“We Can Use Fewer Idiots In The World”: 40 Cases Of Mass Stupidity That Prove People Are Dumb
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.
This post may include affiliate links.
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.
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.
Taking private jets to a conference about climate change.
Any of the hundreds of megachurches across the world.
If a church takes its parishioners money and spends it on fancy buildings and fountains and the preacher is wearing fancy suits instead of putting those donations back into the community I like to imagine sky daddy's thumb coming out the clouds and smooshing that building. In America some of the churches that televise their worship pay professional singers to sing in their choirs. My cousin is an opera singer in LA, that was a good regular income for him. Meanwhile preachers in Africa sell their own holy 'elixirs' they promise cure all ailments out of their churches after their service...
Christian here. Any church that's too big for the pastor to know every parishioner is too big.
I upvoted you. But the big one megachurch with an secret mega big fortune in the world, and power power and greed is the Vaticano . Just saying it
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Pastor: 'Donate me money and I'll make sure you will get into heaven'' One of the biggest scams out there
Some megachurches have entire food courts and bookshops etc. and that's not even going into ticket and membership costs. While I am not a Bible follower myself, I do recount a little detail about Jesus chasing out the merchants from the temple...
I go to church and our church hands out free books which are kindly donate by two members who own a bookshop it's complete wrong to be selling the books and benefitting off the church
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Naaaah now is mostly soccer.....but I agree with you. :)
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Not just mega churches - the Catholic Church is sitting on billions whilst people starve. https://www.marketplace.org/2023/02/10/how-much-money-does-catholic-church-have/#
As much as I detest organised religion of any kind, the Catholic church has clinics, schools, hospitals Halfway houses, shelters etc across the world to provide for the poor and needy. Never ever seen that from the televangelist megachurch money grubbers.
Load More Replies... Faith in religion does not equate stupid people - please stop this. truely religoius people know how to treat others with respect and dont use relgion for personal gain
This is true. I've known a lot of intelligent people who are religious. I honestly don't understand it though. If they applied the same critical thinking skills to their religion as they do the rest of their lives, they would (should) change their minds pretty quickly. Cognitive dissonance is a funny thing.
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Religion is a lie. There is no god. You live, you die, you return to dirt. That's it.
The megachurch service is like a rock concert, or a Hitler convention where everyone gets infected with a mass hysteria. The power of the group in an audience takes over the psyche. Logic is powerless to resist such a social force.
It's disgusting when you see the pastor's luxury cars in the car park and their keynote speakers arriving in private planes.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints spent over $1 Billion in humanitarian aid in 2022 alone. 6.3 million hours volunteered and 3,692 humanitarian projects in 190 countries and territories. They also helped my family with rent for over a year, gave clothing to my children, got Christmas presents for us since we had fallen on hard times. So maybe don’t just cast a blanket statement on all churches, churches are people. Groups of people who are searching for answers in this hostile planet. So cut the people some slack and don’t throw them into a pile of evil doers.
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Putting the religion aside, it's all just a business. A business that takes advantage of those who can't afford to be taken advantage of. They make money from empty promises, some adrenaline and endorphins, and most of all, mass hysteria.
I don't see a difference between mega churches and cults. Personally I think all organized religion should be thrown out with the bathwater.
The amount of land WASTED by mega churches pisses me off. And they keep it fenced off like a gated community. Tear down those walls and help the homeless you selfish pricks.
Churches are stupid, period. Downvote me, I don't mind, but the vast majority of churches take advantage of the people that go there and the people that DO go there are oftentimes insufferable.
Doesn't have to be a megachurch. My mom was fully sucked into the Prosperity Gospel (Victory Church) before the concept was fully named. I got prayer instead of healthcare. If they didn't get something they declared in the name of Jesus (direct example: not enough milk left to make pancakes) it was because of demonic intervention. Quaking on the floor, speaking in tongues, everyone not part of the church is an enemy... The brainwashing of evangelical churches sounds funny, till you think of the people who have to live with them. I grew up with an abusive alcoholic father, but the toxic positivity and abuse/neglect from an evangelical mother was worse in many ways.
All churches, all religions. Money hungry, non-tax paying, greedy people.
But pastafarians and satanists are still good.
