Simple Stupidity

(‘Talking‘ with an old friend over a virtual flask of tea.)

“You know what’s really hard to get your head round? Really hard? Stupidity. Others’ stupidity.

“I mean, we can all think of someone you know who’s a bit stupid – maybe just some times, maybe even all the time. But I mean it’s hard to think that leaders are stupid. Or can be. Could be.

“I think we – all of us – we default to thinking leaders are intelligent. They might not be people you think you’d like or even respect, but you think that at least they’re intelligent. But my point is, that’s not guaranteed. I mean, there is no guarantee!

“That’s the default but you can’t be sure. Shouldn’t be sure.

“I know, I know: first define intelligent. But you know what I mean. Let’s face it, why should they be?

“You have to doubt. That should be your default. You have to ask questions. You have to double-check.

“And the kicker is that you have to double-check your own intelligence too. How dumb are you if you assume leaders are smart?”

~~~~~

“A picture for intelligence? Or stupidity? I don’t know. Let me think about it.

“How about a photo of some litter. A bloke I used to know said littering is shitting in your own nest. You have to be stupid to do that. Take a picture of litter.”