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“We Can Use Fewer Idiots In The World”: 40 Cases Of Mass Stupidity That Prove People Are Dumb
Mob mentality — sometimes also called herd or hive mentality — is the inclination that humans have to be part of a large group, neglecting their individual feelings in the process, and adopting the behaviors and actions of the collective.
Interested in how this concept manifests in everyday life, Reddit user AdmirableFlow made a post on the platform, asking everyone: "What's the most severe case of mass stupidity you've ever witnessed?"
As of now, the question has received over 4.1K comments, so compiled those that stood out and invite you to learn more about the challenges of maintaining critical thinking.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
The January 6th Assault on the Capitol was probably the most severe case of mass stupidity I've seen in my lifetime.
Not even talking politically.
There were idiots climbing walls when there were accessible stairs nearby. Most of these idiots thought they wouldn't meet any police resistance.
They acted as if their attempted coup would be met with smiling cops and clapping congresspeople, thanking them for their service or something.
RELATED:
#3
Probably get downvoted to hell for it, but widespread continued use of single-use plastics. It's insane. We know these things end up in the oceans and in the food chain (and therefore inside us) but we keep using them all the same. Future generations are going to hate us for this.
#4
Taking private jets to a conference about climate change.
#5
Any of the hundreds of megachurches across the world.
Brittania Kelli 1 year ago
If a church takes its parishioners money and spends it on fancy buildings and fountains and the preacher is wearing fancy suits instead of putting those donations back into the community I like to imagine sky daddy's thumb coming out the clouds and smooshing that building. In America some of the churches that televise their worship pay professional singers to sing in their choirs. My cousin is an opera singer in LA, that was a good regular income for him. Meanwhile preachers in Africa sell their own holy 'elixirs' they promise cure all ailments out of their churches after their service...
#7
70 million people in the US voted for a completely unqualified person for President - TWICE.
Realistic Optimist 1 year ago (edited)
Politicians just need to be likeable. Elections are literally popularity contest, and that's only on the surface. In the US, it's established that winning the popular vote doesn't determine the presidency. Still go out and vote, but know one of the things you need to vote towards is de-corrupting the US government.
#8
Anti-vaxers dying in hospitals screaming, “Tell me what I’ve got!! Covid doesn’t exist!!”
SheamusFanFrom1987 1 year ago
You have Moron-orrhea. Incurable and there's no treatment for that. Best to live your days far away from society so you don't infect others.
#9
Anti-vaxxers by far. I find it rather ironic that people can discount things like vaccines because vaccines have created a world where kids aren't dying left and right from childhood illnesses. I am not aware of any antivaxxers existing when the Polio vaccine came out because Polio was a horror show.
#10
People wearing a mask, but UNDER the nose. How dumb is that?
SM 1 year ago
What I find absolutely amazing is that now I can go into a place that doesn't require a mask and there will be people wearing a mask like this. It was bad enough that people worn them wrong when required, but wearing them wrong when they aren't required requires "flat Earth" level at stupidity!
#11
During the Canadian trucker freedom rally, watching the mass of people protest and getting mad about their “2nd Amendment rights”. I’m like 90% sure that the Canadian 2nd Amendment is recognizing Manitoba as a province….. not the right to bear arms like our southerly neighbours.
Paul Macdonell 1 year ago
The whole farce would have been laughable had it not been so severe for the downtown Ottawa residents. Never underestimate the potential damage of stupid.
#13
Scientology.
Doright36:
The rich ones at the top are just in for the tax dodge. A lot of the ones below them are in it thinking they can shmooze with the rich ones at the top and become one of them some days. So yea dumb but with a layer of greed involved.
Realistic Optimist 1 year ago
This is literally describing capitalism. Is Scientology just capitalism with aliens?
#14
My generation, raised knowing how absolutely awful smoking is, excessively vaping.
#15
Those public challenges that CLEARLY risk health, i.e., "the tide pod challenge." Next time, just let things sort themselves out of their own. We can use less idiots in the world.
The ice bucket challenge was at least kind of cute and DID give ALS a lot of media attention/awareness and raised a lot of money.
