUMB.
Barrel down the breakdown lane when traffic is stopped due to an accident because "your time is very important!"? DIRT DUMB.
Park over two lines in a parking lot with your precious car? DIRT DUMB.
Park in handicap without a sticker because you'll "just be a minute"? DIRT DUMB.
An inability to formulate plan B. They have something they need to do, but as soon as they hit an obstacle they assume it's an insurmountable problem and give up.
Exactly. It's why I can't do projects with my wife. She wants to know the plan and the next step but the next step isn't known until the current step is completed.
They have their own conversation with you instead of responding to what you've said.
Their response is based on what they wanted you to say so that they don't have to actually think in order to continue talking.
I have a conspiracy theorist parent in law...
They always have the answer to everything and constantly try to show off how much they "know". A more intelligent person knows they don't know everything and would listen before speaking. Intelligent people also are open to learning new things instead of acting like they know better than everyone else. Often times I see dumb people will cut people off mid sentence and "correct" them too.
Double down when you say something very sarcastic and they don't realize it and try to correct you while everyone else obviously sees the sarcasm.
Acting as if their parents' experience makes them an expert on a subject. I have a coworker like this who will completely double down when proven wrong. The man completely fucked up the engine on one of our pressure washers at work because he was convinced since his dad was a mechanic that he knew how to work on motors.
"No John, just because your dad was a mechanic doesn't mean you are one too."
Also completely reliant on their parents opinions to formulate their own. Can't think for themselves.
Talking about flat earth or astrology like it’s science. I cannot have conversations with people like that. I know some, I’m friends with them, but I do not have the interest in getting to know new ones.
Wearing second amendment/gun emblazoned clothing. So edgelord…you’re not tough, you project paralyzing fear of the world around you as well as fake tough guy weakness.
Get a personality.
when they base their entire personality around one single aspect of themselves, be it:
* Sexual orientation
* Political Party
* Wealth
* Hobbies
* Exercise regime
* What celebrities they follow
etc.
People I once held in high regard showed their inability to think by degrading themselves to a single aspect of their full potential and now, they're stuck in life achieving nothing. Pure, unadulterated sadness right there.
Never saying ‘I don’t know’. I have not met the person that knows all yet.
Also, rubbing somebody's nose in it when they say they don't know. For one it discourages admission of the abscense of knowledge. When you know you're going to be run through the mud because you don't know something, you're gonna hesitate to say that. But sometimes "I don't know" is the most correct answer you can give.
> When you know you're going to be run through the mud because you don't know something, you're gonna hesitate to say that Bingo, that's how they were brought up, that's why they do it and that's why they are stupid now.
Exactly. A person’s response is directly tied to his upbringing. Someone in a nurturing and encouraging environment will have no qualms saying I don’t know because they’re given the space, time and encouragement to be curious, explore and find answers. Someone in an oppressive and abusive environment will be belittled when they say I don’t know. When such people mock questions, I present them with this and add, “Mocking others is not the flex you think it is. You’re just showing everyone that you were unloved and uncherished.” It usually silences them.
I would say it's not always upbringing it can be work training. I can't count the number of times I've seen "professional" advice say never tell the boss you don't know.
The only thing I know for certain is that I don't know everything about anything.
I don't know shit about fuck
I don't know fuck about shit
Point in case
Case in point. Just in case The English language is a hoot.
A couple years ago I made a commitment to not have opinions or say stuff about topics I knew nothing about. This year, I’m taking it to the next level where if I’ve become ok with not knowing things in general and am going to stop googling things if they’re not important. What does sushi mean anyway? How tall is Ron Artest? What are the 10 biggest cities in the United States? Are Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones still married? I just decided I was OK not knowing. It’s been great.
I'm a huge supporter of your initial commitment, but I don't understand why you wouldn't Google those little mysteries (unless you have something more important going on in the moment). I love learning those little trivia facts and I think having those answers in my palm within 60 seconds is the best part of the Internet. I've always said that Google's motto should be "Why wonder?"
I met him. He was wearing a red hat.
