“Don ‘t Work for Stupid People”

Commentary/Humor

By Richard E. Noble

When I was young and starting out on my working career, I was interviewed by many people. And as they evaluated me, I also evaluated them. Right off I knew that I was smarter than most of the people who were interviewing me. I am sure that many of you have found yourselves in a similar position. I always felt my situation was somewhat comparable to women and dating. You girls know what I’m talking about.
There is a tendency when you find yourself in this situation to go to work for the dumb guy and avoid the smart guy. You feel that you are smarter than the dumb guy and therefore you will be able to manipulate him or her and that the smart guy will be able to trick and manipulate you.
This is wrong thinking. Dumb people are trickier than smart people. Smart people have big egos and they always think that because they are smarter than you, they will always come out on top - dumb people know better.
The thing with most dumb people is that although they do not necessarily recognize themselves as dumb, they also recognize a smart person when they meet one.
So, just as you realize that you are smarter than they are, they also know that you are smarter than they are. And that is basically how they became so tricky.
You can imagine being a naturally dominant human creature and finding yourself to be dumber than everybody else. You quickly realize that you must get tricky if you are ever to get your way - and that’s the name of the game, as we all know.
It is very hard for a smart person to figure out what a dumb person is going to do. The reason should be obvious. Smart people are too smart to think dumb. Consequently dumb people are always able to trick smarter people - i.e. ... parenthood. Dumb people are not only able to think dumb but they are more than capable of doing dumb things or choosing stupid alternatives.
This ability on the part of dumb people drives smart people out of their minds. Smart people always think that they have covered all the various alternatives - but invariably they eliminate all the stupid alternatives. They do this because they are smart - and that is there downfall. Stupid people rule - i.e. Government.
Stupid people never rule out doing something dumb. The reason for this should also be obvious. They are dumb and they do not realize that the alternative that they have chosen is stupid.
Smart people always bring stupid people onto their TV shows and say to them; What were you thinking? Or; Is this working for you? Or: Didn’t you realize that you would go to prison if you did that? Or; Don’t you know that sex leads to pregnancy?
Of course they didn’t - that’s why they did it. And they will continue to do it no matter how much you beat them up for it. Why? Because they are not smart; they are stupid. Stupid people do dumb things.
Can stupid people get smarter?
I don’t know, you tell me.
Dumb people don’t get the idea of “thinking” or “working for you”. They say; Did I get a jelly bean when I pressed this button or not. Yes ... do it again; no ... try an alternative. It is called making choices. Both dumb and smart people know how to make choices.
So, my advice to young people just starting out on their working careers is to take the job working for the smarter guy and avoid working for people who are obviously not as bright as you are.
But even this simple advice has its pitfalls. Like what if you find that you are smarter than everybody else - without exception? That is a very difficult problem let me assure you - and I speak with considerable authority on this point.
If you find that there is no one out there who is smarter than you are - life can become very difficult and very tricky. You will learn quickly that everyone is trying to trick you - and they are. People will tell you that you are paranoid - but you will know better because you are really smarter than they are - and you know it even if your psychiatrist doesn’t.
People will all be trying to trick you because they have to. They are not as smart as you are.
One popular way to try and deal with this problem is to try to learn to think stupid. The danger with this strategy is that if you become successful you may forget how to think intelligently and you will find that you have only ticked yourself into becoming stupid.
Of course, if this happens your day to day life will be easier to cope with - but you will then probably start to hear a voice. It will be your inner, brighter, now suppressed ego.
This is not unusual but if you tell anybody about it, your life will never be the same again.
But on a positive note if you are really smarter than everyone else you could end up like Albert Einstein. Of course that will mean never getting into Harvard and living in confinement at Princeton or some lesser institution for the rest of your natural life.

Richard E. Noble is a Freelance Writer and has been a resident of Eastpoint for around thirty years now. He has authored two books: “A Summer with Charlie” which is currently listed on Amazon.com and “Hobo-ing America” which should be listed on Amazon in the not too distant future. Most recently he completed his first novel “Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother” which will be published soon.