Stephanie Did It 1 year ago
I would agree with the first statement, except that the victims of these "challenges" are mostly naive kids and kids are stupid. We all were. Maybe some were smart enough to know that detergent could hurt or kill you, but not smart enough to understand that cinnamon, despite being 'food," could actually suffocate you if inhaled. The idiots that promoted those challenges should have been prosecuted.
#17
The rise of the anti-vaccine crowd. Or generally the growing anti-science mindset in our culture.
So many people dead...
Lucifer 1 year ago
“There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.” - Asimov (It's statistically conservative governments that give rise to such movements)
#18
Every time I see a video of someone being beat up, or in some sort of bad/dangerous situation and everyone is just standing around recording instead of helping.
#19
Half the GOP thinking Joe Biden somehow stole an election. And they're still at it!
#20
My local parks playground has a push gate. EVERYDAY I watch grown adults stare at it for like 20 seconds then go "I think it's locked is there another one?" To which I walk up and...... Push the gate open. What annoys me about this is they want to catch an attitude like I'm an ahole for it.
#21
People who ingested bleach because they thought it would keep them safe from Covid.
#22
Someone I knew awhile ago had a theft record a mile long. One time, she went in front of the judge, who told her "You know, every time you've appeared in front of me, you've denied stealing. They have you on camera, clearly walking out of the store with unpaid merchandise. So, here's what we're going to do: you can admit you did it this time, and I'll let you walk out of here today, with probation. If you still deny it, then I'll sentence you to 90 days right here, right now".
Now, her attorney looked at her and said three words: "Take the deal". She said something back, shaking her head. Her attorney then looked at the judge, and said "Your honor, my client maintains her innocence"; BOOM, three months in the county jail, just like that.
It never ceases to amaze me how some people would rather jump off of the Empire State building (or lose their freedom) than simply admit they are wrong.
Bernd Heiligtag 1 year ago
I think it's a mental problem. I'm no psychiatrist but this mental issue screams for help
#23
People who blindly believe any information on the Internet.
#24
In the UK, Brexit. Dishonest rabble rousing politicians lied to a gullible public in a non-binding referendum promoted by a shady conservative PM in order to fix the conflicts within his own party.
We lost a lot and are still feeling the consequences.
Tobias Reaper 1 year ago
they lied basically had big adverts saying we send 350 million to the EU and we can put that back into the NHS they played on peoples fears as well
#25
Religion. Full stop.
BrownTabby 1 year ago (edited)
I’m gonna pîss in some of my fellow atheists’ cornflakes: we have exactly the same capacity to be stupid, selfish, callous or idol-worshipping as religious people do, and I’ll take a humble religious person over the worst-behaved atheists any day.
#26
Maybe not the most severe, but one that everyone here has personally seen at least once in their lives. When at an airport and the gate agent says "We're about to commence boarding. Please remain in your seats until your group has been called.", and then half the people waiting stands up and crowds the gate in a scene of utter chaos. Every time, without fail.
#27
The great toilet paper rush at the start of COVID. There was nothing about COVID that threatened the global toilet paper supply, and yet people just started panic-buying it and artificially creating a huge shortage.
(We would eventually realize that there *was* a small uptick in toilet paper sold for private use, as many people were going to the bathroom at home more than at work, but no one realized that at the time and it had *nothing* to do with the panic - people just started buying more because people were buying more.)
LilliVB 1 year ago
I really didn't get it. I'm not saying TP is not necessary, but in dire times you can find an alternative solution, ie find a way to wash yourself if TP is not available. I would expect more hoarding of food that is not immediately perishable, or medicaments or else, not TP (not that this wouldn't be silly, only less silly)
#28
Whatever the latest conservative outrage/conspiracy fad happens to be. Doesn't matter if it's Trumpism, Satanic Panic, birtherism, Jan 6th Antifa, school shooting "crisis actors," George Soros, Jewish control of media, immigrants "takin our jerbs," 2020 election fraud, Benghazi, Jade Helm, Q-Anon, transphobia, anti-wokeism, border caravans, grooming, anti-vax, elite pedophile rings, Brexit ... the list is almost literally endless. It's always stupid and it's always based on either straight-up fictional nonsense, or a kernel of truth that's been distorted so badly by conspiracist delusion and baldfaced lies that it bears zero resemblance to the actual facts.
