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In his famous satirical poem "The Ship of Fools", the outstanding German philosopher Sebastian Brant, in particular, wrote that our world is mired in stupidity, that modern society needs immediate change, and that it cannot go on like this for a long time - after all, ordinary human stupidity will sooner or later destroy everything good that surrounds us.

If you think that Brant is our contemporary, you are definitely wrong. The "Ship of Fools" was first published in 1494, but even today, more than five centuries later, much of what its author wrote about is more than fair. If there's anything in it that has not changed since then, it's the amount of great and small stupidity around us.

No, of course, we are not talking about such striking manifestations as, let's say, wearing clothes upside down, investing in financial pyramids, or perhaps choosing Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan in the NBA draft. We are talking about some obvious or less so cases which clearly signal to us that we are dealing with someone with a pure lack of intelligence.

And just recently, this particular thread appeared in the AskReddit community, which has gained around 6K upvotes and almost 8K various comments to date. The author of the thread asked the readers just one simple question: "What makes you instantly question someone's intelligence?" And you know what? It turns out that there are so many options that Sebastian Brant, if he lived today and read the full list, would definitely write a sequel to the "Ship of Fools".

But the great philosopher passed into the best of all worlds exactly 500 years ago, so Bored Panda took over his function and collected a selection of the most extraordinary, aptly and wittily described observations that demonstrate how to recognize any slightest manifestation of human stupidity literally out of the blue. So please feel free to read all the signs we've selected, and of course add your own observations. After all, no one is immune from the fact that what today is considered absolute wisdom will be no less true nonsense tomorrow.

More info: Reddit

#1

According To Folks Online, If A Person Does Or Says These 30 Things, They Might Not Be Very Intelligent Littering.

CannaPanda69 , Hefin Owen Report

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Charlie the Cat
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wish I could upvote this more. I despise people that litter. TAKE IT HOME WITH YOU!! Sorry about the raising my voice.

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#2

According To Folks Online, If A Person Does Or Says These 30 Things, They Might Not Be Very Intelligent I just heard a guy say "God gave us the right to have a gun, if you're against my right to have a gun, you're also against God."

Politics aside, whether you're for or against gun laws; that is a ridiculous statement.

Extreme_Today_984 , Brett Sayles Report

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Kathryn Baylis
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A gun? Not the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch? “ARTHUR: Yes, of course! The Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch! 'Tis one of the sacred relics Brother Maynard carries with him. Brother Maynard! Bring up the Holy Hand Grenade! MONKS: (chanting) Pie Iesu domine, dona eis requiem Pie Iesu domine, dona eis requiem. Pie Iesu domine, dona eis requiem. Pie Iesu domine, dona eis requiem ARTHUR: How does it, um-- how does it work? LANCELOT: I know not, my liege ARTHUR: Consult the Book of Armaments! BROTHER MAYNARD: Armaments, chapter two, verses nine to twenty-one SECOND BROTHER: And Saint Attila raised the hand grenade up on high, saying, "O Lord, bless this Thy hand grenade that, with it, Thou mayest blow Thine enemies to tiny bits in Thy mercy." And the Lord did grin, and the people did feast upon the lambs and sloths and carp and anchovies and orangutans and breakfast cereals and fruit bats and large chu-- MAYNARD: Skip a bit, Brother SECOND BROTHER: And the Lord spake, saying, "First shalt thou take out the Holy Pin. Then, shalt thou count to three. No more. No less. Three shalt be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, nor either count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out. Once the number three, being the third number, be reached, then, lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch towards thy foe, who, being naughty in My sight, shall snuff it." MAYNARD: Amen KNIGHTS: Amen ARTHUR: Right! One!... Two!... Five! GALAHAD: Three, sir. ARTHUR: Three!”

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#3

According To Folks Online, If A Person Does Or Says These 30 Things, They Might Not Be Very Intelligent Having even a cursory interest in what the Kardashians are doing.

sam_the_beagle , kardashians Report

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User# 6
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You have to keep an eye on them, though. You never know if they're going to invade Bajor again.

