Can we all stop being so abominably stupid? The world has always been divided between the educated and the uneducated, the intelligent and the none too bright. If I put that in a Venn diagram, there’d be significant overlap, because the levels vary from person to person and even within a single mind at various times. Lately, I’ve noticed a lot of smart people saying and doing stupid things.

Here are a few examples:

• A writer with a PhD posts a short form story begging people to read another story of theirs that is both funny and informative. It’s not funny, but it is informative. It is also exceedingly dull. Instead of following this person, I will now be avoiding them.
• Facebook friends I’ve warned that posts asking questions like “Where were you born?” or that invite you to learn your stripper name by combing the name of your first pet with your mother’s maiden name are phishing expeditions by identity thieves, continue to respond to them.
• People contribute to crowdfunding campaigns without a clue as to whether or not they are legitimate. The crowdfunding platform takes a healthy cut of what you contribute, so even if you know for a fact that your friend’s poodle needs life-saving cosmetic surgery, just send them a check. (Yes, they still exist.)
• Multiple commenters on a story about a celebrity who made racist comments 45 years ago insist that the celebrity never apologized, without checking to see if that was true. It wasn’t.

There’s an old saying: “Put brain in gear before mouth (or word processor) in motion.” If more of us would remember that, it would be great. Thanks!