I’m finally writing a book now, whose subtitle is set: A Medievalist’s Guide to the 21st Century.
The tentative title is: They’re So Smart Cause We’re So Stupid.
I have, at long last, started to write up this ten-year promise by compiling a list of what I call,
Astoundingly Stupid Statements of the 21st Century
#ASSO21
(tentative list to appear at this blog, with requests for other examples from readers).
Up until now, I limited the list to statements that fulfilled two criteria:
- morally and/or empirically ludicrous
- people nod in agreement when they hear it
Now, I’d like to add a formal definition to “stupid.” I just came across an essay by an economic historian, Carlo Cipolla on “The Basic Laws of Human Stupidity.” In it, he gives a formal definition (based on game theory).
Definition of Stupid, Carlo Cipolla (Economic Historian):
A stupid person is a person who causes losses to another person or to a group of persons while himself deriving no gain and even possibly incurring losses.
In other words people who plays zero-sum games so badly, they unnecessarily create enemies and shoot themselves in the foot… losers.
Definition of Astoundingly Stupid People (ASP): RL:
An Astoundingly Stupid People are individuals who play into the hard, zero-sum, strategy of a declared enemy… repeatedly, with no apparent inkling of what they’re doing.
In other words, ASP are people who play zero-sum games so badly, they strengthen their worst enemies and shoot themselves in the head… suiciders.
Often ASP are convinced they are beyond all zero-sum games, and can bring everyone else along with them.
I welcome any examples readers would like to propose.
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