ADVERTISEMENT
Article created by: Mantas Kačerauskas

Humans really are fascinating creatures. We’ve explored outer space, invented the internet on a planet made of mud and sticks, discovered cures for life-threatening diseases, and created art so moving it can bring us to tears.

And yet, despite all these incredible achievements, there’s one thing we never seem to conquer: stupidity. Proof of that can be found in Reddit threads by users Afraid_Cake_8167 and ApexOverlordIsDrunk, who shared the quote, “Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups,” and asked others to name the best real-life examples.

Scroll down to see their answers, and if you’ve got more to add, don’t hold back.

#1

American flag waving on a flagpole outside a modern building under a partly cloudy sky, illustrating people being stupid together. Everything going on right now in America. The entire MAGA movement.

The only thing I'll say is I think what we are seeing is more ignorance than stupidity: people are being massively misinformed. Algorithmic selection of information availability is contributing mightily to this epidemic.

RunninReed , Jonathan Simcoe / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

RELATED:
    #3

    Close-up of a person holding an empty wallet, illustrating a case of people being stupid together in a financial blunder. I can’t believe poor whites constantly vote to give tax cuts to billionaires. I understand how many of them can be bigots, I don’t understand why they constantly vote against their own pocketbook.

    Snoo93550 , Towfiqu barbhuiya / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #4

    Silhouette of a person placing a ballot in a box, illustrating unbelievable cases of people being stupid together. U.S. elections.

    Once when Adlai Stevenson was campaigning for president a woman in the crowd shouted “all the smart people are voting for you Senator!”, his response “that’s great ma’am, but I need a majority to win.”

    Call_Me_Papa_Bill , Element5 Digital / Unspalsh (not the actual photo) Report

    #5

    Crowd gathered outside US Capitol with flags and hats, illustrating one of the most unbelievable cases of people being stupid together. The January 6th attack on the US Capitol.

    GuelphCouple2025 , Tyler Merbler / Wikipedia Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #7

    Dodo bird skeleton and model displayed in a museum exhibit illustrating unbelievable cases of people being stupid together. The amount of animals we have made extinct and the pollution we unleashed on the planet.

    Masterbeaterpi69 , BazzaDaRambler / Wikipedia (not the actual photo) Report

    #8

    Man frantically explaining conspiracy theory on wall covered with papers and red string in people being stupid together case. Conspiracy theorists. Like the ones who think democrats all drink the blood of virgin kids. Or that birds are really drones. The flat earthers who constantly prove themselves wrong. But how about Scientologist? They follow a "religion" MADE UP BY A SCI FI WRITER! A man who literally made a living writing fictional stories made a whole religion and everyone just jumped on board.

    Jamiesfantasy Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #10

    Man in a suit sitting at a large dining table surrounded by people, illustrating cases of people being stupid together. Project 2025.

    Belt_Conscious Report

    #11

    Holy Bible resting on weathered wooden bench outdoors, capturing a serene moment related to people being stupid together. People involved in religious violence.

    The_Orgin , Aaron Burden / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    #12

    GOP logo with a white elephant and stars on a red background illustrating unbelievable cases of people being stupid together. The GOP currently.

    CurrentlyLucid , Republican National Party / Wikipedia Report

    #13

    Protest sign reading vaxism is the disease, highlighting one of the unbelievable cases of people being stupid together. Anti-vaxxers.

    TheMightyDontKneel61:

    My uncles mate is one of them, started talking to me about chicken noodle soup being a cure all until I said "so all those polio people in the iron lungs just needed chicken noodle soup? That's what you're saying? CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP?"

    threadbarefemur , DJ Paine / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #14

    Crowd at a protest with a flat earth sign, illustrating one of the unbelievable cases of people being stupid together. Flat earthers.

    Khayaru:

    Flat earthers are still so hard to grasp for me. They do it just for fun dont they?^

    Jokes aside I had a colleague who ordered a book about flat earther stuff an more. And the reasoning as for why the stuff we know should be wrong is so hilariously stupid and bad.

    Some stuff wanted to debunk anything about gravity, iirc with black holes, how we can see behind them due to gravity affecting the light. The reasoning for why this cant be true, was that if you look at a can of lemonade, you cant see what behind it. They asked, shouldnt the light bend around the can like for suns and black holes? It doesnt so its a myth....

