4 Comments
User's avatar
DECQuine's avatar

Throw in the Matthew Effect, as well. Somewhat relevant.

"Hopelessly Incompetent". I can assure you, we're not hopeless. We just wanna keep a low profile, and incompetence helps in that regard.

Expand full comment
Olde Edo's avatar

I thank you for that clarification of our position. In fact, for historical perspective, our roots go back millennia, as attested in the writings of the great Chinese Taoist philosopher (and perhaps the only comedy writer in traditional Chinese history) Chuang-tzu, who wrote about a magnificent oak tree that, nonetheless, a master carpenter and lumberman showed zero interest in as he walked past it. His apprentice was baffled by the master's indifference, but the master replied that, in spite of its outward magnificent appearance, in fact the wood is useless for any real application. Later, the master saw the tree in a dream, and it spoke to him, explaining that, unlike useful trees like pairs, chestnuts, etc., this tree cultivated being useless as a means of survival, and thus remained into old age unlike the useful ones that are continually being cut, pruned, & otherwise abused. Thus the teaching of the utility of uselessness.

Expand full comment
DECQuine's avatar

Thanks Olde, but I was just trolling.

Expand full comment
Olde Edo's avatar

Here is another useful essay giving a taxonomy of the levels of stupidity to be found exhibited by our fellow man:

https://jonathanturley.org/2022/01/08/the-eight-degrees-of-ignorance-and-stupidity/

Written by Darren Smith, occasional contributor to the "Res ipsa loquitor" blog of Constitutional law expert Prof. Jonathan Turley.

A "must-read" essay!

Expand full comment