#29
Thousands of people during the pandemic thinking the vaccination made their skin magnetic. What in the actual f**k.
#30
Anyone who keeps getting involved in Ponzi or MLM schemes.
For decades the public have been warned on what to watch out for to avoid these schemes, you would assume that the vast majority of people would have learned by now that these schemes are fraudulent and just can't work out. Yet somehow here we with thousands of these companies still up and running and thriving and even more people being taken advantage of by them.
#31
With all the pro-Hamas rallies, the targeting of Jewish-owned businesses, kosher restaurants, firebombing synagogues or Jewish community centers, harassing Jewish students and physically preventing them from attending classes and locking diners in restaurants because they’re mad at the Israeli government. Going after Jews in the Diaspora isn’t going to “free Palestine.”
PattyK 1 year ago
I don’t think they’re pro-Hamas; they’re pro-Palestinian. There’s a big difference.
Vinny DaPooh 1 year ago
If the word Intifada comes up OR from "the river to the sea, Palestine shall be free" then it IS pro Hamas. Hamas however doesn't care about anyone in Gaza. The poor Palestinians are getting hit from both sides
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Brittania Kelli 1 year ago
It's not Pro-Hamas, it's Pro-Palestine. If you want to spread the correct knowledge that not all Jews are Zionists then correctly recognise that all Palestinians are not Hamas.
VioletHunter 1 year ago
I've seen plenty of whitewashing of Hamas as well. As if they are just innocent freedom fighters who don't go around killing, torturing and raping girls and women.
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BeeBee Buni 1 year ago
I don’t think that targeting Jews is okay, they haven’t done anything wrong, but the Israeli government is doing some really really REALLY evil things to Palestine citizens. Please research further for better understanding.
Donna Peluda 1 year ago
Who would you prefer as a neighbour, a member of Hamas or a Jewish family. I was friends with a group of Palestinians a few years ago. They had to leave Palestine because they had a western lifestyle. The evil Hamas does to its own people in Gaza is never spoken about. If you don't collaborate, if your kids aren't seen throwing stones. Let's not talk about how the treat woman. The old man had a business and was boycotted, anyone who showed there was targeted as well . It's not that simple.
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Zoe Belen 1 year ago
The Westerners who have never lived in Islamic lands do not understand Hamas, or Palestinians. They just buy the Hamas PR about 'poor oppressed people'. Who have been taught to hate Jews from kindergarten age.
Load More Replies... Paul Macdonell 1 year ago
Hamas starting this tragic mess with a horrific crime against Israeli citizens. We should recognize and never forget this. Israel's reaction was callous and unnecessarily deadly to the unarmed civilians in Gaza. We should recognize and never forget this But how can we solve a problem when the people discussing it are immediately called anti Muslim or anti Semite. This is a land and statehood issue that foolish and politically opportunistic people want to declare as a religious war. We all have to stop shouting and start listening.
1 year ago
This is not a land or statehood issue. The Palestinians have rejected Israel's last five offers of land for peace. They want ALL of Israel's land. There are 22 Arab countries (50+ muslim majority countries) and one Jewish country, but one is too many for them.
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Jared Robinson 1 year ago
pro stop killing innocent f*****g people is not pro hamas. It's you stupid f***s that think the two are the same that is the real problem here. But 20,000 dead innocent civilians is okie dokie in your book I guess. F*****g do some research before calling other people stupid.
lily jones 1 year ago
There's innocent people being killed on both sides and bad guys on both sides. It is a complicated conflict and it's not as simple as x group is good and y group is bad
Rafis Poulio 1 year ago
Israel is performing ethnic cleansing and killing literally THOUSANDS of innocent Palestinians as it carpet bombs Gaza. The goal is to completely remove Palestinians from their homes so Israel can raze it and rebuild it just for Israelis. They're not trying to get rid of Hamas, they're literally doing a final solution on the Palestinian people. Look at the before and after pictures of Gaza for the real picture of what's going on.