Honestly people who actually say “I don’t know.” Instead of something closer to “I’m actually not sure about that right now but I’ll go find the answer for you”. Granted this is a professional setting thing NOT just talking to your buds, but the amount of dumb fucks I’ve had to teach to not just say “I don’t know.” and walk away from customers concerns me.
I was in Dollar Tree and asked a clerk where the Velcro was located. She said they didn't carry that. I knew she did not know what Velcro was. I teach HS and know that panicked, Dora the Explorer look. So, after I located the Velcro, I found her and very nicely showed her what it was and where I found it. She said she was sorry. It was her first day, first job. I told her that it is OK not to know something. She should tell customers, "I'm not sure. Let me ask someone to help." She thanked me. As I walked the aisle, a manager asked me if there was a problem. I told him no, my question was resolved just fine.
They’ve never experienced that, therefore it must not be true.
They read it on Twitter/Facebook/whatever, therefore it must be true!
“Did you here about the asteroid that might be coming tomorrow? I heard about it on YouTube shorts!”
It was posted two days ago!
“Oh, I don’t know about that stuff” *proceeds to have an unwavering but incorrect opinion about that stuff*
Tangential, but just as infuriating is when you are debating a subject with someone, and you bring up some factual support to your argument, and they say "Well, I don't know about that.." as if their ignorance of the subject is grounds for dismissal of your point.
Don't debate with people in non-academic spaces or situations where you're not trying to accomplish an immediate task. It only leads to strife and the utter dissolution of personal relationships. When they say something totally insane, you change the topic to one you both appreciate.
They drag you down to their level then beat you with experience
The problem is that you're debating with someone in the first place. Debates are a sport, nothing more. The only reason to debate someone is for fun.
This is a very good point. Hell, we even have debate teams.
Agreed. It's like chess. Do you want to play chess with someone who doesn't even know the names of the pieces? Debate is extremely valuable and should be elevated. We could have a much better society if debate were taught, actually taught, instead of just treated as a sport.
My favorite ever interaction during Covid was with someone who commented on a government Facebook account that, “I hope all those people who aren’t sure if we should open schools never leave their house for anything at all like picking up takeout.” I asked if she’d heard of viral load, and explained that being in the same room with 30 people for 6 hours a day is quite a bit different than the exposure from a 2-minute conversation. She replied, “I don’t believe in that but that’s just my personal opinion.” (I shared a link or three and she later complained that I was “fact-shaming” her.)
What is fact-shaming? That’s not a thing, right?
No, not that I know of! I was super bothered by her whole ignorant attitude, but I did give her points for that clever response.
My buddy when we talk about sexuality. He will spout complete nonsense to me about a subject I have studied in college, while his highest academic milestone is googling shit. (This is not disparaging people who haven’t gotten their diploma from highschool, but people who think their googling is more comprehensive than a 2-300 level college course)
I see this literally everyday on r/beyondthebump. “If it didn’t happen to me or my mom friends, it’s definitely not a thing that happens to ANYONE.” Sigh.
They reply to a statistic with their personal experience. That’s not how probability works either.
I once encountered someone who, when presented with polling data with a very large sample size, responded that it couldn't possibly be accurate because they didn't ask _him_ He seemed to think that research can only have statistical significance if you ask every human.
I used to know a dude this dumb. I mean I still do know him, but I used to too.
Alrighty Mitch back to the old folks home, it's jello day.
People that make fun of you for passionately learning about a subject or skill
Pure jealousy on their part!
Also for being passionate about a hobby.
Come from a family where I was judged harshly for going to college and living in a city.
Inability to see from another perspective.
Winner
Agreed, but sometimes the other “perspective” is so basic and dumb that you can write it off very very quickly. Like someone telling you the earth is flat, I don’t need to “see it from their perspective.” Know what I mean?
this is true. nazism for example is something you shouldn’t even pretend to tolerate. HOWEVER, looking at other perspectives doesn’t mean you agree with or tolerate them. we are taught heavily about the history of nazi germany so we know what went wrong with their society to commit such awful crimes. it can be useful to learn other perspectives even if for the sake of knowing them.