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#4

According To Folks Online, If A Person Does Or Says These 30 Things, They Might Not Be Very Intelligent When they like andrew tate

Lonely_Thought4459 , Cobratate Report

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Hey!
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For those who don't know AT (like me), here's what Google says: "Tate, a former professional kickboxer, is known for his viral rants online about male dominance, female submission and wealth. He openly advocates violence against women, and had previously been banned from every major social media platform until Elon Musk reinstated his Twitter account after taking over the company."

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#5

According To Folks Online, If A Person Does Or Says These 30 Things, They Might Not Be Very Intelligent People who unironically use the words "alpha male"

sortilege84 , Ralph Rabago Report

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B
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

10 times out of 10 an " alpha male" is just an a hole looking for an excuse for their behavior

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#6

According To Folks Online, If A Person Does Or Says These 30 Things, They Might Not Be Very Intelligent An unwillingness to learn new things.

Electrical-Bid-9577 , Denise Chan Report

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talliloo
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

unwillingness to learn as well as being unwilling to check facts, preferring to take another person's word for fact.

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#7

According To Folks Online, If A Person Does Or Says These 30 Things, They Might Not Be Very Intelligent talking about horoscopes

"I'm toxic and clingy because i'm a caprisun"

no sharon you're just a c**t, the stars had nothing to do with it

filthconnoiseur , Andrew Watson Report

#8

According To Folks Online, If A Person Does Or Says These 30 Things, They Might Not Be Very Intelligent Active hostility to books (as opposed to simply not reading them).

Manganela , Pixabay Report

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D. Pitbull
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ridiculing people who read as well.. claiming that it's a "useless waste of time" and automatically assuming that if you read, you're not experiencing "LIFE" so theeey obviously are better than you somehow. These are also usually the people who claim that spelling isn't important.

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#9

According To Folks Online, If A Person Does Or Says These 30 Things, They Might Not Be Very Intelligent When they post one of those things on Facebook saying "only a few will share!" or when they comment on one of those clickbait "God has a blessing for you today say amen!" posts

se7ensquared , Tobias Dziuba Report

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Clown fish
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or the , this month has 5 Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays it only happens once every 830 years its called money bags. Like ok stupid it happens every 5yrs but Facebook said it only happens 830 years so we won't use our brains to work out its 5yrs before you share and look stupid

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#10

According To Folks Online, If A Person Does Or Says These 30 Things, They Might Not Be Very Intelligent Everything is black and white, there are no middle grounds. You either support and agree with every little thing they do at full force, or you're a worst enemy.

DecayedMagnolia , Marco Verch Professional Photographer Report

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#11

According To Folks Online, If A Person Does Or Says These 30 Things, They Might Not Be Very Intelligent Subscribing to a political party like it’s a religion.

WheresMaxwellHill , cottonbro studio Report

#12

According To Folks Online, If A Person Does Or Says These 30 Things, They Might Not Be Very Intelligent People who don’t accept that people change their minds. Example:

“I actually view things with differently now, since I did a lot more research into it and have a close friend who understands it more than I do and explained it to me.”

“Well if you don’t stick to your guns, how are you supposed to stand up for yourself?? You can’t just let people change your mind like that!!”

Yes, yes you can. People grow when they’re introduced to new information. If you don’t change at all, you’re not “sticking to your guns”, you’re being an idiot.

Quincy_Thorne , Ryutaro Tsukata Report

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Kathryn Baylis
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When you’re in the wrong, then “sticking to our guns” = doubling down on your stupidity.

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#13

According To Folks Online, If A Person Does Or Says These 30 Things, They Might Not Be Very Intelligent When they use the Bible as their go to defense for anything they do. Especially when they misquote it or point to something that isn't in the Bible.