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God says He wants you guys to give me money for a jetski. No seriously I really did talk to God. What, do you think I'd make it up for free stuff? Blasphemy.
This is the ultimate scam. I weep for those truly decent people who are taken in by this corrupt manipulation. People! If it seems too good to be true, it is false. You needn't pay your way in to a non existent afterlife.
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I do Not Understand mega churches at all…. Why are people going and giving their money to them? How is it not obvious to them that it’s fake?
It isn’t fake. It’s different. It’s nondenominational and generally geared towards the younger generation. Nobody wants to sing hymns. Contemporary Christian music makes it easier to get through a service.
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There is a new mega church in my home town with a coffee shop and book store in the lobby as well as a drive through coffee stand. This being in a southern mostly backwoods baptist area has not been met with much acceptance by outsiders so far.
Thinking about the "Christian" mega churches, have none of them read the bible? I'm agnostic. I read it. Jesus was very clear about how he felt about the rich and especially those making money off of faith. It's one of the major things he had a problem with. Do they know "Christians" are supposed to follow Jesus Christ?
Churches are educational institutions that help people to develop their faith. Some people develop that faith, some don't. The ones who truly get educated and have faith do a lot of sincere good without raising a lot of attention. Don't lump all people of faith into the same pile. Some are sincere.
Unfortunately, it is not just in the United States. Megachurches can be found in many countries all over the world.
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70 million people in the US voted for a completely unqualified person for President - TWICE.
Politicians just need to be likeable. Elections are literally popularity contest, and that's only on the surface. In the US, it's established that winning the popular vote doesn't determine the presidency. Still go out and vote, but know one of the things you need to vote towards is de-corrupting the US government.
Anti-vaxers dying in hospitals screaming, “Tell me what I’ve got!! Covid doesn’t exist!!”
You have Moron-orrhea. Incurable and there's no treatment for that. Best to live your days far away from society so you don't infect others.
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.
People wearing a mask, but UNDER the nose. How dumb is that?
What I find absolutely amazing is that now I can go into a place that doesn't require a mask and there will be people wearing a mask like this. It was bad enough that people worn them wrong when required, but wearing them wrong when they aren't required requires "flat Earth" level at 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.
The whole farce would have been laughable had it not been so severe for the downtown Ottawa residents. Never underestimate the potential damage of stupid.
Andrew Tate d**kriders.
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.
This is literally describing capitalism. Is Scientology just capitalism with aliens?
My generation, raised knowing how absolutely awful smoking is, excessively vaping.
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.
I would agree with the first statement, except that the victims of these "challenges" are mostly naive kids and kids are stupid. We all were. Maybe some were smart enough to know that detergent could hurt or kill you, but not smart enough to understand that cinnamon, despite being 'food," could actually suffocate you if inhaled. The idiots that promoted those challenges should have been prosecuted.
The rise of the anti-vaccine crowd. Or generally the growing anti-science mindset in our culture.
So many people dead...
“There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.” - Asimov (It's statistically conservative governments that give rise to such movements)
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.
Half the GOP thinking Joe Biden somehow stole an election. And they're still at it!
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.
People who ingested bleach because they thought it would keep them safe from Covid.
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.
I think it's a mental problem. I'm no psychiatrist but this mental issue screams for help
People who blindly believe any information on the Internet.
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.
they lied basically had big adverts saying we send 350 million to the EU and we can put that back into the NHS they played on peoples fears as well
Religion. Full stop.
I’m gonna pîss in some of my fellow atheists’ cornflakes: we have exactly the same capacity to be stupid, selfish, callous or idol-worshipping as religious people do, and I’ll take a humble religious person over the worst-behaved atheists any day.
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.
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.)
I really didn't get it. I'm not saying TP is not necessary, but in dire times you can find an alternative solution, ie find a way to wash yourself if TP is not available. I would expect more hoarding of food that is not immediately perishable, or medicaments or else, not TP (not that this wouldn't be silly, only less silly)
Whatever the latest conservative outrage/conspiracy fad happens to be. Doesn't matter if it's Trumpism, Satanic Panic, birtherism, Jan 6th Antifa, school shooting "crisis actors," George Soros, Jewish control of media, immigrants "takin our jerbs," 2020 election fraud, Benghazi, Jade Helm, Q-Anon, transphobia, anti-wokeism, border caravans, grooming, anti-vax, elite pedophile rings, Brexit ... the list is almost literally endless. It's always stupid and it's always based on either straight-up fictional nonsense, or a kernel of truth that's been distorted so badly by conspiracist delusion and baldfaced lies that it bears zero resemblance to the actual facts.