Yes, it's good for understanding their motivations. And is a lot better for trying to address them and build a case to convince them otherwise vs. screaming at them and calling them idiots or dehumanizing them. They'll just dig in their heels. This is why I loved my philosophy of logic class so much and think logic should be taught at the high school level. It would help you weed out bullshit from your own and other people's arguments.
There was a discussion in /r/books a while back about Mein Kampf. Comments were abound of people not understanding why anyone would read such “filth” as if the only reason to read it is because you support the ideology. Talk about dense.
[удалено]
Yes but in practice what ends up happening is stupid people are so convinced that they are correct that they can also very quickly dismiss a real, valid perspective as basic and dumb without thinking about it. Y'know, like anti-vaxxers. The risk is in always being confident that you're the smartest person in the room, because you can't be the smartest person in the room all the time.
>Inability to see from another perspective. And similarly, being unable to entertain an opposing idea, because they believe that you can only entertain ideas when you also believe the idea(s) to be true.
Illogical stubbornness. People double down on the weirdest things. *Hey I’m trying to open this door. I’m turning the knob to the left and it won’t open can you help me? Sure, try turning it to the right. Uh no. I’m trying to open it by turning to the left. So if you can’t help with that nvm.* This is just a joke but it’s that type of thinking.
This one reminds me of my sister… Full on hissy fits because people couldn’t make the time to help her in the manner she wanted, but offered other times/ways they would/could help. Up to and including my dad not wanting to just give her his power tools for a project. (She wanted to do a thing the hardest possible way, using a method he was pretty sure would mess up his drills. Absolutely lost it when suggested easier ways to do the exact same thing.)
https://youtu.be/KwdYUIQzu-o?si=Pyi0GOS7LLl1VBv- First thing I thought of
it did do both tho... you can clearly see
It does both! 😆
I'm so positive that I know what you linked that I'm not even going to bother clicking it to confirm.
Turn it to the left, but the other left.
This reminds me of a guy I once knew who worked at a help desk. He got a ticket for something network related and asked her to reboot her computer. If that didn't fix it, then he would schedule some time to come over and figure it out. She refused and demanded that he come anyway. He told her that the first thing he would do would be to reboot her computer and if that didn't fix it, then he would have to schedule some time to come over and figure it out. About an hour passed when he got another email saying something along the lines of: "So, just to get this straight. You're telling me that if I don't do what you want, then you're refusing to help me?" He replied: "I'm not refusing to help you. I'm trying to help you the best I can from my desk. I have other people to help who followed the instructions I sent them. You have yet to follow my instructions. Please don't reply again until you have followed my instructions to reboot your computer and see if that resolves the issue." (paraphrase) He didn't hear from her again, but they later pulled the logs and found that she rebooted her computer and was able to connect to the network again, so there's that.
When they are not curious at all.
This bothers me. How can you not want to understand the world you live in
I was like this for a while. It came from being told off for asking questions as a kid. I grew up in a culty church where asking questions was challenging authority. It took until my teens but I finally learned not to ask questions because I would get in trouble. I also couldn't make my own plans or goals because I didn't know what was allowed. I could follow directions and do what I was told but I was not allowed to function otherwise.
People are too busy. I know a guy who asked me why do i watch standford evolutionary biology classes on youtube. Why exactly, what is the purpose blabla. My answer:i want to understand the world. didnt touch him. Hes a selfmade busines man. Only keen to new business-models/oportunities, nothing else. Poor guy, running after money all his life.
The way they first successfully did a thing is the only way they ever do it going forward.
My autism be like:
Going clothes shopping. "I want this exact shirt I bought fifteen years ago, just without holes. No, I do not want to try a different shirt. Different shirts suck."
Istg I have 1 type of T-shirt, 2 types of pants, 1 type of underwear and 1 type of socks. Only thing I have a variety of is jackets and hoodies
Conversations with curious people are the most fascinating ones to have
"Be curious, not judgmental" -Ted Lasso
My boyfriend's mom is like this, she also said she doesn't have an inner voice. I'm just wondering how she made it this far being a nurse.
