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31 Of The Most Random And Dumb Things People Have Said With Zero Doubt About Being Right
Interview With Expert
Overconfidence can sometimes make people spew the silliest things possible. Most folks think before speaking, but sometimes, they may say the first thing that comes to mind. Critical thinkers will then correct themselves, but a special few pretend like everything they’re saying is right.
You’ve probably come across a person who’s tried pretending like made-up information is factual. The confidence and conviction with which they back up the dumb stuff they’ve said is extremely hilarious, and this list is full of them.
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#1
That scientists were dumb for changing their opinion when new facts presented themselves.
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#2
As kids, my sister pointed out that she could see the moon (it was sunny and daytime). My stepdad says, “it’s not the moon. You can’t see that during the day.” And my mom goes, with so much matter of fact confidence, “when the sun goes down, the moon comes up”. My sister and I looked at each other in disbelief then back at the moon we could clearly see and just shook our heads.
#3
At a petting zoo:
Child (pointing at animal): “what’s that?”
Mom: “it’s a deer, you can tell by the ears”
It was a kangaroo.
Crikey! (ho/hum) 8 months ago
That's ridiculous! How dumb can you be? It's not the ears that give it away, it's the Australian accent.
You’d probably be thinking that not-so-clever people are the only ones spouting nonsense. In fact, sometimes, it’s the smartest people who end up saying the dumbest things. It’s because they often have a strong urge to be right, so it may be hard for them to accept that they are ever wrong.
When people are always used to being right, they convince themselves that everything they’re saying is true. Being told they’re wrong may then feel like a personal attack. That’s often why dumb ideas may keep getting perpetuated, especially if folks aren’t open to correcting themselves.
To understand more about this, Bored Panda reached out to Marta Stelmaszak Rosa, PhD. She is an assistant professor of information systems and an author focusing on exploring the value of human thinking skills in the digital age. She works at a research-intensive business school, and after hours, she’s dedicated to fostering critical and creative thinking through her writing.
Dr. Marta explained that “someone may not even be aware that what they’re saying is incorrect, so they have no reasons to doubt themselves or lack confidence. Their memory may be playing tricks on them, they might have been told or taught something wrong, or science and discovery might have revised the common knowledge on a topic since they first heard about it.”
#4
In my 10th grade US history class we were talking about the space race. One kid kept insisting the moon landing was faked because “you can see in the video they have shadows and there are no lightbulbs on the moon!” We all thought he was joking at first, but no. He was not.
Crikey! (ho/hum) 8 months ago
I get annoyed when people say it was faked. How stupid can you be? If we never went there, where does all the cheese come from? Exactly.
#5
I once had to convince a 32yr old that we’re floating in space. He thought we were sat on some kind of stand or something I don’t even know.
As you’ve probably noticed from the examples of dumb things folks have said, a lot of these are fake facts that people have put their full faith in. Even though we have the entire Internet at our fingertips, it has actually made it tougher for folks to sift through what’s true and what’s untrue. The more people keep hearing false information, the likelier they are to end up believing all of that eventually.
At first, people might believe in silly conspiracy theories, and eventually this can turn into a full blown conviction about something that isn’t backed up by evidence. It doesn’t help if there are groups of people who keep harping on the same nonsense ideas. Research also shows that Gen Z and Millennials are better able to figure out false facts but they may still unknowingly share misleading information.
Dr. Marta shared that “a range of biases and effects may be at play that can make a person be fully convinced that they’re right, even if evidence exists to the contrary. For example, confirmation bias, where people seek out and trust information that supports their existing beliefs even if it’s false may entrench someone’s conviction.”
“Similarly, repeated exposure to misinformation can build up a false sense of truth, a phenomenon known as the illusory truth effect. Finally, some cultures value and reward confidence. So, there are people who may prefer to speak confidently regardless of accuracy because they believe they can gain influence, trust, or attention this way,” she added.
#7
One of the reasons I left teaching is I was working with a student after school for an extra math session. He told me that half of 50 is zero. I thought I had misheard him so I asked him to repeat it and he said “Half of 50 is zero right?” I corrected him and moved on.
Later, in the teachers lounge, another math teacher told me “I know exactly what he did. He split the number in half vertically. Half of 50 is five and the other half is zero.“ That was when I knew I had to leave teaching for a while. There was no way I was able to think like that and I felt like I could not help my students anymore.
