Revisit Laws of Stupidity

 

Revisit Laws of Stupidity

This post may be quite brief, as I am breaking in a new computer. It is proving to be less than a seamless transition.

The Laws of Stupidity set forth in the video at the link above, is a sociological and analytical "tool", so to speak. Revisiting it because it may be useful in some way. According to the video, stupidity cannot be helped, so maybe ignorance can. If you know where somebody may be coming from, in terms of this theory, it may help in understanding that person.

Stupidity defined is the effect one's actions have on oneself and others. The effect can be beneficial or harmful. Thus, stupid acts don't benefit anybody; neither the person doing it, nor those affected by the acts. Stupid actions are said to be dangerous because they are unpredictable. Actions of intelligent people tend to follow incentives. Stupid people don't seem to act that way. Their acts are harmful to themselves and others. No doubt that it can at least seem dangerous that a person cannot be influenced by incentives, and their actions can be harmful.

You can guard against the bad effects of "bad" people who do harmful things provided that their acts are following some sort of incentive.

The bad person can be deterred, but the stupid person cannot. There are two other types of people. There are "helpless" people who get harmed, but don't harm others. Perhaps they could be helped with education. The fate of nations may be determined by how many of those who engage in win-win actions. These are the people who engage in actions that not only help themselves, but help others. This is the ideal. If a society doesn't deter bad actors, and doesn't produce enough "win-win" intelligent types; and at the same time do nothing about the stupid ones, that society is in trouble.

Since "win-win" is the ideal sort of behavior, perhaps one could aspire to it. Even if you fail, you won't be stupid, or evil. At worst, you may be one of the "helpless" types.