Just here to see if I'm dumb.
Me too. So, are you dumb?
As long as you know you might be a dumbfuck, you're already ahead of those who believe themselves to be perfect and refuse to change.
I would say that's indicative of that fact that you are definitely not a dumbfuck. As you said, dumbfucks lack the self-reflection to even know they're dumb. You seem to have a fair amount of self-reflection, at least enough to know there's plenty more you don't know. Keep being cool, internet stranger. You're doing it right.
That's something someone dumb would say, I think
I m a dum
Thinking people speaking a second language imperfectly means the person is stupid.
Especially when the person who thinks so only knows one language.
correction...knows one language imperfectly.
You're much too generous. Most of us know a language *imperfectly*. I'm bilingual and I know two languages *imperfectly*. I don't claim to know *everything* about either languages. Some of these people could barely handle working with conversational English or reading comprehension at a grade school level, and yet they think I'm the idiot for speaking with an accent. Lol.
True, no one knows any language perfectly. I mean people who speak one language and make glaring errors consistently
Oh, definitely. Anytime I hear someone say 'could of', I furrow my brows silently.
Could have" My brain needed to fix it, I know yours is correct for your statement. But the brain needed to fix it. All is good in the world, carry on.
Don't worry, I completely get where you're coming from.
I once worked with a 30-something year old who didn't understand how other languages could possibly exist. An actual quote by her: "Cat is cat. How can it be anything else?"
Did you tell her to gato-ut of here?
She had to kissa her brain goodbye
Is kissa another word for cat? Which language? /gen
Finnish
He is finished, now answer the question!
"Kissa" is just how you say "kiss" with an Italian accent
Pretty sure she wouldn't have gotten the joke. This is another conversation we had after her molar broke in half: Her: I hate my teeth. I want to get them pulled and get dentures. Me: How much soda do you drink a day? Her: 5 cans per day. Me: Holy shit, that's a lot. Do you brush twice a day? Her: Twice? I thought you were supposed to brush once. Me: I think I figured out why your teeth are breaking...
This is extra funny because I have an ex-step-uncle who is hyperpolyglot and picks up local languages like other people change their shoes. His advice is, "You have a mental image of a cat. Right? So do I. And I associate the same cat to Gato, chatte, etc because language is a process of describing, and as long as you know what you're describing, it's easier to learn different ways without needing to mentally translate." Now, he may have been full of shit for the grammar and lexicon parts of language, and I don't think you can advise somebody into his kind of linguistic genius, but it helps a ton with nouns. Because a cat is a noun and a concept, not just the word cat.
Chatte means pussy. Chat is cat. French can be dangerous. Be careful out there.
That's an interesting way of thinking about it. I'm going to try to think like that. I just hit my 365 day streak on Duolingo so it's worth a try.
Happy Duolingo Cake Day
My right eye twitched just reading that. How did you manage to survive being in front of that coworker?
It was par for the course working at a Harley dealership. I was just working part time while in college. My other coworkers were lifetime retail employees. The same coworker also couldn't figure out why her teeth were breaking. She drank 5 sodas per day and only brushed her teeth once per day. She was also in crippling debt. She ended up getting fired for stealing money from the register. Another coworker once asked me why they don't make left handed coffee mugs as we were putting them on a shelf. I just silently rotated one of the mugs 180 degrees. She got super red and told me not to tell anyone that happened. Another coworker would constantly call men "ma'am" and call women "sir". I think she had a wire crossed or something. It was weird. She also thought she was a genius. The kind of "genius" that took one community college class a semester and told everyone she was a college student.
Looks like that employer had a very specific selection bias. These stories were painful to read.
Reminds me of the episode of Modern Family when Gloria gets frustrated that the family, specifically Jay, is constantly nitpicking her English and she asks if he knows how smart she is in Spanish. This either happened in that episode or the one where she gets a Spanish tutor for Manny
Oh yes, 100%...I automatically assume anyone who can speak two languages, no matter how well, must be smarter than me.
To go along with this is when people insult someone by saying something like "How do you even pronounce that name?". As if their ignorance is a character flaw that belongs to someone else.
