Never underestimate the depths and the abundance of stupidity. Whenever you think that the lowest point possible of intelligence has been reached, there is no shortage of people who start grabbing shovels.
As I kept trying to explain to an old friend: You have seen the evidence, and you have seen the experts explaining why it’s real. That you still don’t believe it is not the fault of the evidence.
Soon, a Trump Disciple will be along to claim that there really, really, really IS a ton of evidence that proves widespread voter fraud.
Really.
The “evidence” is undetectable, of course, but it obviously exists because so many claim it exists and it’s up to the individual states to prove that it doesn’t.
.
Also, there is no connection between Russia and anyone in the Trump administration.
Social devolution continues while technology advances. For decades, we have been talking about dealing with this sociological rolling disaster. No one seems to get the wheels turning. Perhaps a fair-sized solar emission will save us (if it doesn’t fry us!)
“bringing about an era of enlightenment”. The price of that enlightenment was the death of Officer Brian Sicknick caused by the Trump Insurrection. Lest we forget.
A mark of the “Time of Recompense,” according to the Prophet Hosea: Insanity is taken to be truth, and vice versa. Sometimes those OT guys were onto something.
Let’s assume that the theory is correct: When stupidity hits critical mass we will reject fantasy explanations that exist only the minds of the deranged (and con-men trying to sucker us into ‘investing’ in their ideas) and turn to reason. However, it would suggest we haven’t hit critical mass yet. And you need to wonder, how much lower can we sink?
Like the scientific fact that XX=female and XY=male? Seems a certain group is wallowing in ‘mass stupidity’ by denying this scientific fact. However, there are glimpses of enlightenment out there. Let’s see Wiley use this as an example.
I think it was Dale Carnegie in his book “How to Win Friends and Influence People” that said, “A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.” So, it’s just better to save your breath because it’s a waste of time.
I have a Cousin Who insists on bouncing our conversations from one outrage topic to another. He uses my interest areas as springboard from one topics to another. He cannot understand why I am not outraged with him. When I point out areas or evidence that refute his reasons for outrage, he moves on to the newest outrage. I feel like I’m being used as a verbal punching bag. If he weren’t one of my last remaining family members…
Trump and the now Republican party is built on “us against them” and send us money so we can be on top. Intellectualism is a crime. Reality is what I say it is.
I was born when Ike was President. We had dreams of flying cars, 30 hour workweeks, world harmony, and an end to poverty. Having just experienced 4 years of tRumplestiltskin, his counterparts, and their followers around the world, I wonder whether the human race will be around in 100 years. So long as politicians choose party over country, and people choose tribe over humanity, it doesn’t look good.
Not only the social media, but Faux Newz and the GQP.
Those who say the ‘flat earthers’ have their right to believe, I say no they don’t. It’s like saying $15.00/hr for a 40 hour work week is $750.00, not true.
Lately, multiple righties told me that “perception is reality”. The fact that this phrase is going around makes me believe that it is the latest ‘talking point’. But I do try to assure them that reality is in fact reality. Justifying willful ignorance by claiming it’s your “perception” is sad.
Flat Earth, a particular God or Gods being the absolute one, the Earth as the center of the universe, internal demons and other bogies causing sickness, women and minorities being subhuman, what’s going on today is nothing new.
Welcome to the club. ‘Still waiting for the Mueller investigation to turn up any evidence; ’still waiting for Nancy’s crew to show any reasons justifying impeachment. Twice. Waiting for Godot. …
Socrates once said that the only thing he really knew was the extent of his own ignorance. He did not, however, proclaim ignorance as a virtue. His attempts to teach critical thinking to his students earned him a death sentence. As Hoke remarked to Miss Daisy, “things ain’t changed all that much.”
My sister-in-law sent me a piece that had multiple factual errors. I returned it with all the corrections added. Her response: “Oh, you look up everything.”I’ve given up trying to correct her notions.
The con artist fox from “Pogo”, Seminole Sam, would appear to be live and well (and real!) these days. That probably explains more than a little of the Qanon and like-minded insanities…….
There are 8 methods of making decisions (arriving at conclusions). In order of reliability:
(1) Logic (limited usefulness, and can’t say anything about the premises that go into it)
(2) Reason (the legal standard, heavily larded with considerations of the practical)
(3) Confidence (in things, based on their track record of previous performance)
(4) Trust (in people, based on their track records, offset by varying motives and conditions)
(5) Chance (coin flips between reasonably evenly matched alternatives)
(6) Obedience (not necessarily the wisest or best for you, but at least you don’t get beat up)
(7) Hope (pretty unlikely, but one can always wish)
(8) Faith (last and deservedly least, arriving at a conclusion for which there is absolutely no supporting evidence and frequently a great deal of opposing evidence; nobody would use this terrible method of deciding if it weren’t for the priest class, which praises it to the skies and tries to conflate it with trust and confidence, because there’s no way anybody would ever believe all of their horseshit without it)
HidariMak1 about 3 years ago
Never underestimate the depths and the abundance of stupidity. Whenever you think that the lowest point possible of intelligence has been reached, there is no shortage of people who start grabbing shovels.
jasonsnakelover about 3 years ago
Help! Help! My phone’s taken on a life of its own and is shooting laser beams at me!
