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> Stupidity is a very specific cognitive failing. Crudely put, it occurs when you don’t have the right conceptual tools for the job. The result is an inability

> Stupidity is a very specific cognitive failing. Crudely put, it occurs when you don’t have the right conceptual tools for the job. The result is an inability to make sense of what is happening and a resulting tendency to force phenomena into crude, distorting pigeonholes. Most western governments: "Don't worry, COVID is just like the Flu"

h2odragon 5y ago
"covid is just like the flu" or "covid is just like smallpox" are both stupid; and even more stupid is the notion that those are the only choices A hallmark of human stupid I've noticed is the "It's what we're supposed to do" factor. We know its dumb but we do it anyway because "its what the job description says", or "its what the boss would want" or so on. Where we abnegate our judgement for that of another is often the root of it; when that other's judgment is unknown to us, it's always stupid.
- jonplackett 5y ago
  Exactly! But it was too big of a shift in perspective for most to get their head around, and they clung to these ideas - Britain apparently based out entire response to covid on our Flu pandemic plan (which went... badly)
bobthechef 5y ago
I don't know which planet you're from, but on planet Earth, all Western governments are currently in the middle of aggressively coercing their citizens into getting vaccinated.
- tstrimple 5y ago
  You're simply wrong. We've got plenty of conservative politicians celebrating low vaccination rates and pushing anti-vaccine misinformation. https://wset.com/news/local/us-rep-greene-congratulates-crowd-for-low-vaccination-rate-promotes-gun-violence https://wset.com/news/local/us-rep-greene-congratulates-crow... https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/71921 https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/71921
  - AnimalMuppet 5y ago
    Those politicians aren't "the government", though. bobthechef's claim, as stated, is accurate. Your counterclaim, while also accurate, does not refute bob's point.
    - tstrimple 5y ago
      That's facile. These are politicians who make up the government. They represent half of the two party system we have in this country. Is disingenuous at best to claim she isn't a representative of the government. Honestly it's pretty disgusting that you're going to pretend Republicans haven't been downplaying the virus and doing what they can to prevent localities from taking precautions against it for over a year now. Either you're dangerously ignorant to the steps Republicans are taking to prevent us from handling this virus or you're deliberately spreading misinformation. Either way, you're a net negative to the discussion and actively causing harm with your misinformation.
      - AnimalMuppet 5y ago
        Representative Greene does not speak for the federal government. She does not set federal policy. She does not represent the government; she represents one district. She has less than 1/435th of the power of the House of Representatives. ("Less" because she chairs no committees.) I don't deny your claim about "celebrating low vaccination rates and pushing anti-vaccine misinformation". But you are simply wrong that Greene and people like her represent the government. They don't. (In the same way that AOC, say, doesn't represent the government. And, in fact, AOC and Greene can't both represent the US government.) > Either you're dangerously ignorant to the steps Republicans are taking to prevent us from handling this virus or you're deliberately spreading misinformation. Either way, you're a net negative to the discussion and actively causing harm with your misinformation. Yeah... maybe you ought to cool it with your accusations when you are actually misrepresenting my point.
        tstrimple 5y ago
        Representatives of the government don't represent the government. Got it. Makes complete sense. Thanks for your contribution.
- jonplackett 5y ago
  I'm talking about the beginning of the pandemic. Remember that bit where our leaders literally went to shake hands with covid patients, in hospitals, without masks on? Most also compared it to Flu. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/may/05/boris-johnson-boasted-of-shaking-hands-on-day-sage-warned-not-to https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/may/05/boris-johns...

h2odragon 5y ago

"covid is just like the flu" or "covid is just like smallpox" are both stupid; and even more stupid is the notion that those are the only choices A hallmark of human stupid I've noticed is the "It's what we're supposed to do" factor. We know its dumb but we do it anyway because "its what the job description says", or "its what the boss would want" or so on. Where we abnegate our judgement for that of another is often the root of it; when that other's judgment is unknown to us, it's always stupid.

jonplackett 5y ago
Exactly! But it was too big of a shift in perspective for most to get their head around, and they clung to these ideas - Britain apparently based out entire response to covid on our Flu pandemic plan (which went... badly)

bobthechef 5y ago

I don't know which planet you're from, but on planet Earth, all Western governments are currently in the middle of aggressively coercing their citizens into getting vaccinated.

tstrimple 5y ago
You're simply wrong. We've got plenty of conservative politicians celebrating low vaccination rates and pushing anti-vaccine misinformation. https://wset.com/news/local/us-rep-greene-congratulates-crowd-for-low-vaccination-rate-promotes-gun-violence https://wset.com/news/local/us-rep-greene-congratulates-crow... https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/71921 https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/71921
- AnimalMuppet 5y ago
  Those politicians aren't "the government", though. bobthechef's claim, as stated, is accurate. Your counterclaim, while also accurate, does not refute bob's point.
  - tstrimple 5y ago
    That's facile. These are politicians who make up the government. They represent half of the two party system we have in this country. Is disingenuous at best to claim she isn't a representative of the government. Honestly it's pretty disgusting that you're going to pretend Republicans haven't been downplaying the virus and doing what they can to prevent localities from taking precautions against it for over a year now. Either you're dangerously ignorant to the steps Republicans are taking to prevent us from handling this virus or you're deliberately spreading misinformation. Either way, you're a net negative to the discussion and actively causing harm with your misinformation.
    - AnimalMuppet 5y ago
      Representative Greene does not speak for the federal government. She does not set federal policy. She does not represent the government; she represents one district. She has less than 1/435th of the power of the House of Representatives. ("Less" because she chairs no committees.) I don't deny your claim about "celebrating low vaccination rates and pushing anti-vaccine misinformation". But you are simply wrong that Greene and people like her represent the government. They don't. (In the same way that AOC, say, doesn't represent the government. And, in fact, AOC and Greene can't both represent the US government.) > Either you're dangerously ignorant to the steps Republicans are taking to prevent us from handling this virus or you're deliberately spreading misinformation. Either way, you're a net negative to the discussion and actively causing harm with your misinformation. Yeah... maybe you ought to cool it with your accusations when you are actually misrepresenting my point.
      - tstrimple 5y ago
        Representatives of the government don't represent the government. Got it. Makes complete sense. Thanks for your contribution.
jonplackett 5y ago
I'm talking about the beginning of the pandemic. Remember that bit where our leaders literally went to shake hands with covid patients, in hospitals, without masks on? Most also compared it to Flu. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/may/05/boris-johnson-boasted-of-shaking-hands-on-day-sage-warned-not-to https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/may/05/boris-johns...