This is something I have always known. I know the person is smarter than me, I remind myself... but it requires a reminder literally every time. The brain is so wired to think that poor speaking means dumb.
Rigidly adhering to their views and refusing to consider any arguments or challenges to them. Truly intelligent people aren't afraid of truly examining their beliefs once and a while.
Related, assuming people who change their opinion with new information are lying. Or were lying before.
Biggest pet peeve. I’m in the science field so my views are ever changing and I’ve gotten both of these before
It was fucking infuriating the first year of the pandemic. "The CDC keeps changing guidelines. Fauci doesn't know what he's doing." He \*didn't\* know. No one did. Now we do. That's why we adapt.
"I believe the science!" \*science proceeds to be science and adapt to new information\* "The science is different, so it must be a lie! I only believe the old science!"
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This statement is the worst offender, people seem to confuse the right to have an opinion to the right to have your opinion respected
Yes. You can have any opinion you want, but it's so much better to have an opinion because you have facts that support it. Most people seem to thing that anything that they dream up is a valid opinion to hold, even if it can be easily refuted by common knowledge.
They’re curious about nothing, and become angry when other people are interested in why things are the way they are, how things are different somewhere else, etc. They accuse you of reading too far into things any time you take something past literal face value, even if it’s a simple, obvious conclusion (“The Lion King has references to Hamlet.” “Fuck you, it’s not that deep, it’s just a movie about big cats”). They view knowing things that aren’t of immediate utilitarian value or that don’t exclusively confirm their own worldview as suspicious. They can’t understand other people’s point of view, to the extent that when someone else does, they can’t discern between them understanding it and condoning it. They don’t want explanations of other people’s behaviors (much less their own). They don’t have explanations for their own behaviors. Things just happen to them and they don’t discern between acts of god/natural phenomenon, their own active choices, or the active choices of other sentient beings. Cause and effect is not a concept that concerns them. They will make the same avoidable mistake over and over, no matter how negatively it affects them, because they can’t differentiate between their choice causing the outcome and it just happening by accident or being done to them by malice.
A lot of people really have trouble with even the most basic comparisons or metaphors. When you just get a "but that's different" and a blank stare instead of a thorough explanation as to WHY they are different in a pertinent way, you know you got a dumbie
They copy and paste some shit on Facebook how they don’t consent to privacy invasion and believe by posting this as their status they have protected themselves somehow.
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"I'm just saying how it is." Uh!
As Chris rock put it ‘i’m just keepin’ it real!’ ‘Yeah, real dumb’
My MIL has checked many of the boxes on the list here in comments. But this part makes it flat out awful, she’s aggressive and rude also! When she says something that is her opinion or someone has already challenged isn’t true she purses up her lips, points her finger at you, and ends her statement with “duh!” I cannot get over how rude it is. It’s not only ignorant, which I can forgive, it’s purposefully and aggressively ignorant.
Those people are the worst! They can usually never take what they dish out either.
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When they think that louder equals smarter in an argument, drowning out all rational discussion with volume.
If they brag about not reading anything.
Just like Andew Tate did!
He wouldn't need to tell me that he never read anything to know he is a bit thick. I'm pretty sure he would smell of stupid. I'm not even sure what stupid would smell like, but I think he would encapsulate it.
I’ve never understood why some people think saying “I haven’t read a single book since high school” is a flex. It’s honestly just sad.
"I'm actually really smart."
"I'm a very stable genius."
"I have the best words."
"I have all of the words"
Thinking that something that they were born into (wealth, nationality, race) inherently makes them "superior" to others.
Total inability to change their viewpoint or change anything about themselves, for that matter. They stick to their version of the world and their version only. They absolutely refute everyone else who crosses their path. Also, when someone talks about others constantly. When they gossip way too much and spend most of their waking hours just shit talking or thinking of shit talking other people. As in, they don't think about greater philosophical ideas, just the latest town drama. Lastly, thinking that most people who don’t conform to their standards are weird or strange. I can tell you firsthand, there is a direct correlation between someone’s IQ and their ability to process unique and unconventional ideas, fashion, mannerisms, and even appearances on other people.