Shelli Aderman 1 year ago
This is, 100%, untrue. Where are you getting your misinformation?
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Gardener of Weeden 1 year ago
I am PRO- the innocent men women and children that are subjected to the hell that a few men have decided to rain down on them. I do not give a f if you are Jewish, Muslim or neither.
Rosecrucian Roeth 1 year ago
Going after Palestinians instead of Hamas isn't going to get rid of Hamas, it's only going to kill innocent Palestinians.
Richienotsorich 1 year ago
These pro-Palestine marchers should be putting pressure on Hamas to release the hostages. The Israelis aren't going to consider stopping until they've all been released and TBH, who can blame them. It's easy for the UK and USA to say that they've gone too far, but what lengths would they go to to get their citizens back?
BeeBee Buni 11 months ago (edited)
“When elephants fight, it’s the grass that suffers” the citizens are the victims here. It’s most of the big boys and girls up at the top doing all of that. The citizens are suffering for what they didn’t do. On BOTH sides. But yes, it’s stupid to harass Jews (who have done nothing wrong) for what their government did, or is doing.
EeyoreGetsMe 1 year ago
It amazes me that after the way the Jews were treated in the wars, that Israel is now doing the same to Palestine. Where is their compassion?
BTDubs 1 year ago
Agreed, but to not talk about hate crimes committed against Arabs in the US and the current genocide in Gaza and the West Bank is to leave out vital context in the conversation. Probs gonna get down voted for this tho.
Zoe Belen 1 year ago
So why not talk about the hate crimes against Jews in the US and many other countries? Funny, isn't it, that those aren't mentioned in the news, just like so many people claim the atrocities of October 7th never happened, that its all propaganda - which is down to Hamas great PR department, which claims they are simply a 'poor oppressed imprisoned people reacting to circumstances'. Funny how Westerners - with no understanding of the Middle Eastern countries, don't protest the massacre of Syrians by Russian warplanes sent by Assad, or the thousands gassed to death by Abbas? Or the thousands of Kurds that Turkeye has oppressed and killed? Or the Uighers in China? Nooo. Only Palestinians. Very selective in their protests.
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Hiram's Friend 1 year ago
I refer you to #27 above, remove conservative and replace with progressive.
Friendly neighborhood possum 1 year ago (edited)
I don't support neither Israel nor Palestine, i'm against both.
Jayjay 1 year ago
Thank you for bringing this up. Hamas is worse than ISIS. Everyone detests ISIS, so why is Hamas exempted from these atrocities? Many people are ignorant and don't know the difference between Hamastinians and Palestinians. Hamas kills its own people, commits atrocities far beyond any horror story and wants Jews to relive the Holocaust, the saddest and deepest low of mankind in history. And people should waken up. Hamas paraded innocent Jews with broken bones and blood around. When Israel wounded Palestinians up when they surrendered? They were all intact, no wounds or broken bones. That should set people start thinking.
Luis Hernandez Dauajare 1 year ago
Yeah. A frightening message. It says "I am bigoted, intolerant a*****e to just be stopped."
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#32
Cult members who lost it all for their beliefs and almost obsessive adoration for their leaders.
#33
Every single time there's a claim that the end of the world will be on (Insert date here).
#34
Cult 45...
#35
For-profit torture of children to 'fix' them, a few times throughout history.
Straight Incorporated did it to stop kids from ever using dugs. You didn't even have to inject the marijuana, just the fear you might.
More recently it's been used by the likes of WWASPS or Aspen Education's programs to 'cure' depression or anxiety by making you hide symptoms, or 'cure' gay by being tortured into pretending to be straight.
Aspiring Canuck 1 year ago
The latter -- "conversion therapy" -- was made illegal in Canada following a unanimous vote in the House of Commons.
#36
“Prosperity Gospel” church attendees.
DogsCatsKids_helpMe:
This! These people willingly give money to these charlatans and are willfully ignorant of the fact that the only one prospering is the person they’re giving money to. It just blows my mind.