    Like, it does, but the can has a tiny bit less mass than the black hole. I just cant.... and you also cant reason with something like that.

    BrickLaFlare , Kajetan Sumila / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #15

    Black Friday sale sign showing 50 percent discount in a store window promoting savings and shopping deals together. Every Black Friday sale. People trampling each other for a toaster.

    GoddessTasha__ , Ashkan Forouzani / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    #16

    Woman smiling while talking on phone, pushing cart loaded with multiple packs of toilet paper in a supermarket aisle. People panic buying 800 rolls of toilet paper during covid.

    EitherChannel4874 , Getty Images / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    #17

    Performance scene with singers and performers dressed in white robes under a starry sky, showcasing people being stupid together. Kanye fans.

    bubblegum-rose , Peter Hutchins / Wikipedia Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #18

    Young woman holding a sign demanding democracy during a public protest, illustrating cases of people being stupid together. The current political climate in the western world.

    Tennents_N_Grouse Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #19

    Ocean waves gently crashing on a sandy beach with mountains in the background, illustrating cases of people being stupid together. When the ocean at the beach suddenly pulls backward a mile and everyone goes running to catch up to the water. It never really worries them. Like, I don’t even live in an area where tsunamis happen, but if I see that happening, I’m running away, quickly.

    ChairmanLaParka , Tasha Marie / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    #20

    Red cap with Make America Great Again text placed on weathered wooden surface, illustrating cases of people being stupid together. MAGA and the Tea Party before them.

    fayanor , Natilyn Hicks Photography / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    #21

    Man frustrated in car resting forehead on steering wheel, illustrating cases of people being stupid together. Everyone trying to leave a festival at the same time through the same one car gate. I myself just pull a few folding chairs outta my trunk, sit back, and people watch with my friends.

    anon , Vitaly Gariev / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #22

    Laundry detergent pod in orange and blue colors on a black surface, a visual for cases of people being stupid together. The Tide Pod Challenge.

    Millions of people watched teens eat laundry detergent — and some actually joined in.

    No agenda, no cause, no protest.
    Just peer pressure, internet clout, and a complete collapse of common sense.

    AmelyArcana , Erik Binggeser / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    #23

    Black and white photo of soldiers near a heavily damaged structure, illustrating a case of people being stupid together. World War I. Everyone was ready to cheer on war… until it turned into a 4-year meat grinder.

    And 99% of other wars with public support throughout history, too.

    coffeewalnut08 , Unknown author / Wikipedia Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #25

    Red flares with thick smoke burning in a line, illustrating unbelievable cases of people being stupid together. Here in Europe we have thousands of large groups of hooligans. Each time that there's a football match they devastate pubs, streets and entire neighborhoods. They behave like animals and fight against other hooligans and the police burning whatever they find on their way.

    helmortart , Robin Veselý / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #26

    Stained glass window featuring a dove with outstretched wings inside a radiant circular design. Charismatic prayer revival.

    AnarchoRadicalCreate , Dnalor 01 / Wikipedia (not the actual photo) Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #28

    Row of classical busts in a library filled with old books, illustrating unbelievable cases of people being stupid together. * Vague gesture towards the entire human history *.

    Makkel , Giammarco Boscaro / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    #29

    Purple sports car parked outdoors with people around, illustrating unbelievable cases of people being stupid together. Informal car meets.

    No, your ability to drift the car isn't going to improve when you are high/drunk, being spectated by rowdy young men and have an illegally modified car.

    Radioactivocalypse , Abdullah Malik / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #30

    HOA board.

    Otherwise_Ad2804 Report

    #31

    Jonestown.

    Granted, many of those people didn’t drink the Kool-aid willingly.

    April_Adventurer Report

    #32

    The effect of Karents on schools and youth sports.

    Fedbackster Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #33

    The Koolaid drinking extremists of any political party.
    Think man! Think! Followers are idiots.

    dmbgreen Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #34

    Aerial view of a group of people casting long shadows while gathering on a large paved surface, illustrating people being stupid together. Not a famous example but I once watched several hundred people stand in line for a music festival that didn't have a lineup because they all assumed the person in front of them was standing in line.

    Ham__Kitten , Hal Gatewood / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    ADVERTISEMENT