Human stupidity October 1 2008
Definition
“Stupid” is overused today. For it to be useful, it needs a more precise meaning:
Stupid – adj. – describes someone who chooses neither to think nor to learn from prior experiences and repeatedly makes poor decisions as a result. Every element is necessary to be truly stupid. Mentally disabled people aren’t stupid because their ability to make rational choices is impaired. Poor decision makers aren’t stupid if they thought about the decision beforehand.
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The nature of stupidity
Two quotes say it all: “Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe.” Albert Einstein. “Stupid is forever; ignorance can be fixed.” Don Wood The number of stupid people in the world is every increasing because the percentage of stupidity never goes down, even with better education. This is because stupidity is not directly related to knowledge; it’s a state of mind. For whatever reason, many knowledgeable people choose not to apply their intellect to their everyday lives. Since global population is ever increasing, the number of stupid people rises as well. And as their numbers rise, more and more become “leaders” – maybe even become president. And look how well that worked out… |
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Organizational stupidity starts from the top
The C3PO was a subdivision of the Department of Urban Management and Planning (DUMP), which was aptly named. The DUMP was the stupidest organization I have ever had the misfortune of working in. The concentration of stupid people here was staggering, but that wasn’t the real problem (all organizations have dead weight). No, the real problem was that the leader empowered them. And it all starts from the top.
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The C3PO had been reorganizing itself in an effort to maximize productivity for several months. Things were actually starting to improve when it was all vaporized in an instant. Several employees were not happy with their new roles or being made to actually work, so they quit or transferred…but not before dropping the A-bomb on us. They all complained to DUMP Director, Stanford L. Tillman, and he went ballistic. You see, they were all black, and many of our managers were white. Apparently, this waived the necessity for evidence. In the CCCP(O), Sta(li)n was judge, jury, and executioner, and you were guilty until proven innocent. Our managers were understandably livid and insisted that HR conduct an investigation. The investigation produced evidence that these particular employees were mean, lazy, or incompetent. If anything, they were the bullies, not the managers, because they knew they couldn’t be fired. The managers were elated; justice had been served. Imagine their surprise when Stan stood up at the big meeting to present the investigation findings and suggested that the managers needed to go to sensitivity training and learn the City policies. Clearly, Stan the Man only read what he wanted from the report. I snorted. I knew crap like this would happen. |
“What was that, sir? Do you have something to add to the discussion?” All eyes turned to me at the back of the room. My heart skipped a beat. OMG – did I do that aloud? Oh well, it was too late now.
“Yeah. I think that maybe you are being a little unreasonable.”
There was stunned silence around the table. That giant sucking sound you hear is my “career” going the drain. Not like it was going anywhere anyway. I can’t sit here and watch injustice being committed.
Stan deliberately adjusted his glasses; his voice rising in anger. “You do know who you are talking to, don’t you? Who do you think you are?”
I cocked my head and glanced sidelong at him. That tone of voice, the gleam in those beady eyes. It was unmistakable. I felt my jaw clench and my pulse elevate. I hate bullies.
Something in me snapped. I floated out of my body and watched detachedly as some foreign power took control. The Artist Formerly Known as Phil picked himself up off that desert floor and stared directly into Stan’s now widening eyes. Something big was coming.