GreasyOldTam about 3 years ago
I hope that !) Jeffrey is right, and 2) I live long enough to see it. (Not really expecting to.)
Concretionist about 3 years ago
As I kept trying to explain to an old friend: You have seen the evidence, and you have seen the experts explaining why it’s real. That you still don’t believe it is not the fault of the evidence.
braindead Premium Member about 3 years ago
Soon, a Trump Disciple will be along to claim that there really, really, really IS a ton of evidence that proves widespread voter fraud.
Really.
The “evidence” is undetectable, of course, but it obviously exists because so many claim it exists and it’s up to the individual states to prove that it doesn’t.
.
Also, there is no connection between Russia and anyone in the Trump administration.
#TraitorTrump
the geeezer about 3 years ago
Stupidity is contagious , like the virus !!
Kind&Kinder about 3 years ago
Social devolution continues while technology advances. For decades, we have been talking about dealing with this sociological rolling disaster. No one seems to get the wheels turning. Perhaps a fair-sized solar emission will save us (if it doesn’t fry us!)
c141starlifter about 3 years ago
Looks like my brother after the third brewski.
For a Just and Peaceful World about 3 years ago
“bringing about an era of enlightenment”. The price of that enlightenment was the death of Officer Brian Sicknick caused by the Trump Insurrection. Lest we forget.
dot-the-I about 3 years ago
A mark of the “Time of Recompense,” according to the Prophet Hosea: Insanity is taken to be truth, and vice versa. Sometimes those OT guys were onto something.
mikeyman about 3 years ago
Expert Breakdown. Ex- washed up has been. Spurt – drip under pressure.
Lawrence.S about 3 years ago
Let’s assume that the theory is correct: When stupidity hits critical mass we will reject fantasy explanations that exist only the minds of the deranged (and con-men trying to sucker us into ‘investing’ in their ideas) and turn to reason. However, it would suggest we haven’t hit critical mass yet. And you need to wonder, how much lower can we sink?
Gandalf about 3 years ago
Like the scientific fact that XX=female and XY=male? Seems a certain group is wallowing in ‘mass stupidity’ by denying this scientific fact. However, there are glimpses of enlightenment out there. Let’s see Wiley use this as an example.
Huckleberry Hiroshima about 3 years ago
Trumpanzees have always been here, walking among us, nameless. Now they have a “leader.” lol
sandpiper about 3 years ago
Mencken said: nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people. Truer words . . .
vaughnrl2003 Premium Member about 3 years ago
Common sense is an uncommon virtue. Stupid is all over the place.
MS72 about 3 years ago
Mass stupidity is real. New Hampshire is better.
monya_43 about 3 years ago
I think it was Dale Carnegie in his book “How to Win Friends and Influence People” that said, “A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.” So, it’s just better to save your breath because it’s a waste of time.
mrwiskers about 3 years ago
I have a Cousin Who insists on bouncing our conversations from one outrage topic to another. He uses my interest areas as springboard from one topics to another. He cannot understand why I am not outraged with him. When I point out areas or evidence that refute his reasons for outrage, he moves on to the newest outrage. I feel like I’m being used as a verbal punching bag. If he weren’t one of my last remaining family members…
Lenavid about 3 years ago
Everything is fine. Just keep working, shopping, and paying taxes so we can build back a better Amerika.
smgray about 3 years ago
Trump and the now Republican party is built on “us against them” and send us money so we can be on top. Intellectualism is a crime. Reality is what I say it is.
DiminishedFirst about 3 years ago
I do not appreciate Wiley giving this criminal any more press than he has already received.
kv450 about 3 years ago
I was born when Ike was President. We had dreams of flying cars, 30 hour workweeks, world harmony, and an end to poverty. Having just experienced 4 years of tRumplestiltskin, his counterparts, and their followers around the world, I wonder whether the human race will be around in 100 years. So long as politicians choose party over country, and people choose tribe over humanity, it doesn’t look good.
JoeStoppinghem Premium Member about 3 years ago
Not only the social media, but Faux Newz and the GQP.
Those who say the ‘flat earthers’ have their right to believe, I say no they don’t. It’s like saying $15.00/hr for a 40 hour work week is $750.00, not true.
