Are humans stupid?

Question

I work for an engineering company. Many of the people around me are "very intelligent", yet they can't seem to figure out that the "Mixed Paper" recycling bin is not for cans, plastic wrap, banana peels, etc. The stupid thing is that the plastic, aluminum and regular garbage bins are RIGHT NEXT TO the mixed paper recycling bin.

If intelligent people can't recognize paper from non-paper, what hope do we have as a society of fixing other problems?

Answer 1

You are JUST NOW figuring out the people are stupid!! We have a lot more problems than just not being able to sort recycle bins.

Answer 2

I can totally relate to what you said here. I do volunteer work and we have big, and I mean big, bins all over to hold the recycling 'stuff', and I'm frustrated also. The only thing that I have found successful is to actually verbalize what goes where, and why, explaining that recycling 'properly' helps save the planet AND brings in $$$ for our charitable organization. I have found that 'money talks' and when I point out that helping to recycle brings in that $$ for our organization, and that in turn we can help more charities, it seems to turn on a light over their head. I also personally make BIG signs that I put on the outside of the bins (on two or three sides) that sometimes catches their attention. And when we have 'general' meetings I sometimes get a chance to stand 'up there' and remind all of our volunteers that we need to be careful in our recycling, especially since we do not have enough volunteers to properly sort out all the recycled products. It seems to help. No, people are not stupid; ignorance is bliss, and many of them are just too happy.

Answer 3

I would like to make a distinction between "stupid" and "uneducated". Most humans are the latter. If someone taught your coworkers the importance of taking care of the planet we live on, and really got them to believe in it, they would probably take more care to keep trash out of the recyclables (and let me guess: the mixed paper ends up in the regular trash half the time, too).

And if that didn't work, making them take turns sorting out the cans and banana peels from the paper might help.

Answer 4

Yes. The majority of humans are stupid. We live in such a fast paced world, our minds are slower than our reactions. Not only that, but a few minutes later they recognize their error; mentally, by putting the trash in the wrong bin.

Now we get into the fact the majority of humans are lazy because we live in a "cater to me" or "someone will get it" society so of course they are not going to turn around and go take the non-paper out of the mixed paper bin. They expect someone else to do it, or they just don't care.

Answer 5

In most cases that you cite it is not a matter of stupidity. It is more a matter that people are often preoccupied with other thoughts and are not paying attention to the instructions on the recycling bins.

If Einstein were alive today he would be one of the most frequent offenders.


When you consider what is really important in this world, that is not a big deal.

Answer 6

I don't think it is stupidity as much as it is a lack of empathy. People in our society don't care about anyone except the few people in their circle of friends and family. They don't think about the environment or the rest of the world.

Not to mention the fact that most people just do not read, they're so out of practice that they don't even take the time to read a sign that's right in front of their face.

Answer 7

hi I'd agree its not a factor of people being stupid but that they do stupid things, it takes alsorts to make up this world good and bad, just point it out in a freindly mannor half of them wont even realise they've done it. it's the case you notice different things: one person will walk past a dirty cup and not even see it and another person will notice it pic it up and wash it. it depends on whats important to that individual. its a minor issue in the wider scheme of things but as they say every little helps. hope it don't bug ya too much :-)

Answer 8

I agree! I have seen it over and over myself in all walks of society. BUT! Governments should lead by example! I am talking about Space projects. Governments race to Space has left an enormous amount of 'JUNK' floating around in space. But it's alright, it will eventually burn up when it re-enters the earths atmosphere - eventually!!!

Answer 9

That must be the understatement of the year
A monkey does not set fire to the tree he lives in

We burn the ship that carries us through space,or treat it as a toilet with out a plunger, as if there was another one nearby to board at any time .

Answer 10

Maybe they are smart enough not to worry about trivial things like recycling bins.