Sorry for such a deeply philosophical post this late at night, but I was promised lunch for it.

The beginner level of stupidity is when you, like, know everything. Well, that is, in reality you know absolutely nothing, but for some reason you think you know everything. For any question from the person you’re talking to, your brain automatically produces an answer. And you’re 100% sure you’re right. And you’re so stupid you can’t even begin to doubt that you’re right.

The next level of stupidity is knowing that you’re wrong somewhere, having doubts. But you’re so stupid that you don’t feel the need or desire to go and learn something, to shed light on your own ignorance.

The level of stupidity grows. You can already feel a need for knowledge, but you remain stupid enough to be too lazy to go and get that knowledge. You always find some excuses, just as stupid as you are: no money (actually there is), no time (actually there is, but you spent it on some crap).

And now your stupidity evolves along with you: you went to courses or a seminar, but you’re so stupid that it goes in one ear and out the other, you don’t take notes on what they’re telling you from the lectern. Your stupidity prevents you from letting new knowledge pass through you. You’re so stupid that you can’t even, for example, tear yourself away from a chat on your mobile phone.

And now, once again, you’ve gotten even stupider. You paid for the courses, listened to everything, took notes on everything, and sort of kind of understood it all (actually no). You came to work (or wherever it is you came), and you’re so stupid that you don’t even see how to apply this new knowledge. You lack the abstract thinking to extend the knowledge you received to your everyday tasks.

It would seem that at this point I could end the post, but I’ll continue.

You can take an even higher step, reach for the stars, become a Master of Stupidity, if at your job in some specific situation you see that the new knowledge can be applied, but because of laziness and your own stupidity you don’t want to apply it.

And here, at the final line, having traveled this long path full of stupidity, you could take the last step. But you’re so stupid you don’t know what it is, and I won’t tell you. I want you to find and take that step yourself, without my help.

Lyosha, you wanted my post? Here, catch!