God already gave you the tools to prosper. Your brain, hands, feet… he’s done his job.
#37
People who knew nothing about the Middle East on October 6th chanting “from the river to the sea” on October 7th.
Bored Templar 1 year ago
What Hamas did on the 7th was one of the most horrifying things the world has witnessed. Israel seems to be doubling on that now
#39
Those idiots who paid $500 to $7000 for Taylor Swift tix.
Jeff White 1 year ago
That's not idiotic. It's their money, their choice. If that is what they want to "blow" that much money on, then more power to them. No skin off my nose.
#40
People waiting in Dealey Plaza for JFK Jr. to show up.
What do you think ?
Mike F 1 year ago
For sure, but where's the pitchforks, torches, and flaming windmills that brought relief to the people frightened of Frankenstein's monster.
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T.O.S.o.R. 1 year ago
Wow, not one single mention of the 5G conspiracies! There's hope for humanity.
DB 1 year ago
Protesters and demonstrators. Despite your intentions they are very rarely peaceful and usually degenerate into senseless violence that in the end does more harm than good to your cause.
wowbagger 1 year ago
That is utterly false. The vast majority of protests and demonstrations do not degenerate into violence, and they frequently have positive results.
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Some guy 1 year ago
Wasn't it Voltaire who said that, or something similar?
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ggus44 1 year ago
First, Trump in USA. Second, Bolsonaro in Brazil. Next, Milei in Argentina. People are so stupid that they worship these morons, and even after their country is all fcked up because of these sh!tty presidents, they keep worshipping them.
Eric Moncaleano 1 year ago
It's because all three blowhards share the same talking points that their followers believe- blame everything that is bad in your life on immigrants, the government is after you, cut taxes for the wealthy, science is lying to you and facts don't matter. They use religion (the hypocrisy) as opium (more like suppressant) for the masses.
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Randy Sanders 1 year ago
Mob mentality is the inclination that humans have to be part of a large group, neglecting their individual feelings. Here's how it manifests in everyday life. Read this sentence again SLOWLY, and know that BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT have the same problem.
Donteatme666 1 year ago
Trump is a orange turd who needs to be put down the man supported a insurrection on the capital he's a monster downvote me if u will my statement stand's
Douglas Tucker 1 year ago
Oh boy, where does one even start with these 44 samples of personal madness. In today's rapid and widening access to information (correct to crazy), one must no longer lock in on only one source of fact finding to understand or believe a particular person, story, or fact. The expression "Due Diligence" should apply at all times within your mind for yourself to avoid being confused, activated, or a sucker for B.S. that you may regret down the road.
Nice Beast Ludo 1 year ago
The video I saw on TV of a spring breaker getting arrested while 150 tiktokers had phones glued to face in anticipation...then one of them opened the cop car door, boy went running, and the entire herd of teenagers went charging down the beach with him like a flash mob. It was frankly terrifying to watch. I think they are aliens.
Jason K 1 year ago
Didn't even read this post and know that there will be at least several that are advertised as stupidity and are actually spot on. Bias is tough to overcome!
David Paterson 1 year ago (edited)
I count 10 out of 44 on this list that are advertised as stupidity but are actually spot on. Maintain a healthy dose of scepticism folks, don't agree with something just because certain people are shouting it from the rooftops. For more info search for my comic strip "good scientist cartoon" that explores the boundary between genius and stupidity. Intelligence and stupidity are not opposites, people can be both, or neither.
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Maudelin 1 year ago
There are a lot of people here afraid of the truth. If you are happy with the current administration you are part of the problem. Wake up and stop being brainwashed.
Tamra 11 months ago
What "truth" are you talking about? I'm no Biden fan-girl, but it'll be a cold day in hell before I vote for the likes of Trump. A rabid monkey would make a better president than that slimy, orange criminal.