Xen0phage101380 , Pixabay Report

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#14

According To Folks Online, If A Person Does Or Says These 30 Things, They Might Not Be Very Intelligent The act of being rude or condescending to retail workers or waitstaff, in my opinion, is indicative of poor education and social skills.

alittlebitchicago , Mussi Katz Report

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OmBoyGanesh
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don’t thin they meant formal education, but the wisdom & knowledge experience brings. If we don’t allow for that wisdom & knowledge to shape up and help us grow, we’ve poorly educated ourselves in social and interpersonal senses. I didn’t read it as structured or formal education. Some of the least schooled people I know have the been the best teachers of life lessons.

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#15

When they insist that feelings and beliefs are on equal footing to facts.

m0estash Report

#16

According To Folks Online, If A Person Does Or Says These 30 Things, They Might Not Be Very Intelligent When people insult rather than use a counter argument.

clarencemuraco , Kyle LeBoeuf Report

#17

According To Folks Online, If A Person Does Or Says These 30 Things, They Might Not Be Very Intelligent Interest in a pyramid scheme

GameCox , Eduardo Francisco Vazquez Murillo Report

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Loki's_Lil_Butterknife
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a truly tough one as pyramid schemes often prey on single parents, usually single mothers, and lure them in with the potential of a better life and a community. They are horrible as they brainwash people into giving up their entire life in exchange for an unattainable dream. So many people end up losing money and alienating those around them. Many people fear leaving them as they are made to feel like failures by people higher up. The Iluminaughti on Youtube has some wonder videos about pyramid schemes and MLMs and how people get caught up in them.

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#18

According To Folks Online, If A Person Does Or Says These 30 Things, They Might Not Be Very Intelligent If every mistake in their life is blamed on others... Dropped out? Thats the schools fault. Didnt get a GED? Thats their parents fault for not helping them. Electricity wasn't paid on time? Yeah the company is out to get him...I mean an excuse for EVERYTHING

mission-sleep99 , Liza Summer Report

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Hey!
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My only sister is like that and she's 61. Apparently her therapist told her so. Yeah. Right. For ex., she blamed me for getting married before her at 20 and being married since then. She goes out with 3 men at the same time and can't find a husband. Not. My. Fault.

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#19

According To Folks Online, If A Person Does Or Says These 30 Things, They Might Not Be Very Intelligent Just a complete lack of critical thinking. They cannot trouble shoot anything. I have an employee like this and it’s painful watching them sometimes.

Immajustbrowse19 , Pixabay Report

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Dan Bexell
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For most people, the ability to use critical thinking has to be taught. Cognitive dissonance tends to be very common in humans, and to become a critical thinker, self awareness and self examination have to be practiced, also honesty, when you have to admit to something you were wrong about. It's hard to do.

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#20

According To Folks Online, If A Person Does Or Says These 30 Things, They Might Not Be Very Intelligent People who can only argue by raising their voice.

malkumecks , Liza Summer Report

#21

According To Folks Online, If A Person Does Or Says These 30 Things, They Might Not Be Very Intelligent When people constantly go on and on about how such and such is overrated or people who's favorite thing is X are idiots then I suspect they are being immature or dumb. I recognize this because I used to do it constantly. I now realize how stupid and immature that was. I am not perfect and still find myself doing it sometimes. It such an easy trap to fall into.

The example I like to give is the band Rush. I'm not a fan of their music but it would borderline criminal of me to say they are overrated or that people who like their music are dumb. Those three dudes are/were insanely talented and had more musical talent than I could ever dream of. Their music just doesn't speak to me and that's not on them that's on me.

So now I try my best to say things like "Big Bang theory" just isn't my cup of tea rather than everybody who likes BBT is dumb. Calling people dumb for having different opinions about subjective things is dumb.

JRogeroiii , Mark Morgan Report

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D3v1lD0ll
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Much respect for your insight and personal evolution. I think many of us spoke/thought this way when we were children through our young adulthood and eventually grew out of it. My personal examples: Country music, Journey, the color pink (I was a self-important tomboy), organized sports...