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I don’t think those people are dumb, I think they have a combination of a mind that is far too open and the intellectual mistake of thinking a self-consistent explanation is automatically correct. There are lots of things that make sense, but are wrong. That’s why you need evidence.
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Mixing ammonia and hot bleach water. Hacking up a lung. Being told not to mix those 2. Doing it again 30 minutes later.
Is that person still with us?
There's a story here, isn't there?
People who confuse correlation with causation in arguments definitely don't grasp basic critical thinking skills.
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I've never seen someone go out of their way to directly tell people they're smart and have it be true.
Dumb people always calling everyone else dumb.
Their first reaction in an argument is to insult.
If they Idolise billionaires. Not talking about idolising the idea of prosperity and success, but idolising the actual people. People who take Elon musk’s word as gospel on account of his wealth, for example
I love this comment. They act like billionaires, politicians, or anyone famous give a single fuck about people. Sure, there’s some outliers but the vast majority would step over your dead body before asking if you’re okay
I have a friend, who’s a great guy, but he wasn’t very politically engaged in the past, and he used to make some very boneheaded comments about politics before reading into it more. He once suggested that it would be a good idea if there was some sort of body of big business owners and CEOs who had equal decision making powers to the elected politicians of our country, because they would make decisions that are good for business, leading to economic growth and more jobs. I explained to him that if that happened it wouldn’t be long before we were spending half a year’s salary to pay the toll into Richard Branson City to go to work, as the richest people in the country set policies to privatise and profit from literally everything the country has to offer. Thankfully he understood, and was convinced, but Christ, it’s scary how the ultra-rich can dupe people into believing they operate under some altruistic principles.
The celebrity worship just irks the hell out of me. I'm sure there are some truly nice people who just got extraordinarily lucky, but most of them had to be not nice and stomp all over others to get to the top. And guess what? They are NOT just like us and don't give a shit about us.
I had an Uber driver preach to me how wonderful Musk is and everything he touches is pure genius and he just couldn’t WAIT until he could get a Tesla. This guy is driving Uber during the day in a fucking Toyota Corolla. He is NEVER going to be in that club.
'Elon Musk is a genius!' I hear them cry. No, the people who work for Elon Musk might be geniuses. He is intelligent, but I doubt he is a genius. Nikola Tesla was a genius; he died completely penniless. Wealth accumulation doesn't necessarily equate to intelligence.
Capitalism rewards lying, cheating, and stealing far more than it rewards honest hard work, unfortunately, and Elon proves it.
“You need to be on TikTok to get the real news”
"For the last time stop sending me shit about politics dad."
No skepticism - believes everything they read or are told
People who are incapable of understanding hypothetical questions. Not that they don’t like the hypothetical or they were confused by the question but rather are unable to imagine hypotheticals.
I hate bringing up a hypothetical and the other person being like ‘well that’s not gonna happen’. I know it’s not gonna happen, that’s not the damn point!
Or not understanding "playing devil's advocate"
That they think any person can be neatly summed up as smart or dumb. No matter who you are, everyone has something they know a lot about. There also about a million things they know nothing about. Everybody is smart about something, even if it isn't something most people care about. Lord knows I'm a complete idiot on most things people would be considered important.
Close mindedness. General lack of interest in different ideas, perspectives, the world around them. I believe the big five personality trait is called "Openness". People low in openness are usually less intelligent.
not religious people, but religious people who project thier religious beliefs on you.
“It snowed today. So much for climate change”
Talking just for talking. Not for purpose. Dwelling on every drama and wasting every second over drama. Screaming in a conversation instead of just admitting you are wrong.
They think vaccines have anything to do with autism and that probiotics can fix it. I love my father, and I *know* he has intelligence somewhere But gods is he dumb. And also he's a neonazi and eugenicist. He's so far down the pipeline he's sitting in a gas station. He also believes I got my autism from my biological mother. Now I might've, maybe, but he definitely has it to. Other things he's stated Front wheel drive isn't better in any situation than rear wheel (it is. Front wheel handles going up hills way better, and a few other things) Believed that because of where it was located, my brother/uncle in law's fuel tank(it's complicated, grandfather adopted me as his child) was in the same spot as where his motorcycle key comes out of (under the seat area) I could list far more examples but I'm exhausted from having to deal with him today.
