ADVERTISEMENT
Article created by: Mindaugas Balčiauskas

Mob mentality — sometimes also called herd or hive mentality — is the inclination that humans have to be part of a large group, neglecting their individual feelings in the process, and adopting the behaviors and actions of the collective.

Interested in how this concept manifests in everyday life, Reddit user AdmirableFlow made a post on the platform, asking everyone: "What's the most severe case of mass stupidity you've ever witnessed?"

As of now, the question has received over 4.1K comments, so compiled those that stood out and invite you to learn more about the challenges of maintaining critical thinking.

#1

Crowd of people with flags and red hats gathered in front of the US Capitol showing cases of mass stupidity. The January 6th Assault on the Capitol was probably the most severe case of mass stupidity I've seen in my lifetime. Not even talking politically. There were idiots climbing walls when there were accessible stairs nearby. Most of these idiots thought they wouldn't meet any police resistance. They acted as if their attempted coup would be met with smiling cops and clapping congresspeople, thanking them for their service or something.

Alexandratta , Aca1291 / Wikipedia Report

RELATED:
    #2

    Man speaking at conference, gesturing with hands, discussing cases of mass stupidity and people being dumb. People that keep insisting Elon Musk is a genius.

    Eyfordsucks , JD Lasica / Wikipedia Report

    #3

    Small white airplane on runway with passengers boarding under bright blue sky illustrating mass stupidity cases. Taking private jets to a conference about climate change.

    linuxares , Asad Photo Maldives / Pexels Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #4

    Crowd of people raising hands in black and white photo illustrating mass stupidity and people acting dumb. Any of the hundreds of megachurches across the world.

    AnimalFarenheit1984 , Luis Quintero / Pexels Report

    #5

    Protester holding sign claiming Earth is flat during a crowd gathering, illustrating mass stupidity and dumb beliefs. The rise of Qanon and the Flat Earth Society.

    Lordfuton92 , Kajetan Sumila / Unsplash Report

    #6

    Red Make America Great Again hat resting on an open book with a blurred U.S. map in the background, highlighting mass stupidity. 70 million people in the US voted for a completely unqualified person for President - TWICE.

    RayAnselmo , Natilyn Photography / Unsplash Report

    #7

    Close-up of a patient’s hand with an IV line in a medical setting illustrating cases of mass stupidity risks. Anti-vaxers dying in hospitals screaming, “Tell me what I’ve got!! Covid doesn’t exist!!”

    Mentalfloss1 , Anna Shvets / Pexels Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #8

    Protesters holding signs about choice and risk during a public demonstration illustrating mass stupidity cases. Anti-vaxxers by far. I find it rather ironic that people can discount things like vaccines because vaccines have created a world where kids aren't dying left and right from childhood illnesses. I am not aware of any antivaxxers existing when the Polio vaccine came out because Polio was a horror show.

    Gilgamesh-Enkidu , DJ Paine / Unsplash Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #9

    Red truck with Canadian flag parked between two large trucks on city street, illustrating cases of mass stupidity. During the Canadian trucker freedom rally, watching the mass of people protest and getting mad about their “2nd Amendment rights”. I’m like 90% sure that the Canadian 2nd Amendment is recognizing Manitoba as a province….. not the right to bear arms like our southerly neighbours.

    TealMankey , Dandelion Salad / Flikr Report

    #10

    Building with large Scientology sign and American flag, illustrating cases of mass stupidity and people being dumb. Scientology.

    Doright36:

    The rich ones at the top are just in for the tax dodge. A lot of the ones below them are in it thinking they can shmooze with the rich ones at the top and become one of them some days. So yea dumb but with a layer of greed involved.

    Supersaiajinblue , Alexey Taktarov / Unsplash Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #11

    Young man wearing a hood vaping and blowing smoke, illustrating a case of mass stupidity in a dim setting. My generation, raised knowing how absolutely awful smoking is, excessively vaping.

    trshytrpcl , Nery Zarate / Unsplash Report

    #12

    Laundry detergent pod with orange and blue colors against a black background, illustrating cases of mass stupidity. Those public challenges that CLEARLY risk health, i.e., "the tide pod challenge." Next time, just let things sort themselves out of their own. We can use less idiots in the world. The ice bucket challenge was at least kind of cute and DID give ALS a lot of media attention/awareness and raised a lot of money.

    LadyVaresa , Erik Binggeser / Unsplash Report

    #13

    Protest sign reading system change not climate change, highlighting cases of mass stupidity and people being dumb. Climate change deniers.

    becomealamp , Ma Ti / Unsplash Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #14

    Scientist wearing blue gloves using a pipette to transfer liquid into multiple test tubes in a laboratory setting. The rise of the anti-vaccine crowd. Or generally the growing anti-science mindset in our culture. So many people dead...

    IYiffInDogParks , Julia Koblitz / Unsplash Report

    #15

    Crowd holding up phones with red lights, illustrating cases of mass stupidity in a dimly lit environment. Every time I see a video of someone being beat up, or in some sort of bad/dangerous situation and everyone is just standing around recording instead of helping.

    goodgriefnow , Vadim Koza / Pexels Report

    #16

    Smiling man in suit with American flag in background illustrating mass stupidity and cases of people being dumb. Half the GOP thinking Joe Biden somehow stole an election. And they're still at it!