Thousands of people during the pandemic thinking the vaccination made their skin magnetic. What in the actual f**k.
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.
With all the pro-Hamas rallies, the targeting of Jewish-owned businesses, kosher restaurants, firebombing synagogues or Jewish community centers, harassing Jewish students and physically preventing them from attending classes and locking diners in restaurants because they’re mad at the Israeli government. Going after Jews in the Diaspora isn’t going to “free Palestine.”
Cult members who lost it all for their beliefs and almost obsessive adoration for their leaders.
Every single time there's a claim that the end of the world will be on (Insert date here).
Cult 45...
For-profit torture of children to 'fix' them, a few times throughout history.
Straight Incorporated did it to stop kids from ever using dugs. You didn't even have to inject the marijuana, just the fear you might.
More recently it's been used by the likes of WWASPS or Aspen Education's programs to 'cure' depression or anxiety by making you hide symptoms, or 'cure' gay by being tortured into pretending to be straight.
The latter -- "conversion therapy" -- was made illegal in Canada following a unanimous vote in the House of Commons.
“Prosperity Gospel” church attendees.
DogsCatsKids_helpMe:
This! These people willingly give money to these charlatans and are willfully ignorant of the fact that the only one prospering is the person they’re giving money to. It just blows my mind.
God already gave you the tools to prosper. Your brain, hands, feet… he’s done his job.
People who knew nothing about the Middle East on October 6th chanting “from the river to the sea” on October 7th.
What Hamas did on the 7th was one of the most horrifying things the world has witnessed. Israel seems to be doubling on that now
Those idiots who paid $500 to $7000 for Taylor Swift tix.
That's not idiotic. It's their money, their choice. If that is what they want to "blow" that much money on, then more power to them. No skin off my nose.
People waiting in Dealey Plaza for JFK Jr. to show up.
Note: this post originally had 44 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.
For sure, but where's the pitchforks, torches, and flaming windmills that brought relief to the people frightened of Frankenstein's monster.
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Wow, not one single mention of the 5G conspiracies! There's hope for humanity.
Protesters and demonstrators. Despite your intentions they are very rarely peaceful and usually degenerate into senseless violence that in the end does more harm than good to your cause.
That is utterly false. The vast majority of protests and demonstrations do not degenerate into violence, and they frequently have positive results.
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Wasn't it Voltaire who said that, or something similar?
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First, Trump in USA. Second, Bolsonaro in Brazil. Next, Milei in Argentina. People are so stupid that they worship these morons, and even after their country is all fcked up because of these sh!tty presidents, they keep worshipping them.
It's because all three blowhards share the same talking points that their followers believe- blame everything that is bad in your life on immigrants, the government is after you, cut taxes for the wealthy, science is lying to you and facts don't matter. They use religion (the hypocrisy) as opium (more like suppressant) for the masses.
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Mob mentality is the inclination that humans have to be part of a large group, neglecting their individual feelings. Here's how it manifests in everyday life. Read this sentence again SLOWLY, and know that BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT have the same problem.
Trump is a orange turd who needs to be put down the man supported a insurrection on the capital he's a monster downvote me if u will my statement stand's
Oh boy, where does one even start with these 44 samples of personal madness. In today's rapid and widening access to information (correct to crazy), one must no longer lock in on only one source of fact finding to understand or believe a particular person, story, or fact. The expression "Due Diligence" should apply at all times within your mind for yourself to avoid being confused, activated, or a sucker for B.S. that you may regret down the road.
The video I saw on TV of a spring breaker getting arrested while 150 tiktokers had phones glued to face in anticipation...then one of them opened the cop car door, boy went running, and the entire herd of teenagers went charging down the beach with him like a flash mob. It was frankly terrifying to watch. I think they are aliens.
Didn't even read this post and know that there will be at least several that are advertised as stupidity and are actually spot on. Bias is tough to overcome!