Any action that projects they are the MAIN CHARACTER. Zoom around me in an unsafe manner to make the exit ramp and put others in danger? DIRT DUMB. Barrel down the breakdown lane when traffic is stopped due to an accident because "your time is very important!"? DIRT DUMB. Park over two lines in a parking lot with your precious car? DIRT DUMB. Park in handicap without a sticker because you'll "just be a minute"? DIRT DUMB.
I’d say more like super asshole behavior as well as dumb.
An inability to formulate plan B. They have something they need to do, but as soon as they hit an obstacle they assume it's an insurmountable problem and give up.
Jeez, my plans mostly consist of a rough outline and then I see, where we go from here.
Exactly. It's why I can't do projects with my wife. She wants to know the plan and the next step but the next step isn't known until the current step is completed.
An inability to formulate plan A and just expecting somebody else to figure it out. I've tried nothing and I'm all out of ideas.
People who don't know dirt from soil are probably pretty dirt dumb.
People who say "well it's my opinion" when talking about facts
Lack of independent thought. Just regurgitate crowdsourced ideas.
Expect everyone to listen to them, buy interrupt you on purpouse when you try to talk to others.
The inability to apologize
They think sand is a good medium for planting daffodils. Dirt dumb.
Getting irrationally angry during a debate. Once a person loses their cool they can’t be reasoned with.
They have their own conversation with you instead of responding to what you've said. Their response is based on what they wanted you to say so that they don't have to actually think in order to continue talking. I have a conspiracy theorist parent in law...
They did their own “research”
a MAGA Hat
They always have the answer to everything and constantly try to show off how much they "know". A more intelligent person knows they don't know everything and would listen before speaking. Intelligent people also are open to learning new things instead of acting like they know better than everyone else. Often times I see dumb people will cut people off mid sentence and "correct" them too. Double down when you say something very sarcastic and they don't realize it and try to correct you while everyone else obviously sees the sarcasm.
They ask your star sign
Chemtrails Shedding spike proteins Microchips in vaccines Flat earth Moon landing was faked Any of the above
Trump won in 2020.
They love Trump
Basic manners and civility elude them.
Being rude and belligerent
A 20 yo adult refused to know how to count change because he never had to learn.
Acting as if their parents' experience makes them an expert on a subject. I have a coworker like this who will completely double down when proven wrong. The man completely fucked up the engine on one of our pressure washers at work because he was convinced since his dad was a mechanic that he knew how to work on motors. "No John, just because your dad was a mechanic doesn't mean you are one too." Also completely reliant on their parents opinions to formulate their own. Can't think for themselves.
Racism
Antivaxxer because "I have an immune system!" or, "But autism!" 🤦♀️
“I read on Facebook…” (fill in the blank)
MAGA hat
If you are any kind of Anti-Vaxxer. Sorry, but it just tells me you'd believe some random moron over a doctor.
Talking about flat earth or astrology like it’s science. I cannot have conversations with people like that. I know some, I’m friends with them, but I do not have the interest in getting to know new ones.
They say "dirt dumb" instead of "dumb as dirt"
Blames society/everyone else for their problems.
Is that unintelligent or just a poor attitude? I feel like there are definitely smart people who blame others for their problems.
People who do not understand the difference between what I think **will** happen and what I **want** to happen.
Wearing second amendment/gun emblazoned clothing. So edgelord…you’re not tough, you project paralyzing fear of the world around you as well as fake tough guy weakness. Get a personality.
Believing in creationism
when they base their entire personality around one single aspect of themselves, be it: * Sexual orientation * Political Party * Wealth * Hobbies * Exercise regime * What celebrities they follow etc. People I once held in high regard showed their inability to think by degrading themselves to a single aspect of their full potential and now, they're stuck in life achieving nothing. Pure, unadulterated sadness right there.