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By Dr pius musau
Daily human interactions bring into focus some distinct groups of people: the hapless downtrodden, the intelligent person whose gains also reflect on societal advancements, the thieving bandit and the stupid being who inflicts losses to others at no gain to self. Science tells us that the stupid group is more abundant than any other, strides the five continents in equal proportions and is found among all classes of society. Among the helpless and the bandits are subgroups with strong drift towards the stupid segment.
Defining stupidity
Stupidity is the absence of intelligence, wit or sense and is best manifested in taking action that causes losses to others at no gain or, on occasions, resulting in losses to the initiator of the action. It may be:
• Innate or hereditary, where the constant trait of an individual is stupid moves.
• Assumed, Where others consider an individual stupid on the basis of societal judgment or acknowledged tests.
• Reactionary as a result of overwhelming events that cause regression of intellect to safeguard one’s basic survival.
It is free of ignorance, is willful and is seen by others as consistently counterproductive every time there is a form of engagement. Every category of society has its proportionate share of stupid people and effects of stupidity are enhanced by social, political or institutional status. Stupid people are said to be the most dangerous of all human beings.
Understanding stupidity
• The number of stupid people is legion and keeps increasing depending on prevailing circumstances. A character previously presumed intelligent in one form of interaction often gets a chance to show stupidity in another.
• There are stupid people in the developed as there are in the developing world.
• Stupidity is independent of other traits a person has; there are stupid illiterates as there are stupid professors.
• Most of the power in business, finance, diplomacy and politics is in the hands of the stupid.
• High abilities and achievements are often linked with serious stupidity.
• A society sinks when the stupid, together with bandits and the helpless with stupid traits are given prominent roles. It advances when pure intelligence or blended with helplessness and banditry are given prominence.
Stupidity is a way of life. Nature makes it a challenge to society for in the management of our collective stupidity lies our communal happiness.
The writer is a Consultant Urologist and Lecturer at the Department of Surgery, Moi University, School of Medicine
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