I count 10 out of 44 on this list that are advertised as stupidity but are actually spot on. Maintain a healthy dose of scepticism folks, don't agree with something just because certain people are shouting it from the rooftops. For more info search for my comic strip "good scientist cartoon" that explores the boundary between genius and stupidity. Intelligence and stupidity are not opposites, people can be both, or neither.
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There are a lot of people here afraid of the truth. If you are happy with the current administration you are part of the problem. Wake up and stop being brainwashed.
What "truth" are you talking about? I'm no Biden fan-girl, but it'll be a cold day in hell before I vote for the likes of Trump. A rabid monkey would make a better president than that slimy, orange criminal.
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In many cases at numbers greater than their representation in the population YT people are the majority of drug dealers and users Serial murderers/serial murderers Sexual psychopaths serial rapists sexual sadists sexual deviants Stalkers Obsession crimes Torture We lead in incest Necrophilia child pornography Ped0philia Arsonists We lead in infanticide Abduction of children Patricide spree killers abduction of children US terrorism acts police brutality convictions hate crimes mass murder malpractice suits convicted politicians Cannibalism Etc. Etc. Etc.
Load More Replies... For sure, but where's the pitchforks, torches, and flaming windmills that brought relief to the people frightened of Frankenstein's monster.
Load More Replies... Wow, not one single mention of the 5G conspiracies! There's hope for humanity.
Protesters and demonstrators. Despite your intentions they are very rarely peaceful and usually degenerate into senseless violence that in the end does more harm than good to your cause.
That is utterly false. The vast majority of protests and demonstrations do not degenerate into violence, and they frequently have positive results.
Load More Replies... Wasn't it Voltaire who said that, or something similar?
Load More Replies... First, Trump in USA. Second, Bolsonaro in Brazil. Next, Milei in Argentina. People are so stupid that they worship these morons, and even after their country is all fcked up because of these sh!tty presidents, they keep worshipping them.
It's because all three blowhards share the same talking points that their followers believe- blame everything that is bad in your life on immigrants, the government is after you, cut taxes for the wealthy, science is lying to you and facts don't matter. They use religion (the hypocrisy) as opium (more like suppressant) for the masses.
Load More Replies... Mob mentality is the inclination that humans have to be part of a large group, neglecting their individual feelings. Here's how it manifests in everyday life. Read this sentence again SLOWLY, and know that BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT have the same problem.
Trump is a orange turd who needs to be put down the man supported a insurrection on the capital he's a monster downvote me if u will my statement stand's
Oh boy, where does one even start with these 44 samples of personal madness. In today's rapid and widening access to information (correct to crazy), one must no longer lock in on only one source of fact finding to understand or believe a particular person, story, or fact. The expression "Due Diligence" should apply at all times within your mind for yourself to avoid being confused, activated, or a sucker for B.S. that you may regret down the road.
The video I saw on TV of a spring breaker getting arrested while 150 tiktokers had phones glued to face in anticipation...then one of them opened the cop car door, boy went running, and the entire herd of teenagers went charging down the beach with him like a flash mob. It was frankly terrifying to watch. I think they are aliens.
Didn't even read this post and know that there will be at least several that are advertised as stupidity and are actually spot on. Bias is tough to overcome!
I count 10 out of 44 on this list that are advertised as stupidity but are actually spot on. Maintain a healthy dose of scepticism folks, don't agree with something just because certain people are shouting it from the rooftops. For more info search for my comic strip "good scientist cartoon" that explores the boundary between genius and stupidity. Intelligence and stupidity are not opposites, people can be both, or neither.
Load More Replies... There are a lot of people here afraid of the truth. If you are happy with the current administration you are part of the problem. Wake up and stop being brainwashed.
What "truth" are you talking about? I'm no Biden fan-girl, but it'll be a cold day in hell before I vote for the likes of Trump. A rabid monkey would make a better president than that slimy, orange criminal.
Load More Replies... In many cases at numbers greater than their representation in the population YT people are the majority of drug dealers and users Serial murderers/serial murderers Sexual psychopaths serial rapists sexual sadists sexual deviants Stalkers Obsession crimes Torture We lead in incest Necrophilia child pornography Ped0philia Arsonists We lead in infanticide Abduction of children Patricide spree killers abduction of children US terrorism acts police brutality convictions hate crimes mass murder malpractice suits convicted politicians Cannibalism Etc. Etc. Etc.
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