A Very Special Kind of Stupid

Not sure if ‘stupid’ is the right description, but I can’t think of a word to best describe this condition.

I am not talking about folks with elevators don't quite reach the top floor. This is a category of a different kind.

The ones I am referring to are those folks that are well, just plain gullible. These are the folks that read fake news and totally believe it, just like the guy that totally believed the sex traffic ring was being run from a pizzeria.

Despite this fake news being debunked by numerous sites, this guy totally believed this silliness and almost caused a real tragedy.

Then there are the 'birthers'. There are many people who believe that Barack Obama was born in Kenya and not eligible to be President of the United States. The conspiracy was started by a Democratic supporter for Hillary Clinton during the election campaign 2008. Despite the fact there was no real proof this was true and Obama's birth certificate being provided by the State of Hawaii, many people still believe it to this day.

There are people that believe the government of the United States was behind the World Trade Center tragedy, man did not go to the moon, the Sandy Hook shootings did not really happen, and the list goes on and on.

So why are so many people so gullible? It's probably due to several reasons, but mainly because of what I call 'a special kind of stupid'. A lot of these folks are intelligent, but when a theory is introduced by someone and it appeals to the 'I want to believe this' element present in someone, this 'special kind of stupid' or confirmation bias, kicks in. Once this happens, no amount of proof will sway their belief.

A Guide to Arguing With a Snopes-Denier

Some will believe, but some won’t.

Martha

Facebook Annoyances

Why won't Facebook let me see the 'Most Recent' posts instead of 'Top Stories'? And how do they determine what is a 'Top Story'? I want a setting to always show 'Most recent!

There are some posts on Facebook that make me want to just leave.

For instance,

"I'm going to see who really cares..."

"I need a hug or two! To give me a hug, Like and Share this post.
I know who will hug me and who will not."

Really?

"Share if you agree." This is usually a post that tries to make you feel guilty if you don't share.

Hoaxes. Facebook users post so many hoaxes. They are like the energizer bunny, they just keep going and going, seeming like forever.

Fake news. There are political fake news sites for both parties. Usually these sites are so ridiculous I don't see how anyone with an iota of intelligence would believe them, but then again, I suspect there are some folks who believe.

There are also wild tales generally with photo-shopped pictures. I doubt most viewers believe but as I said before some folks will believe.

Facebook used to be fun. It still is at times which is why I still use it, but I must take it in small doses.

 

 

Wondering Why

Why does Chevrolet think actors aren’t ‘real people’?  If they aren’t real people, what are they? Androids?

Are the ‘Real people’ in those ads real? I am not the only one to wonder, just look at the Consumerist.

Why when I click a link to someone’s page on Facebook and then click the back arrow why doesn’t Facebook take me back to the place I just left? Annoying!

Do people read the side effects on all those drug ads? If they do read them, do they still take those drugs? Why? Even those side effects that can include death? ‘Ask your doctor if death is right for you!’.

What is this bar? Can’t close it even though there is a X on it.



Why does every website I visit assume I want to sign up for their newsletter?

Why does my computer keep losing Internet Connection?

Why do people pay a lot of money for jeans with holes in them? And for heaven’s sake, why would anyone want to wear these?

Martha