    BoredBSEE , wikipedia Report

    #17

    Open wooden gate between stone walls overlooking green countryside and a lake under a bright spring sky, showing mass stupidity irony. My local parks playground has a push gate. EVERYDAY I watch grown adults stare at it for like 20 seconds then go "I think it's locked is there another one?" To which I walk up and...... Push the gate open. What annoys me about this is they want to catch an attitude like I'm an ahole for it.

    3ao7ssv8 , Jonny Gios / Unsplash Report

    #18

    Top view of a Clorox bleach bottle on a wooden surface illustrating a case of mass stupidity in everyday life. People who ingested bleach because they thought it would keep them safe from Covid.

    CanadianTrueCrime , Kelly Sikkema / Unsplash Report

    #19

    Judge’s gavel striking wooden block, symbolizing authority and mass stupidity cases involving people’s dumb actions. Someone I knew awhile ago had a theft record a mile long. One time, she went in front of the judge, who told her "You know, every time you've appeared in front of me, you've denied stealing. They have you on camera, clearly walking out of the store with unpaid merchandise. So, here's what we're going to do: you can admit you did it this time, and I'll let you walk out of here today, with probation. If you still deny it, then I'll sentence you to 90 days right here, right now". Now, her attorney looked at her and said three words: "Take the deal". She said something back, shaking her head. Her attorney then looked at the judge, and said "Your honor, my client maintains her innocence"; BOOM, three months in the county jail, just like that. It never ceases to amaze me how some people would rather jump off of the Empire State building (or lose their freedom) than simply admit they are wrong.

    BPKofficial , EKATERINA BOLOVTSOVA / Pexels Report

    #20

    Man using laptop at sunset overlooking cityscape, illustrating cases of mass stupidity and people being dumb. People who blindly believe any information on the Internet.

    Monyring , Avi Richards / Unsplash Report

    #21

    Protester holding a Brexit sign featuring a version of The Scream painting, illustrating mass stupidity in public demonstrations. In the UK, Brexit. Dishonest rabble rousing politicians lied to a gullible public in a non-binding referendum promoted by a shady conservative PM in order to fix the conflicts within his own party. We lost a lot and are still feeling the consequences.

    AchillesNtortus , Fred Moon / Unsplash Report

    #22

    Person praying with hands together near many lit candles in a dim setting illustrating mass stupidity cases. Religion. Full stop.

    rickjohnson2 , Rodolfo Clix / Pexels Report

    #23

    Person in a pink hoodie holding multiple rolls of toilet paper, illustrating cases of mass stupidity and poor decision-making. The great toilet paper rush at the start of COVID. There was nothing about COVID that threatened the global toilet paper supply, and yet people just started panic-buying it and artificially creating a huge shortage. (We would eventually realize that there *was* a small uptick in toilet paper sold for private use, as many people were going to the bathroom at home more than at work, but no one realized that at the time and it had *nothing* to do with the panic - people just started buying more because people were buying more.)

    Notmiefault , Anna Shvets / Pexels Report

    See Also on Bored Panda
    #24

    A crowd of people indoors raising their hands, illustrating social behavior and cases of mass stupidity in groups. Cult members who lost it all for their beliefs and almost obsessive adoration for their leaders.

    eveningsand14-1311 , Luan Cabral / Unsplash Report

    #25

    Plastic bottles littered outdoors in large quantities, illustrating mass stupidity and environmental neglect. Probably get downvoted to hell for it, but widespread continued use of single-use plastics. It's insane. We know these things end up in the oceans and in the food chain (and therefore inside us) but we keep using them all the same. Future generations are going to hate us for this.

    john_jdm , mali maeder / Pexels Report

    #26

    Close-up of a person wearing a face mask incorrectly, illustrating a case of mass stupidity and poor decision-making. People wearing a mask, but UNDER the nose. How dumb is that?

    P44 , Maponstats / Reddit Report

    #27

    A crowded waiting area with people sitting and standing, illustrating cases of mass stupidity in public spaces. Maybe not the most severe, but one that everyone here has personally seen at least once in their lives. When at an airport and the gate agent says "We're about to commence boarding. Please remain in your seats until your group has been called.", and then half the people waiting stands up and crowds the gate in a scene of utter chaos. Every time, without fail.

    -Dixieflatline , Lucas Oliveira / Pexels Report

    #28

    Two men in business attire laughing and looking at a laptop, illustrating cases of mass stupidity and people being dumb. Anyone who keeps getting involved in Ponzi or MLM schemes. For decades the public have been warned on what to watch out for to avoid these schemes, you would assume that the vast majority of people would have learned by now that these schemes are fraudulent and just can't work out. Yet somehow here we with thousands of these companies still up and running and thriving and even more people being taken advantage of by them.

    TheSameButBetter , Austin Distel / Unsplash Report