Michael G. about 3 years ago
Groucho: Now then. Is my woid good enough for you?
Chico: I should say not!
moderateisntleft about 3 years ago
Lately, multiple righties told me that “perception is reality”. The fact that this phrase is going around makes me believe that it is the latest ‘talking point’. But I do try to assure them that reality is in fact reality. Justifying willful ignorance by claiming it’s your “perception” is sad.
rwcan about 3 years ago
Agreed. You just keep saying there is no evidence. Chanting repetitively is the fix.
comixbomix about 3 years ago
No, in case you were wondering, it doesn’t help if those people are schmact with facts.
mourdac Premium Member about 3 years ago
Flat Earth, a particular God or Gods being the absolute one, the Earth as the center of the universe, internal demons and other bogies causing sickness, women and minorities being subhuman, what’s going on today is nothing new.
Linguist about 3 years ago
There’s an old Texas expression ( where else? ) that expanded just a bit, fits today’s arc … " Man’s just plumb ate-up with a case of the dumbass! "
nednewbie about 3 years ago
An MIT software called “World 3” predicted 50 years ago that humanity will kill itself by around 2040
Holden Awn about 3 years ago
Welcome to the club. ‘Still waiting for the Mueller investigation to turn up any evidence; ’still waiting for Nancy’s crew to show any reasons justifying impeachment. Twice. Waiting for Godot. …
Bookworm about 3 years ago
Socrates once said that the only thing he really knew was the extent of his own ignorance. He did not, however, proclaim ignorance as a virtue. His attempts to teach critical thinking to his students earned him a death sentence. As Hoke remarked to Miss Daisy, “things ain’t changed all that much.”
mistercatworks about 3 years ago
In schools these days “critical thinking” seems to be limited to the difference between Playstation and XBox. :)
mistercatworks about 3 years ago
This is how civilizations die – from failure to recognize and deal with inconvenient truths.
willie_mctell about 3 years ago
Thesis, antithesis, synthesis.
swenbu Premium Member about 3 years ago
Love the drawing of the horned dude from the Capitol invasion! (Forgive for noticing the art but not the politics.)
DCBakerEsq about 3 years ago
Luckily, Earth will be rid of Humanity soon. No later than 2045.
ursaline about 3 years ago
My sister-in-law sent me a piece that had multiple factual errors. I returned it with all the corrections added. Her response: “Oh, you look up everything.”I’ve given up trying to correct her notions.
Godfreydaniel about 3 years ago
The con artist fox from “Pogo”, Seminole Sam, would appear to be live and well (and real!) these days. That probably explains more than a little of the Qanon and like-minded insanities…….
Curiosity Premium Member about 3 years ago
I’ve long suspected that Q is a Russian Troll, but wait…..an AI Troll?
Richard S Russell Premium Member about 3 years ago
There are 8 methods of making decisions (arriving at conclusions). In order of reliability:
(1) Logic (limited usefulness, and can’t say anything about the premises that go into it)
(2) Reason (the legal standard, heavily larded with considerations of the practical)
(3) Confidence (in things, based on their track record of previous performance)
(4) Trust (in people, based on their track records, offset by varying motives and conditions)
(5) Chance (coin flips between reasonably evenly matched alternatives)
(6) Obedience (not necessarily the wisest or best for you, but at least you don’t get beat up)
(7) Hope (pretty unlikely, but one can always wish)
(8) Faith (last and deservedly least, arriving at a conclusion for which there is absolutely no supporting evidence and frequently a great deal of opposing evidence; nobody would use this terrible method of deciding if it weren’t for the priest class, which praises it to the skies and tries to conflate it with trust and confidence, because there’s no way anybody would ever believe all of their horseshit without it)
gcottay about 3 years ago
There are still Trumpublicans in elected office who sing in the Stop the Steal Chorus. I only wish ignorance were an adequate explanation.
Bicycle Dude about 3 years ago
And now 45 wants to start his own social media platform. God help us all should he actually succeed.
Bilan about 3 years ago
Jeffrey’s hypothesis simplified: The pendulum swings back and forth, over and over.
dot-the-I about 3 years ago
Imagine a round table “discussion,” cups full: Bob, Qanon shaman, Captain Eddie.
christelisbetty about 3 years ago
The inmates ran the assylum for 4 years.They have yet to accept that they no longer do.
bakana about 3 years ago
Even Bob the Republican Brother finds those RepubliQans just a bit Insane.
lindz.coop Premium Member about 3 years ago
Remember enlightenment?
bjbutler777 Premium Member about 3 years ago
Comment above is one of the best commentaries I have seen in a very long time! Thank you…