Atom Bohr 8 months ago
As a teacher, I'm wondering if the second teacher had seen another student do exactly that, or if the teacher actually thought like that. But honestly, with the way maths is being taught, I've seen kids make mistakes like that: at least where I am, they handle units and tens separately, so if you word your question poorly they default to that
#8
Pasteurized milk is from cows that are let out to a pasture. I’m weak, I couldn’t correct them because I was so shocked. I think I said something like, “are you sure?!”.
#9
I had a teacher once tell me that Blackbeard the pirate was an imaginary figure. I (a huge history nerd at the time) told them he was real and his name was Edward Teach. They said, “yeah in the stories that is his name.” 😑.
Nobody thinks that what they’re saying is dumb or false. Everyone believes in the authenticity of the information they say, which is why they’re able to say it with confidence. To truly uncover fake facts, it’s important to fact-check the story as much as possible. Make sure the information is available from multiple high-authority sources.
If you find out that you’ve been wrong about something, the best thing to do is to self-correct. There is no shame in admitting you were wrong or that you made a mistake. It is always a great learning experience. In case it’s a friend or family member who is spreading misinformation, it’s best to talk about it to them in private.
Sometimes, though, it can actually be a superpower to play dumb. Dr. Marta said: “what we may call a strategic use of stupidity can sometimes yield great benefits. For example, asking supposedly basic questions can challenge assumptions and improve problem-solving and decision-making.”
“Intentionally saying something that’s incorrect can spur creative thinking because it works as a pattern-breaker in a regular train of thought. Putting on an intellectual camouflage can also help you avoid unnecessary power struggles and defuse ego battles. Like all superpowers, it’s all about intention and context!”
#10
Oh, it must have been that if you can smell a fart after it passes through underwear and jeans, then an n95 mask can do absolutely nothing against covid. Had to explain that a fart is gas and has much smaller molecular size than a covid virus, that the virus is spread through water droplets which are much much bigger than gas molecules, underwear and jeans are nowhere near as tightly knit as the masks, and the masks are designed to have almost microscopic fibers hanging out in all which ways that will wick up any water particles that touch them. I love the uneducated.
#11
That non- identical twins were called "nocturnal twins" and caused an 18 month long pregnancy.
#12
A guy from work told me (a woman) that women can’t feel it when they have kidney stones because the stones just fall out since they can push out babies through the same hole.
My own father told me (a mother of 3) that my mom didn’t need surgery when they tied her tubes because when a woman has a baby her organs come out with the baby and the doctors ties the tubes and then puts them back up there.
One of the biggest learnings you should take away from listening to folks say nonsense with confidence is that it’s okay to question the stuff you’re saying. It’s also okay to admit that you’re wrong and learn from that experience. It’s always better to self-correct and speak the truth than make up a story.
Many people, when they’re confronted with the fact that they’ve been spreading misinformation, become defensive. Then they aren’t able to move forward from the experience and instead get stuck spouting the same dumb things over and over again. Changing one’s mind and being open to new thoughts is the best way to keep moving forward.
When we asked Dr. Marta how a person can deal with someone who truly believes in the truth of fake facts, she mentioned that “the rule of thumb is to focus less on correcting and more on connecting. Ask how they came to believe something, as this can give you important insights into where they come from. Plus, people tend to be less defensive when they feel heard.”
“Ask follow-up questions. Make people think for themselves, which tends to work better than correcting them. Focus on shared values, for example, by highlighting a core value you have in common and linking accurate info to the value. Above all, don’t try to win or prove them wrong. This can quickly backfire. Stay calm and curious, and you might as well plant a seed that will grow later,” she explained.
#14
Neighbor said "Too bad your solar panels will be making less electricity now that Daylight Savings Time has ended.".
#15
My father said business monopolies are a good thing because it encourages small businesses to open and offer more affordable pricing for consumers.
My father is a very successful business owner who should know better than that.
Papa 8 months ago
Back during one of the times when gasoline had become very expensive for whatever reason I was talking to a guy who owned a small grocery store. He said that he thought the government should step in to keep the prices lower, because everyone needs to have gasoline so they can drive. I asked him if it would be okay if the government told him what he could charge for a loaf of bread in his store. He said no. I asked him why not, because everyone has to eat. He didn't have an answer for that.
If you ever come across something spouting complete misinformation with full conviction in what they’re saying, it’s best to take a breath and try to consider where they’re coming from. Rather than confronting them head-on, it’s better to speak gently and with respect. You may not be able to change everyone’s mind, but a select few might listen, which is also a win!
