The Basic Laws of Human Stupidity
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30%
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one finds the same percentage of stupid people whether one is considering very large groups or one is dealing with very small ones.
Eric Laureys
Even among university professors
35%
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the Law implies that whether you move in distinguished circles or you take refuge among the head-hunters of Polynesia,
36%
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you always have to face the same percentage of stupid people — which percentage (in accordance with the First Law) will always surpass your expectations.
69%
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how and why stupid people can reach positions of power and consequence.
71%
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fraction σ of the voting population are stupid people and elections offer to all of them at once a magnificent opportunity to harm everybody else without gaining anything from their action.
77%
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«against stupidity the very Gods fight in vain».
82%
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non-stupid people constantly forget that at all times and places and under any circumstances to deal and/or associate with stupid people infallibly turns out to be a costly mistake».
Eric Laureys
Cameron and his referendum
93%
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It would be a profound mistake to believe the number of stupid people in a declining society is greater than in a developing society.
95%
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any country moving uphill has its unavoidable σ fraction of stupid people. However the country moving uphill also has an unusually high fraction of intelligent people who manage to keep the σ fraction at bay and at the same time produce enough gains
Eric Laureys
Which makes me think that neither birthright based societies nor democracies can keep the stupid away from power. How do you get those whose actions benefit both themselvesand the rest of society to power positions ?