Understanding stupid people - any formal guidance?

[Benjaminpalma]

Apparently, I'm not stupid. I've got two degrees and a postgrad diploma to 'prove' this. I also consider myself to have sufficient social intelligence to be be reasonably successful in business.

But I'm no way near clever enough to understand - and more importantly cope with - stupid people.

I'm constantly overestimating them and expecting too much from them. Then I'm disappointed by them. Has anyone ever come across any sort of book or other formalised guidance on the subject? A sort of 'Idiots Guide to Idiots' - if that's not (oxy?!)moronic...

[snotrag]

Never argue with an idiot - they draw you down to their level, then beat you with experience.

[KrazyIvan]

You could start by getting down of your high horse

Or try and get a job at NASA, so your less likley to run in to "stupid" people.

[Neil H]

Profile said:

Region: Newcastle

Maybe you need to move.

[sportwagen]

Are you quite young? No disrespect OP, but I used to feel the same way when I was younger about folk I encountered in the workplace.

Stupidity may not be the reason, it may be laziness, apathy, lack of motivation etc.

[chim]

Are you kidding, this is PH, the book is based on us.

[scenario8]

I find narrow-mindedness to be much more of an issue. In my experience stupid people are no more or less inclined to realise their failings than "intelligent" people.

[ZOLLAR]

snotrag said:

Never argue with an idiot - they draw you down to their level, then beat you with experience.

This^^^ although its a bit of joke advise it does have alot of truth in it.

[chim]

ZOLLAR said:

snotrag said:

Never argue with an idiot - they draw you down to their level, then beat you with experience.

This^^^ although its a bit of joke advise it does have alot of truth in it.

Yip, that and "never argue with a dragon, as your crunchy and taste good with ketchup"

[Toni896]

I know a fair few "intelligent people" who lack common sense so they appear stupid ...

me im just thick as a 2x4 ...

[chim]

Toni896 said:

I know a fair few "intelligent people" who lack common sense so they appear stupid ...

me im just thick as a 2x4 ...

Thats 24x12 stupid






Oh, right, see what you done there

[AJS-]

If you're so clever surely you can figure it out without asking a bunch of random internet car enthusiasts?

[Twincam16]

scenario8 said:

I find narrow-mindedness to be much more of an issue. In my experience stupid people are no more or less inclined to realise their failings than "intelligent" people.

I find 'stupid' people aren't so much a problem as people who are generally unwilling to learn or let anything new into their brains, as they've spent years rationalising the world into (completely wrong) systems and explanations and absolutely nothing can convince them otherwise.

It's people like that who fall for simple diktats like 'speed kills', and continue to drive badly in a poorly-maintained car, because they've managed to rationalise 'road safety' down to 'speed kills'. Any explanation as to why they're wrong or the issue is more complicated is met with anger and mistrust as it threatens their simple, easily-understood outlook on life.

With some things it's trivial, with some things it's downright irritating, but I hear stories from friends and family who work in the medical profession, and when these people start rationalising and simplifying the concept of theirs and their children's health and wellbeing to the point of mistrusting and ignoring medical advice, the mindset becomes profoundly depressing, especially when it involves the parents of obese children too young to know better.

[5potTurbo]

OP: There's no link between qualifications and intelligence or common sense

There are people in this world with few or no qualifications who are very intelligent, but there are others who have no qualifications and who really are dumb fks.

I've recently been faced with a colleague who was really missing the basic points of the discussion we were having. I stood up and said, "Would you excuse me for a minute?", then left the meeting room, never to return.

I told my MD this person should not be involved in any projects at all as they're a liability to themselves and the company. He agreed. I think the individual will be "relieved from their duties", soon.

[Matt_N]

Worst "I've got two degrees and a post graduate diploma" post ever.

How many directorships do you have?

[Benjaminpalma]

5potTurbo said:

OP: There's no link between qualifications and intelligence or common sense

There are people in this world with few or no qualifications who are very intelligent, but there are others who have no qualifications and who really are dumb fks.

I've recently been faced with a colleague who was really missing the basic points of the discussion we were having. I stood up and said, "Would you excuse me for a minute?", then left the meeting room, never to return.

I told my MD this person should not be involved in any projects at all as they're a liability to themselves and the company. He agreed. I think the individual will be "relieved from their duties", soon.

OP here.

I agree. The stupid people I'm coming across have no common sense as well as little intelligence.

I also deal with some very, very wealthy individuals - most of whom have relatively little formal education - but they're razor sharp.

My tickets open doors and give reassurance - in the right context - but do nothing else.

I just want tried and tested techniques for dealing with them.

[stuttgartmetal]

You and your 2 degrees and pgdip eh?
Wasn't Albert Einstein just a postal clerk ?

Intelligence isn't measured accurately, with any uniformity or linearity by any means,is experiential and subjective.
And you sound like a right up imself tosser.

HTH

[fatboy b]

My sister is living proof that loads of quals doesn't make you intelligent.

[KrazyIvan]

Benjaminpalma said:

5potTurbo said:

OP: There's no link between qualifications and intelligence or common sense

There are people in this world with few or no qualifications who are very intelligent, but there are others who have no qualifications and who really are dumb fks.

I've recently been faced with a colleague who was really missing the basic points of the discussion we were having. I stood up and said, "Would you excuse me for a minute?", then left the meeting room, never to return.

I told my MD this person should not be involved in any projects at all as they're a liability to themselves and the company. He agreed. I think the individual will be "relieved from their duties", soon.

OP here.

I agree. The stupid people I'm coming across have no common sense as well as little intelligence.

I also deal with some very, very wealthy individuals - most of whom have relatively little formal education - but they're razor sharp.

My tickets open doors and give reassurance - in the right context - but do nothing else.

I just want tried and tested techniques for dealing with them.

Sorry OP, but you come across as a bit of a cock who is too full of his own self importance, and conviction that you are simply better then others.

If thats not the case then I am truly sorry, but thats how your last two post read to me.

[Neil H]

chim said:

ZOLLAR said:

snotrag said:

Never argue with an idiot - they draw you down to their level, then beat you with experience.

This^^^ although its a bit of joke advise it does have alot of truth in it.

Yip, that and "never argue with a dragon, as your crunchy and taste good with ketchup"

Also never argue with someone who doesn't know the difference between you're and your.