What are some silly things you’ve heard people say with complete confidence? Let us know in the comments so that we can also have a laugh.
#17
“Why would I pay employees when I’m not making money yet?” - Dude I knew who was trying to start his own business and expected people to work for free until *he* was making money.
#18
One of my buddies in college, who was a history major, told me that swords and armor didn’t exist until like 1100 A.D.
#19
Back in 1992, I was talking about how I wanted to see Bram Stoker's Dracula when it was in theaters.
A girlfriend of my buddy's pipes up and says, "Bram Stoker and Francis Ford Coppola haven't put out a bad movie yet."
I immediately responded with, "That's because Bram Stoker has been dead for like 80 years.".
Beak Hookage 8 months ago (edited)
Stoker might actually still be around because he was a vampire. That's how he knew all that stuff about vampires to put in his book.
#20
Both racist and dumb, but had a high school history teacher/coach say that black people lived on the East side of town because it was closer to Africa and that they were faster runners than white people because they do not have to touch the ground every step but kind of can levitate every other step when running fast. This was in the 80s.
#21
An ex friend was very dumb and arrogant. Snapped his fingers at a waiter and said. “Look at this dish, I ordered a beefsteak tomato salad. Do you see any beef or steak?????”.
Beak Hookage 8 months ago
Stupid AND snaps his fingers at waiters. No wonder they're an ex friend.
#22
‘Men are born to be naturally better pilots, and that’s why I would never fly with a female pilot’ - my Andrew Tate super fan brother.
Anyways, no, aircraft are man-made devices and, therefore, are not naturally sourced.
There is not a single cell in the male anatomy that supports aerodynamics.
#23
"This year is a special year, once in a millennium, where if you subtract your age from it, you will get the year you were born!".
#24
That I had to write a different birth date on my account application because there is no Feb. 29th.
#26
That Sasquatch can shrink or grow their size at will, they can teleport inter dimensional, that they can psychically interfere with electronic devices and that they are used by the US government to fight-dog men which I was told are not werewolves. They’re dog-men.
With complete conviction.
#27
He refused a raise because it would put him in a higher tax bracket, therefore, have to pay more in taxes which meant he would actually be making less than before the raise.
Apatheist Account2 8 months ago
This is only said by people who have not been in the higher tax bracket.
#28
“Infamous means you’re really super famous, like Johnny Depp.”.
#29
Alaska is positioned slightly southwest of California (because of how the inset maps often position it). Rather than, "oh, maybe I read the map wrong", they were ADAMANT that this was the case.
Lee Gilliland 8 months ago
I always ask them to explain why Alaska's right boundary is straight. You wouldn't believe some of the answers😂😂😂
#30
It's not a pyramid scheme. It's earning potential. Something I can do as I get older.
WindySwede 8 months ago
You'll be doing it for a really long time to repay for the "start package"??
#31
That a country mile is longer than a city mile. I tried to reason with her for a short time but sometimes you just have to let them think it.
Forrest Hobbs 8 months ago
The expression "a country mile" refers to an indeterminate but long distance so the supposed "dumb" person wasn't wrong unless they were insisting that the actual official mile was different. Having said that, the definition of "a mile" has varied greatly with time and place. For example, the historical Welsh mile was close to four English statute miles. So... If you'd just gone to Wales (mostly countryside) from (say) Chester (an English city close to Wales) back in the 12th century, you'd be presented with "country" miles a lot longer than the miles you'd been used to. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mile#Welsh
What do you think ?
Papa 8 months ago
While waiting in line for our Thanksgiving lunch at work some years ago I had a co-worker, a university student who had lived his whole life in the US, ask me "Is Thanksgiving on Thursday this year?" (For those of you who are not US citizens, Thanksgiving has always been on Thursday since 1863.)
MeowMix 8 months ago (edited)
My ex told me a couple of years ago that Halloween was going to fall on Friday the 13th that year. Maybe Halloween was on a Friday that year.....but the 13th???
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Papa 8 months ago
While waiting in line for our Thanksgiving lunch at work some years ago I had a co-worker, a university student who had lived his whole life in the US, ask me "Is Thanksgiving on Thursday this year?" (For those of you who are not US citizens, Thanksgiving has always been on Thursday since 1863.)
MeowMix 8 months ago (edited)
My ex told me a couple of years ago that Halloween was going to fall on Friday the 13th that year. Maybe Halloween was on a Friday that year.....but the 13th???
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