(OT) Everybody knows that the world is full of stupid people...

[Mouseferatu]

You know, I expect a certain amount of idiocy when I take the plunge and go out amongst normal (non-Geek ) people. But the other day, I overheard something that very nearly fried every synapse in my brain.

I'm at Best Buy, standing in the Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror section of the DVDs. And two women are walking past me in the other direction, looking at movies. And one of them makes some comment about how there are two movies out based on Anne Rice's novels.

Interview With the Vampire...

and Bram Stoker's Dracula!!!

I was literally stunned. Even if I'd wanted to say something to a complete stranger--such as "What the hell do you think the 'Bram Stoker' in that title refers to, and anyway how culturally moronic are you, you stupid waste of bad hair dye?!"--I was physically incapable of doing so.

Man. I still twinge just thinking about it, and I just had to share...

 

[Cedric]

I had one of those "stupid people" tech support moments a few weeks back...the kind that you usually just hear about.

This guy was working on troubleshooting his wireless network with me, kept losing his connection.

I asked him, "Are you using this around any other electronics, microwaves or a 2.4gHz cordless phone."

He says, "Lemme check. Well I unplugged my TV, that didn't help. Hmm, unplugged my stereo, nope that wasn't it. Turned off the microwave...nope not that either. Here, let me unplug my phone....[click]

Well..that was the end of that call...

Cedric

 

[Gossamerblade]

In cases like that, I'm rather fond of bursting into laughter and muttering "Morons!" loud enough to be overheard, while looking at them like they're the funniest thing since Daffy Duck.

(Of course, my husband is horrified, and tries to steer me in another direction!)

 

[Kilmore]

You know, it strikes me that a fast mouth makes one seem smarter than a fast mind. If the mouth can't keep up with what the mind is trying to say, that could cause someone to blurt out something really stupid sounding, and I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt in terms of estimating their actual intelligence.

But for purposes of heckling and amusement at someone else's expense, these special moments are always appreciated.

 

[krunchyfrogg]

So, did you get her number?

The only reason not to call her on her stupidity is if her attractiveness outweighs her stupidity, which, from what you said, sounds like she probably looks like a sexy lingerie model.

 

[hong]

Threads like this, about overtly ridiculing hapless people for minor brain farts, just make a mild-mannered refugee from UNsenet like myself blush.


Hong "milquetoast with cornflakes" Ooi

 

[shilsen]

mouseferatu's experience seems to have more to do with a lack of reading than actual idiocy. On the other hand, one should always remember that the only fundamental human right is the right to stupidity. Unfortunately it's also the most exercised right. Good thing we're all geniuses here

 

[MarauderX]

How about this one. Yesterday my fiance and I were talking to someone and he mentioned he was glad the war was over with Iran. Iran, he repeated. My fiance corrected him and said Iraq, which he said, "yeah, one of those countries on that continent." And the kicker is he lives in WASHINGTON, DC. I guess geography isn't this guy's strong point, then again he might not have a strong point at all.

 

[Tsyr]

Two things I've had, neither quite the same as the rest of this thread, but...

I work as a tutor in the college I attent, since I've always passed all my english/literature classes with perfect marks. I've had two notable students come in:

One came in and we worked for a little while, he said he wanted help on a paper for his tech writing class, since his teacher was really harsh on students (And in fairness, he is)... Well, we got about 10 minutes in, and it became quite apparent: He wanted me to *write* his paper, and explain what I was doing as I went. "How else can I learn this stuff", he said?

Grrrr...

Another came in and asked me to proofread something for his creative writing class(Another thing I'll do for a tiny fee)... Got about 4 lines into it when I recognized it as a short story from a collection of fantasy literature. Not major fantasy, like Tolkien... the type that would make me invite him to gaming, if it wasn't for what I caught him doing. And the worst part is, since it wasn't a major author or anything, the chance is really strong that the prof. would never have caught it.

In both cases, I just had to ask myself... "How stupid do these people think I am?"

 

[hong]

How about this one. Yesterday my fiance and I were talking to someone and he mentioned he was glad the war was over with Iran. Iran, he repeated. My fiance corrected him and said Iraq, which he said, "yeah, one of those countries on that continent."

Isn't Iranistan on the same continent as Canuckistan? That's NOWHERE NEAR Iraqistan!

And the kicker is he lives in WASHINGTON, DC. I guess geography isn't this guy's strong point, then again he might not have a strong point at all.

Yeah, you can never be too sure about those people from Washington. It must be that Puget Sound water.


Hong "and they all work for Microsoft" Ooi