On Tue, 07 Jun 2011 15:05:45 -0700, Patrick Elliott wrote:

>>    Why are such smart people so stupid at the same time?
>>
> Don't remember who said it, but they explained it like this (their
> version being a lot shorter than this), "More knowledge/intelligence,
> when applied badly, leads to more plausible sounding explanations for
> the ridiculous, since they have more to work from, when constructing
> their gibberish. This makes them better able to defend their position,
> unless you are nearly as knowledgeable, and not heavily invested in the
> same errors." The original was directed at the question of why a
> scientist may hold, simultaneously, idiotic ideas, not directly related
> to their own field, while managing to do a good, or even exceptional,
> job at things that *are* in that field. The answer being, "Because they
> can construct better stupidities."

Of course it also helps when people have no memory of what these 
'reporters' have said before.  Quite often they contradict themselves and 
count on the fact that nobody remembers what they said earlier.

That's why Jon Stewart is so successful - he shines a bright light on 
that kind of idiocy, and it all starts with "Roll 2-12". :)

Jim

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