Four Signs You’re Secretly Stupid
#2 — You think other people are stupid
Openly stupid people are a blessing.
They know they’re stupid, others know about it, and everybody acts accordingly — it makes things easier. We should praise openly stupid people for their self-awareness, but society usually discriminates against them instead.
That’s sad.
On the other hand, secretly stupid people are a plague.
They pretend to be intelligent, or, worse, think they are, and usually look down on people because they think others are stupid.
You can’t get any less self-aware than that.
Secretly stupid people cause loads of problems.
They don’t read instruction manuals, don’t listen to advice, and behave as if they were experts in everything from driving cars to choosing the next president. Since they’re not experts (at all), they end up creating problems that take everybody else much more time and effort than would have been necessary if they had admitted they were stupid in the first place.
But there’s hope.
Hope for a society where more secretly stupid people admit their stupidity and become openly stupid people. They would ask more questions before making decisions. They would collaborate with others to find better solutions. And they would generally listen to what intelligent people like me have to say.
Kidding.
I’m also secretly stupid, but working on being more openly stupid. It’s a process.
I know how you feel right now because I’ve been there.
Secretly stupid people don’t like to be called stupid. The truth hurts, and if we could brush it under the carpet and never look at it again, we would feel better.
Temporarily.
Avoiding the truth is a short-term strategy that will make the reveal hurt much more than necessary. And believe me, the truth will always come back to the surface, even if it takes decades or centuries.
On the other hand, facing the truth allows you to take a small bite every day instead of swallowing it in one big gulp that would make you choke. As openly stupid people say, a small truth a day doesn’t keep anything away but helps you live better and be more self-aware.
Secretly stupid people agree people are generally stupid. They even agree that 90% of the population is secretly stupid but make one crucial mistake in their estimate — they don’t include themselves in the group of stupids.
Secretly stupid people take things personally. Deep down, they know they’re stupid but don’t want to admit it. That’s why they’re quick to misinterpret any situation as potentially uncovering their stupidity, and they get upset about it. For example, they get upset about me telling them they’re secretly stupid.
But it’s the truth.
Secretly stupid people should open up and learn not to care about their stupidity. We all have our stupid sides, and that’s all right.
Does the humpback whale care if a seagull takes a shit on its back?
Nope.
Be more like the humpback whale.
Or like a Buddha.
It’s the same thing.
Recap for the secretly stupid among us
Secretly stupid people don’t like fuzzy talks about their stupidity. They prefer a clear list of four signs, so they can pretend it doesn’t concern them.
Here you go.
Secretly stupid people
- Think they’re intelligent
- Think other people are stupid
- Think they know better than everybody else
- Disagree with the idea one can be intelligent and secretly stupid at the same time, depending on the circumstances.
Ready to become openly stupid? Get on board the Smillew Top Hat Seminar (and join almost 8,888 others).
