MuseVision

I’ve got a Little List,
I’ve got a Little List….

It’s not the same as the question in “The Mikado”. MuseVision has a different question. Today’s query is simply this: What is the stupidest thing you have ever encountered? Strange thing to ask, you might be thinking, but to my mind everyone should have a list of the stupidest or dumbest things they have ever seen, just to be able to start conversations, or, when the time comes to be asked about their opinions by Jay Leno.

“That’s the dumbest thing I ever saw”, is an old chinwag. Of course, we usually think of these things as subjective, but I’m wondering if there is not a broad base of support for the idea that there is a massive, covert, body of objectively stupid things. “Stupid is as stupid does”, was Forrest Gump’s slogan. This is the kind of thing we adults get from kids. For example, have you ever asked a teenager to wash the dishes, then, left the kitchen only to come back a few minutes later to find the dishes done, but the silverware, glassware, pots & pans, etc., etc., were sitting on the counter completely unwashed. To this end the teenager replies that he was only asked to wash the dishes. Maddening, but clever in a Philadelphia Lawyer sense. At least it’s an understandable stupidity. A more striking example would be how the German Armies fought on two fronts at the same time in two World Wars. This was considered unthinkable, but good thing for the Allies they actually fought that way. How dumb does it get? Read on.

The things I’m searching for have a darker quality. I want to list the myth-making, mind- numbing, almost criminal stupidities we encounter in life. I mean, we all do dumb things and I would not want to make this an ad homonym issue. At MuseVision, we strive to never be hateful or vengeful or rancorous. If you want such things, you can surely find them abundantly available in other blogs.
So, here goes. This is my short list of some of the dumbest things. I would love to see yours as well.

An Amtrak Unisex Restroom
The forces of a certain brand of “correctness” decided to have everyone on the train use the same restrooms, no longer having a separate room for each sex. This was still true in the 80’s. I must confess, I do not know if it is true today. But, let’s face it, Men and Women do not use such facilities in the same way. If there is anyone on the planet who does not get the meaning of my words, surely you must have just landed here from Mars or were born yesterday. If the latter is true, perhaps I could interest you in purchasing a bridge in New York.

2. Granting a posthumous visa to Mohammed Atta.
Someone in the I.N.S. rubberstamped a visa to Mohammed Atta, notorious 9-11 hijacker, several weeks after the infamous event. How is it possible to be so obtuse and ill-advised? Is there any excuse worth hearing?

If we know how dumb the dumb things really are, we will be better able to see and appreciate the moments of true beauty and shining intelligence