Friday, January 13, 2006
Smart vs Stupid: A Primer
There are some real differences between smart people and not so smart people. What follows is true. If you see yourself somewhere, that’s a sign that maybe you are on the smarter side of what I’m talking about. What I want to do here is list some of the basic differences between smart and stupid.
Stupid people think it’s enough to know things. Smart people know how to find things out.
Stupid people crave certainty. Smart people know that there’s only one thing for certain, and it isn’t all that pleasant to think about.
Stupid people like to look to others to see what they should be doing in any given situation. Smart people look at the situation and decide what to do based on what they see.
Smart or stupid, people are pretty good at doing things that they’ve done a hundred or more times before, like driving to the store for instance. However, when something changes suddenly, like a sinkhole in the middle of Main Street or a construction zone on Elm, stupid people generally are stymied as to what to do now, whereas smart people generally figure out to avoid the sinkhole, where the lanes are in the cone zone, or how to go around Elm Street, right away and without being told.
Drinking makes everyone stupid. This is demonstrated in simulator tests with experienced pilots, where even drunken pilots can handle routine tasks, but only the smart (sober) ones can handle an unexpected crisis. This is still true the next morning after they’re otherwise sober, by the way. It takes the effect at least ten hours to wear off.
Stupid people wait to be told what to do with their life. Smart people generally figure out how to live without direct instructions.
And, of course, stupid people take a list such as this one for gospel truth, whereas smart people are skeptical about every claim they read, even if it’s from another smart person.
Stupid people think it’s enough to know things. Smart people know how to find things out.
Stupid people crave certainty. Smart people know that there’s only one thing for certain, and it isn’t all that pleasant to think about.
Stupid people like to look to others to see what they should be doing in any given situation. Smart people look at the situation and decide what to do based on what they see.
Smart or stupid, people are pretty good at doing things that they’ve done a hundred or more times before, like driving to the store for instance. However, when something changes suddenly, like a sinkhole in the middle of Main Street or a construction zone on Elm, stupid people generally are stymied as to what to do now, whereas smart people generally figure out to avoid the sinkhole, where the lanes are in the cone zone, or how to go around Elm Street, right away and without being told.
Drinking makes everyone stupid. This is demonstrated in simulator tests with experienced pilots, where even drunken pilots can handle routine tasks, but only the smart (sober) ones can handle an unexpected crisis. This is still true the next morning after they’re otherwise sober, by the way. It takes the effect at least ten hours to wear off.
Stupid people wait to be told what to do with their life. Smart people generally figure out how to live without direct instructions.
And, of course, stupid people take a list such as this one for gospel truth, whereas smart people are skeptical about every claim they read, even if it’s from another smart person.
