You Can’t Idiot-Proof the World

There’s no way to make the world safe for idiots.

No matter what you do, it can go wrong somehow. And then it won’t be safe, for idiots or anyone else.

I thought of that while watching “Love Crossed,” a Chinese TV series. In one scene, the main character is walking in a subway tunnel. And the subtitles area displayed a warning:

“Dangerous action. Please do not try this at home.”

In other words, if you have a subway tunnel in your house, don’t walk in it.

How stupid does a person have to be in order to need a warning like that?

How stupid does a person have to be in order to think that other people need a warning like that?

Treating safety as our highest value is ruining our societies. Government officials have always lied to us on occasion, but now they do it continuously.

They claim that their lies are “noble” because we’re too stupid to make our own decisions. They know what’s best for us. And for them. Mostly for them.

Life involves risk. That’s always true. Our only choice is which risks to take and which risks to avoid.

But a life spent cowering in the corner is not a life. It’s a tragedy.

Someday, a big rock (or its equivalent) will drop on your head and that will be that.

Until then, free your mind. Live your life.

About N.S. Palmer

N.S. Palmer is an American mathematician.
This entry was posted in Life, Political Science, Psychology and tagged , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

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