Fun Facts For The Day – Special Expanded Stupidity Edition

The Science Of Stupidity

September 22, 2023

The Secret Word Is Stupid

Scientists say hydrogen is the most abundant substance in the universe. I disagree. I say the most abundant substance in the universe is stupidity.
                               Frank Zappa, a mother of invention

One of America's major political parties, which shall remain brainless, believes fervently in the stupidity of science; it turns out they have the whole thing backwards. No surprise there. 

One week ago we presented the idea of “artificial ignorance.” A few days later cognitive neuroscientist Bobby Azarian published an opinion piece titled “A neuroscientist explains why stupidity is an existential threat to America.”

Excerpts from the article:

Although the term "stupidity" may seem derogatory or insulting, it is actually a scientific concept that refers to a specific type of cognitive failure. It is important to realize that stupidity is not simply a lack of intelligence or knowledge, but rather a failure to use one's cognitive abilities effectively. This means that you can be “smart” while having a low IQ, or no expertise in anything.

Stupidity is a consequence of a failure to be aware of one’s own limitations, and this type of cognitive failure has a scientific name: the Dunning-Kruger effect.

The Dunning-Kruger effect is a well-known psychological phenomenon that describes the tendency for individuals to overestimate their level of intelligence, knowledge, or competence in a particular area. They may also simultaneously misjudge the intelligence, expertise, or competence of others. In other words, they are ignorant of their own ignorance.

What we are dealing with here is an epidemic of stupidity that will only get worse as divisions continue to increase.

Here is the picture that appeared under the headline – likely not chosen by the author, but eminently apt:

Lauren Boebert – Stupidity personified and a shitting member of Congress

This patently non-stupid essay, explaining that stupidity is not a pejorative, sort of puts a damper on much of what we do here at Paying Attention™. It has not been uncommon for the word ‘stupid’ to appear on these virtual pages over the years. That term has always been meant as either an honest, heartfelt and objectively verifiable assessment and synonym for idiocy or dumbass and/or the politest insult applicable to the subject in question. Learning that stupid is actually a scientific concept implies that we must find a replacement.

The word dipshit leaps to mind, but it doesn’t have the grammatical dexterity we have thus far ascribed to ‘stupid,’ so we’ll have to see.

I Just Called To Say You're Stupid

Speaking of stupid – pejorative or otherwise, two days ago, decidedly non-stupid Attorney General Merrick Garland was caused to ride in the stupid, silly and sickening clown car that is the current House Judiciary Committee, presently chaired by stupid (non-pejorative usage) professional moron – or dipshit, if you prefer – (intentionally, and entirely justified pejorative) Jim “I See Nothing” Jordan.

Jim Jordan seen here, appropriately, portrayed as a dimwitted Nazi

Jordan, who has been in violation of a Congressional subpoena for nearly 500 days, and who remains under suspicion for seeing nothing that was happening right under his stupid (oops, force of habit) nose while his fellow wrestling coach was sexually assaulting the young men under their charge, has been overseeing (as opposed to his usual overlooking) the most farcical “investigation” since the dozen or so Benghazi “hearings” overseen by coif-challenged dummkopf Trey Gowdy, or perhaps the never-ending obsession with Hillary Clinton’s emails, which to be fair, did ultimately help derail Clinton’s presidential aspirations, leaving our country in the hands of a sexual predator conman with an IQ preceded by a minus-sign and “hair” and skin tone by Crayola. And who unquestionably qualifies as stupid in all its scientific and colloquial applications.

The extremely un-stupid Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and his
clock ticking off Jim Jordan’s ongoing subpoena dodge

The committee is allegedly looking into the heinous unfairness being foisted upon the American public as a result of the unnecessary indictment of the hapless drug addict Hunter Biden and the completely necessary, utterly justified multiple indictments of disgraced…Donald Jerk-Store Trump.

Merrick Garland for his part is unaccustomed to playing the circus freak. Garland has but one mode. He is serious, dedicated and more by-the-book than the book itself. Needless to say, he was not a good fit for those throwing a fit.

Liars And Traitors And Boors! Oh My!

Exactly WTF (the ‘W’ stands for where) where in hell does the ex-Republican (now Fascist) Party find their candidates? We know where they found Trump – a vapid reality show. Where does one go to recruit people like Jim Jordan, Lauren Boebert, Matt Gaetz, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Kevin McCarthy, and too many others (and that's just in the House)? Flat Earth conventions (these are real things)? UFO abductee support groups? I know there is no shortage of dipshits in this country, but this bunch of brain-damaged yahoos are surely the cream of the crap.

Hello Dummy

Dummy ventriloquist and dummy dummy

And you don’t have to take my word for it – you should, but you don’t have to – here’s Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY):

This is stupidity. The idea that we’re going to shut the government down, when we don’t control the Senate, we don’t control the White House…These people can’t define a win, they don’t know how to take yes for an answer. It’s a clown show…You keep running lunatics, you’re gonna be in this position.

Anyway, that’s a lot of facts for one day.
Not sure how much fun was involved, but at least it wasn’t stupid.