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HighNMightyBigshot 1 year ago (edited)
In many cases at numbers greater than their representation in the population YT people are the majority of drug dealers and users Serial murderers/serial murderers Sexual psychopaths serial rapists sexual sadists sexual deviants Stalkers Obsession crimes Torture We lead in incest Necrophilia child pornography Ped0philia Arsonists We lead in infanticide Abduction of children Patricide spree killers abduction of children US terrorism acts police brutality convictions hate crimes mass murder malpractice suits convicted politicians Cannibalism Etc. Etc. Etc.
Load More Replies... Mike F 1 year ago
For sure, but where's the pitchforks, torches, and flaming windmills that brought relief to the people frightened of Frankenstein's monster.
Load More Replies... T.O.S.o.R. 1 year ago
Wow, not one single mention of the 5G conspiracies! There's hope for humanity.
DB 1 year ago
Protesters and demonstrators. Despite your intentions they are very rarely peaceful and usually degenerate into senseless violence that in the end does more harm than good to your cause.
wowbagger 1 year ago
That is utterly false. The vast majority of protests and demonstrations do not degenerate into violence, and they frequently have positive results.
Load More Replies... Some guy 1 year ago
Wasn't it Voltaire who said that, or something similar?
Load More Replies... ggus44 1 year ago
First, Trump in USA. Second, Bolsonaro in Brazil. Next, Milei in Argentina. People are so stupid that they worship these morons, and even after their country is all fcked up because of these sh!tty presidents, they keep worshipping them.
Eric Moncaleano 1 year ago
It's because all three blowhards share the same talking points that their followers believe- blame everything that is bad in your life on immigrants, the government is after you, cut taxes for the wealthy, science is lying to you and facts don't matter. They use religion (the hypocrisy) as opium (more like suppressant) for the masses.
Load More Replies... Randy Sanders 1 year ago
Mob mentality is the inclination that humans have to be part of a large group, neglecting their individual feelings. Here's how it manifests in everyday life. Read this sentence again SLOWLY, and know that BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT have the same problem.
Donteatme666 1 year ago
Trump is a orange turd who needs to be put down the man supported a insurrection on the capital he's a monster downvote me if u will my statement stand's
Douglas Tucker 1 year ago
Oh boy, where does one even start with these 44 samples of personal madness. In today's rapid and widening access to information (correct to crazy), one must no longer lock in on only one source of fact finding to understand or believe a particular person, story, or fact. The expression "Due Diligence" should apply at all times within your mind for yourself to avoid being confused, activated, or a sucker for B.S. that you may regret down the road.
Nice Beast Ludo 1 year ago
The video I saw on TV of a spring breaker getting arrested while 150 tiktokers had phones glued to face in anticipation...then one of them opened the cop car door, boy went running, and the entire herd of teenagers went charging down the beach with him like a flash mob. It was frankly terrifying to watch. I think they are aliens.
Jason K 1 year ago
Didn't even read this post and know that there will be at least several that are advertised as stupidity and are actually spot on. Bias is tough to overcome!
David Paterson 1 year ago (edited)
I count 10 out of 44 on this list that are advertised as stupidity but are actually spot on. Maintain a healthy dose of scepticism folks, don't agree with something just because certain people are shouting it from the rooftops. For more info search for my comic strip "good scientist cartoon" that explores the boundary between genius and stupidity. Intelligence and stupidity are not opposites, people can be both, or neither.
Load More Replies... Maudelin 1 year ago
There are a lot of people here afraid of the truth. If you are happy with the current administration you are part of the problem. Wake up and stop being brainwashed.
Tamra 11 months ago
What "truth" are you talking about? I'm no Biden fan-girl, but it'll be a cold day in hell before I vote for the likes of Trump. A rabid monkey would make a better president than that slimy, orange criminal.
Load More Replies... HighNMightyBigshot 1 year ago (edited)
In many cases at numbers greater than their representation in the population YT people are the majority of drug dealers and users Serial murderers/serial murderers Sexual psychopaths serial rapists sexual sadists sexual deviants Stalkers Obsession crimes Torture We lead in incest Necrophilia child pornography Ped0philia Arsonists We lead in infanticide Abduction of children Patricide spree killers abduction of children US terrorism acts police brutality convictions hate crimes mass murder malpractice suits convicted politicians Cannibalism Etc. Etc. Etc.
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