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#22

According To Folks Online, If A Person Does Or Says These 30 Things, They Might Not Be Very Intelligent They aren't open to changing their beliefs when given new information.

Pretengineer_825 , RODNAE Productions Report

#23

Claiming to be a sovereign citizen.

Manslick Report

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censorshipsucks
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

my take is they don't subscribe to the country's laws and claim sovereignty (independence) which makes them either an enemy combatant, an illegal alien, or a domestic terrorist. In any case, they need anything between these points as treatment. Enemy combatant? Shoot on sight. Illegal alien? Deport to country of origin. Domestic terrorist? Guantanamo. Easy. Post them these offers and ask them which they prefer.

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#24

According To Folks Online, If A Person Does Or Says These 30 Things, They Might Not Be Very Intelligent Being confidently ignorant

Tattooed-Tango , Fernando Mafra Report

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D. Pitbull
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ahh.. of the "I KNOW I'm right - so whatever your 'evidence' is, I won't listen" variety?

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#25

According To Folks Online, If A Person Does Or Says These 30 Things, They Might Not Be Very Intelligent Talks a lot and never listens.

BaronVonOstrich , Toms Baugis Report

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Natalie
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For some of us with ADHD this is hard. We try to listen, we try to wait our turn to speak, we try not to talk too much, but we can’t help it. We’re not trying to be rude, nor does it mean we are unintelligent. It’s just the way our brain functions — especially if we are interested in the subject. So, I think this statement depends on how the speaker is presenting; if they are being condescending or arrogant.

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#26

According To Folks Online, If A Person Does Or Says These 30 Things, They Might Not Be Very Intelligent Oddly enough, when they try and tell me their IQ.

manwithoutcountry , Monstera Report

#27

According To Folks Online, If A Person Does Or Says These 30 Things, They Might Not Be Very Intelligent If they believe in TV magicians, ghost hunting show, or that most other reality shows are not scripted

shoephone7 , Boudewijn Report

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HurlWurk
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have friends who work in tv/movies industry. Everything is scripted, even the stuff that says it isn't. There is no such thing as reality TV, unless you are watching security camera footage

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#28

I have absolutely no idea why, but people here seem to think that poor grammar = unintelligent, without considering people who don't speak the language and are trying their best.

People can be Intelligent in other ways some are good at solving puzzles, some are good at mathematics or physics, some have excellent memory and some are good at quizzes.

Terrainaheadpullup Report

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crowspectre 2.0 (he/they)
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah. Grammar is a social construct and a form of classism. I'll make jokes about it and sometimes correct my friends in a gentle way (I try not to make it obvious) but if you actually believe people who don't use great grammar are less intelligent you're the problem

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#29

According To Folks Online, If A Person Does Or Says These 30 Things, They Might Not Be Very Intelligent The kind of dogmatic anti-education sentiment you see going around the internet. "I learned more in this 10 minutes video than in 3 years of highschool", "College is a scam, my friend's cousin's dog dropped out to run his own business and is now a multimillionnaire".

The education system is imperfect and you don't *need* a college degree to lead a successful life, but people who outright dismiss college as a useful tool or ask why highschool doesn't teach us about taxes after they slept through algebra and ~~home-ed~~ home-ec just seem to be complaining for the sake of complaining. "Oh look at me I'm a contrarian that likes to s**t on some of the most useful established tools in modern society".

AndyBales , Stanley Morales Report

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Libstak
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

While I totally believe education is a very useful tool because it passes down useful information and builds vital skills in all areas of life, I firmly believe that knowledge and wisdom are not the same. Knowledge will tell you fire is hot, wisdom will tell you that it can cause great harm and chaos and must therefore be respected.

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#30

"could of", "would of"

51451323 Report

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D. Pitbull
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This. Drives. Me. Crazy. I had one person try to mock me for saying "It's could have.. and would have" they were all like "NO it's not, you stupid or something?" - please see 'confidently ignorant' on this list...

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Note: this post originally had 42 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.