Smart people don't think others are stupid (2012)
Claims that “smart people don’t think others are stupid” prompt wide-ranging debate over whether stupidity is an innate trait, a situational behavior, or simply an unhelpful label. Commenters contrast epistemic humility and trying to understand others’ perspectives with the reality that some people consistently make poor decisions, show weak reasoning, or are medically cognitively impaired. Many argue that, regardless of where intelligence actually lies on a spectrum, reflexively calling others stupid is more about ego and social dynamics than about accurately understanding people or problems.
Reactions to the core claim
- Many disagree with “there are no stupid people, only stupid actions,” arguing that chronically foolish behavior justifies calling someone “stupid” in plain language.
- Others see the framing as an aspirational mindset: avoiding the label “stupid” pushes deeper thinking and better engagement, even if it’s not literally true.
- Some call the piece oversimplified or “corporate positivity,” saying it ignores malice, willful ignorance, and clinically low cognitive ability.
Is stupidity a trait or a behavior?
- One camp insists clear variation in innate intelligence exists, just like variation in height or strength; denying this is seen as wishful thinking.
- Another camp emphasizes behavior, context, motivation, and opportunity (education, trauma, interest) as often more important than raw ability.
- Several argue that nearly everyone is “smart somewhere, stupid somewhere,” across domains and situations.
Social, emotional, and philosophical angles
- Multiple comments recast the issue as wisdom or maturity, not raw IQ: smart-but-immature people often do call others stupid; experience can soften this.
- Some stress humility: if you think classics or famous thinkers are idiotic, it’s likely you are missing depth rather than having outsmarted them.
- Others highlight a “theory of mind error”: very smart people may be unable to imagine what truly low-ability cognition is like, over-attributing problems to misinformation or bad schooling.
Online discourse, politics, and AI
- Several note that internet dynamics (anonymity, karma, outrage, “drive‑by” quips) incentivize calling others stupid instead of engaging.
- Political threads are cited as prime examples where opposing views are dismissed as “stupid or evil” rather than understood in context.
- Some worry that LLM‑generated content and engagement farming flood the space, making thoughtful responses feel wasted.
Ethics and pragmatics of calling people stupid
- Many see attacking intelligence as inherently belittling and often counterproductive, regardless of factual accuracy.
- Others argue that in high‑stakes domains (medicine, engineering, policy) soft‑pedaling incompetence is dangerous; accurate assessment matters even if it hurts.
- A common middle ground: recognize real cognitive differences, but judge people more on choices, effort, and impact than on perceived innate intelligence.