What is the source of Stupidity?

Question

Stupid = characterized by or proceeding from mental dullness; foolish; senseless
Stupidity = a poor ability to understand or to profit from experience

Seriously, I always considered it natural for humans to always think and use the scientific process. I think it is, which would mean that stupidity is unnatural. So what is the source?

There's only 8 people I didn't "Thumbs Down" that's pretty sad...

Answer 1

the source is when one starts to consider themselves to be wise .. right at that point is where stupidity sets in ..

Answer 2

Stupidity is unfortunately a charged word, an insult, and for all means and purposes counterproductive. You can sugar coat it a little by calling it gullibility, but that has its traps too. However, it shifts the blame on the one exploiting the gullible, shame on them. Shamans, priests, politicians, players, users, and abusers all prey on the gullible. The source is that people will give in to a higher power because it relieves them of responsibility towards their own development. Tell me how to think, what to do, a few attaboys and a pat on the back or two. The guru syndrome: Authoritarianism masked as the benevolent big brother. So far there has never been a shortage of those that let themselves be used in this way and those that will take advantage of the opportunity to do so. That's life.

Answer 3

You're suggesting that people are rational by nature, which is not the case for the vast majority of mankind. Everyone is ruled by their baser desires and emotions, those have to be either satisfied or overcome before you can really start thinking and being rational. Think about the way you would behave if your life or even your way of life was in danger. Rational thought is a luxury that many people can't afford. Being irrational isn't necessarily STUPID, but it does mean people don't typically think things through and really analyze every detail often, if at all.

Answer 4

It's a virus. You can develop an immunity to it, but it takes a long time, and there's always another viral mutation to take its place. This is why people who are otherwise smart will sometimes turn corners without using the turn signal, or block the store aisle with their carts or strollers, or try to skateboard off the roof of their house, or do other pointless, annoying, and unwise things--they've contracted a stupidity virus. Alas, none of us are completely immune.

Answer 5

There's all these flavors:

Ignorance: You don't know how to see, or seek

Stupidity: You don't understand what you see,
and aren't asking questions
Arrogance: You can see, but you WILL NOT see.

It's important to consider the distinctions, and unlike the guy above me, I think FAITH is the centerpiece of acquiring knowledge...

I cannot find what I never looked for
I cannot recieve what I never asked for..

Ignorance is nothing like stupidity, but people confuse them..You can learn your way out of ignorance, if you seek to.
A little applied faith helps tremendously, IMO.

Answer 6

Books like The Goat Herders' Guide to the Galaxy and a belief in the InvisibleSkyPixie are great aids to Stoopid.

Use of Brain/Mind is frowned upon by Stoopids cos they prefer to do stuff with Faith rather than LogicReason.

Answer 7

Emotion and desire is a good example. You know better but you do it anyways because you want to spend, over eat, sleep with strangers or give in to your addiction (may it be beer or some other type of drug.) because your desire will not let go till you do some thing about it.

Answer 8

Probably increasing reliance on convenient things like calculators and spell-check. * Notice those are both man-made and deemed unnatural.*

Answer 9

George Bush

Answer 10

Atheists!

Answer 11

The source of stupidy is people who ask stupid questions