Two Levels of Stupid

Don't be stupid when talking to stupid people

It seems there are (at least) two levels of stupid.

Level 1 stupidity is being totally uninformed. Blaming Albo for increasing fuel prices, for example. Or hopping on social media and supporting One Nation, thinking that’s the answer to your problems. That’s the first level of stupid.

But the second level of stupid is when people who actually understand the issues – for example, understanding that Albanese doesn’t control fuel prices – then berate the ignorant people telling them they’re stupid. Thinking that’s going to achieve anything. That approach is an informed level of stupid. We could call it high-intelligence stupidity.

Instead, what we need to do is listen to people, understand their problems, and gently educate them so they aren’t as ignorant. That takes time, which is why it’s often easier to call them stupid.

But studies have shown that if you take the time to sit down with someone, understand their problem – for example, they’re having trouble continuing to farm because of fuel prices – empathise with them, and then gently introduce what the wider issues are. The problem is complex. It’s driven by the Middle East. It’s driven by fuel companies having to increase their prices due to lack of supply. ‘Educating’ people on the real facts, but with kindness and compassion – that seems to be the only way we change minds.

So don’t be stupid when you’re talking to people who are stupid.