The prevalence of stupidity

[bthizle1]

I realize that intelligence has many "forms" if you will, as there are many subjects that pertain to being intelligent. That being said it's very hard to gauge how intelligent an individual is.

Last night I was sitting down with my brother, sister and her friend. Somehow the subject of who fought in the civil war came up (I love history, but they pretty much disdain anything "intelligent.") My sister didn't know and neither did her friend (they are going to be seniors in high school, at a private school nonetheless). They even said the Soviet Union, obviously because the term Union is in it. Then I asked them who fought in the Revolutionary war....once again, they were stumped. This is their own countries history, and not to mention the most rudimentary facts of it as well. So, I got to thinking about how many times I've come across instances such as this in which people have literally dumbfounded me with stupidity.

I'd really like to compile a list of say 20 questions or so, that are for the most part if not entirely very simply ones, such as the two above. Take the list of questions and just go about town asking people if they'd please try to answer them to the best of their ability. Anyways, could you guys help me to gather simple question that you'd almost think people "should" know.

The results could be very interesting I think....

[Alkarin]

Heres a question for you that dumbfounded my sister and mother


what lies in between the UK and France....and their oh so enlightened answers were Russia. .....

I personally am disappointed so many people are so stupid. I don't consider myself a genius but at least i can think on my feet and i at least read *gasp* at least more than once a week

[Chaigidel]

well you have to understand only some people care about history; most of us on these forums delight in such things, alot of others dont.

[Imperator Romani]

Agreed with Chaigidel. But sometimes the reason is to be cute, like at my school. When one girl was asked a question about how big our country is, she asked if it was bigger than the sun(nothing historial, just to prove a point).
A good question sometimes is name the 3 countries in North America(USA,Mexico,Canada). Sometimes I hear answers like Alaska, South America(wtf), and other stupid guesses.

[GuineaPig]

A good question sometimes is name the 3 countries in North America(USA,Mexico,Canada). Sometimes I hear answers like Alaska, South America(wtf), and other stupid guesses.

[Alkarin]

dont forget to ask if africa is a country/state/ or continent


they will surely be stumped


and no its not because it is not their interest it is because they are stupid. they learned all of this stuff in school and therefore should know it. Not like we are asking them who was the 4th leader of the Teutonic Order

[Chaigidel]

I try to be a little accomodating for once !

yeah we all got taught the same thing when we were in grade school- its baffling people dont know basic geography and history the most basic of basics.

[Who]

I try to be a little accomodating for once !

yeah we all got taught the same thing when we were in grade school- its baffling people dont know basic geography and history the most basic of basics.

It's baffling that others' brains don't function as yours does?

[DimondLight]

It's not so much stupidity, as ignorance. How much knowledge they have doesn't mean they aren't intelligent.

But yes, I have heard a girl say a person could drive to Sweden from the U.S.

[Alkarin]

It's not so much stupidity, as ignorance. How much knowledge they have doesn't mean they aren't intelligent.

But yes, I have heard a girl say a person could drive to Sweden from the U.S.

ignorance is stupidity. but i see your point


but i have yet to meet an intelligent person who cannot find China on a world map. And that all depends on your definition of intelligent.

[DimondLight]

ignorance is stupidity. but i see your point


but i have yet to meet an intelligent person who cannot find China on a world map

Wrong. Ignorance is lack of knowledge, Stupidity is lack of intelligence.

[Alkarin]

Wrong. Ignorance is lack of knowledge, Stupidity is lack of intelligence.

well alot of people lack both


i think we can agree there.

Not really. For instance, I probably know a lot more about biology then Einstein did, but I'm sure I'm stupider then he was. By alot.

yea since stupider is not a word (sorry just a pet peeve of mine)

[DimondLight]

well alot of people lack both

i think we can agree there.

That is true.

[Djûn]

yea since stupider is not a word (sorry just a pet peeve of mine)

And this is a pet peeve of mine. Stupider is a word - it's the comparative form of 'stupid'.

From http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/stupid?view=uk:

stupid


• adjective (stupider, stupidest) 1 lacking intelligence or common sense. 2 informal used to express exasperation or boredom: your stupid paintings! 3 dazed and unable to think clearly.

(emphasis added)

[Playfishpaste]

ignorance is stupidity.

Not really. For instance, I probably know a lot more about biology then Einstein did, but I'm sure I'm stupider then he was. By alot.

[Rich86]

I think an understanding of the history of your country is not neccesarily a sign of intelligence (although I do agree it's stupid that people don't know simple things like What happened in 1066? or What year did WWII finish? etc).

[Yorkshireman]

I think an understanding of the history of your country is not neccesarily a sign of intelligence (although I do agree it's stupid that people don't know simple things like What happened in 1066? or What year did WWII finish? etc).

Precisely. My brother is 34 years old and he did'nt know who Oliver Cromwell was. But he's successfull at his job, selling Land Rovers, and has a good life. He just does'nt consider facts like that important.

But still I find it strange that living in england he's not picked up simple general knowledge like that.

[chilon]

I think an understanding of the history of your country is not neccesarily a sign of intelligence (

It is not a sign of "intelligence" per se, but it is definitely a sign of education and disposition.

Of course not everyone is into history or a history buff but for seniors in HIGH SCHOOL to not know who was in the Civil War?

That is really bad. Like, really, really bad, although not too surprising considering how American high schools for the most part are very anti-intellectual. The smart kids are "not cool" usually. Girls in particular I have noticed from working in jr high and high schools for a year or two tend to go so far as to hide their intelligence thinking it is unappealing to high school boys.

The historian Richard Hofstadter wrote about this in 1964 in his Pulitzer winning book Anti-Intellectualism in American Life.

[Biggreenfellow]

Girls in particular I have noticed from working in jr high and high schools for a year or two tend to go so far as to hide their intelligence thinking it is unappealing to high school boys.

Now that's stupidity for ya, lol

[Alkarin]

its not a legitimate word that is allowed in legal documents the correct use of the word is more stupid...it is not a word. its just as much as word at newb is.

but lets not turn this into a 'is stupider a word?' debate lets focus on other unintelligent matters!