Stupid
Oxforddictionary.com tell us that the word stupid is derived from the
Latin word stupere, which evolved into stupidus, which eventually became the French word stupide . In Latin the word means, “be amazed or stunned.” It later evolves to mean (1) lacking in intelligence or common sense, (2) dazed or unable to think clearly, or (3) used to express exasperation or boredom.
The history of words is very interesting. Today I might use the word stupid to express the fact that, as I age, my brain increasing takes a small vacation. Actually, I am not sure that this phenomenon is related to aging. I suspect that my brain has taken brief vacations for as long as I have been living. As I age I am more relaxed about noticing and admitting that my brain has taken a vacation. It may be true that as I age I cannot always retrieve information as rapidly as I did when younger. At least it seems that way. I would not use the word stupid to describe this process. I do often use the word stupid to admonish myself when I have an accident because I am not paying attention. For example, I may react to somebody or something without thinking and say something, which I do not believe or which was not kind. More often I use it to describe myself when the common sense part of my brain takes a vacation. For example, I picked up the flour canister the other day when my hands were greasy and, of course, promptly dropped it breaking the canister and spreading flour everywhere or so it seemed. This is not an aging behavior so much as it is a lifelong habit. I have often forgotten to slow down and breathe so that I am “thinking” when I am doing or about to do a task.
I also use the word when noticing the behavior of we humans. Furthermore, I often use it in a way which conveys amazement or a state of being stunned as if I cannot believe that we humans are human.
So what is so surprising about the fact we humans are human? Do I expect to wake up and find that we humans are now only engaging in behavior which makes sense to me? Naturally I get to define what makes sense notwithstanding the fact that part of what makes us humans is that we humans can look at the same body of information and arrive at vastly different conclusions. For example, if I look up information on the relationship between gun violence and the laws supporting the increase in concealed gun permits, I interpret the information differently than a number of my friends. If I read about drug addiction I do not see this behavior any different than that of people who seem more concerned about making money, amassing power, or spending money on clothes when their closets are already filling to the brim or buying a 10,000 square foot house, or any other attachment to things, people or situations at the expense of health or family. Yet, others see drug addiction as much different. I might raise the question, “How can others not see what I see? It is so obvious.” Yet, I “know” many factors affect what any of we humans see, feel, hear, or think.
In my chosen profession in health care, I sometimes hear myself or one of my colleagues talking or writing as if shocked when a sick person acts like a sick person. Really! That conclusion defies common sense. It is “stupid.” Yet, this sort of “stupidity” is also very human.
I am not at all sure that it is our “stupidity” as humans which defies common sense as much as it is our seeming inability to accept that our brains and, thus, our conclusions as humans, are not at all consistent and do not match from brain to brain. Perhaps our failure to accept our stupidity as humans is more stupid than the original surprise of humanness. Can we say stupider or stupidest?
What is the difference between being stupid and being silly? Surely I could say that I am silly for thinking that our human brains are like computers which are all programmed to process information the same way and, thus, reach the same conclusions. In fact, if I goggle the word silly I find the following: “having or showing a lack of common sense or judgment; absurd and foolish.” Stupid is listed as one of the synonyms.
Interesting that it seems as if it is “easier” to smile when saying the word silly than it is when stupid. Hummm…. I wonder why that is. The actual shape of my mouth is different when I say silly versus saying stupid. Try it! The word silly automatically spreads into a grin. If I attempt to say the word silly with the same mouth and breathe movements it does not work. Interesting.
So here I am sitting in Panera’s typing on my computer while playing with the shape of my mouth and my breath while saying different words. I wonder if I look stupid or silly. It will, of course, depend on the viewer. One could do a little scientific study. “Excuse me, would you mind observing me for the next three minutes and labeling my behavior as stupid or silly!” What factors may affect the response?
When we humans or when this human can arrive at the state of mind which allows for laughing at or with myself or when I am not taking myself or others so seriously I might be stunned or amazed that we humans do occasionally have a moment of shared clarity; a moment of simple, joyful acceptance of our shared humanness. Ironically from this space our lips will morph from the serious stupid to the amused silly.
It is really this simple to change our dance with each other? Perhaps when the people in 12-step programs say, “Keep it simple stupid” this is what they are implying. Perhaps it is this simple!
Oxforddictionary.com tell us that the word stupid is derived from the
Latin word stupere, which evolved into stupidus, which eventually became the French word stupide . In Latin the word means, “be amazed or stunned.” It later evolves to mean (1) lacking in intelligence or common sense, (2) dazed or unable to think clearly, or (3) used to express exasperation or boredom.
The history of words is very interesting. Today I might use the word stupid to express the fact that, as I age, my brain increasing takes a small vacation. Actually, I am not sure that this phenomenon is related to aging. I suspect that my brain has taken brief vacations for as long as I have been living. As I age I am more relaxed about noticing and admitting that my brain has taken a vacation. It may be true that as I age I cannot always retrieve information as rapidly as I did when younger. At least it seems that way. I would not use the word stupid to describe this process. I do often use the word stupid to admonish myself when I have an accident because I am not paying attention. For example, I may react to somebody or something without thinking and say something, which I do not believe or which was not kind. More often I use it to describe myself when the common sense part of my brain takes a vacation. For example, I picked up the flour canister the other day when my hands were greasy and, of course, promptly dropped it breaking the canister and spreading flour everywhere or so it seemed. This is not an aging behavior so much as it is a lifelong habit. I have often forgotten to slow down and breathe so that I am “thinking” when I am doing or about to do a task.
I also use the word when noticing the behavior of we humans. Furthermore, I often use it in a way which conveys amazement or a state of being stunned as if I cannot believe that we humans are human.
So what is so surprising about the fact we humans are human? Do I expect to wake up and find that we humans are now only engaging in behavior which makes sense to me? Naturally I get to define what makes sense notwithstanding the fact that part of what makes us humans is that we humans can look at the same body of information and arrive at vastly different conclusions. For example, if I look up information on the relationship between gun violence and the laws supporting the increase in concealed gun permits, I interpret the information differently than a number of my friends. If I read about drug addiction I do not see this behavior any different than that of people who seem more concerned about making money, amassing power, or spending money on clothes when their closets are already filling to the brim or buying a 10,000 square foot house, or any other attachment to things, people or situations at the expense of health or family. Yet, others see drug addiction as much different. I might raise the question, “How can others not see what I see? It is so obvious.” Yet, I “know” many factors affect what any of we humans see, feel, hear, or think.
In my chosen profession in health care, I sometimes hear myself or one of my colleagues talking or writing as if shocked when a sick person acts like a sick person. Really! That conclusion defies common sense. It is “stupid.” Yet, this sort of “stupidity” is also very human.
I am not at all sure that it is our “stupidity” as humans which defies common sense as much as it is our seeming inability to accept that our brains and, thus, our conclusions as humans, are not at all consistent and do not match from brain to brain. Perhaps our failure to accept our stupidity as humans is more stupid than the original surprise of humanness. Can we say stupider or stupidest?
What is the difference between being stupid and being silly? Surely I could say that I am silly for thinking that our human brains are like computers which are all programmed to process information the same way and, thus, reach the same conclusions. In fact, if I goggle the word silly I find the following: “having or showing a lack of common sense or judgment; absurd and foolish.” Stupid is listed as one of the synonyms.
Interesting that it seems as if it is “easier” to smile when saying the word silly than it is when stupid. Hummm…. I wonder why that is. The actual shape of my mouth is different when I say silly versus saying stupid. Try it! The word silly automatically spreads into a grin. If I attempt to say the word silly with the same mouth and breathe movements it does not work. Interesting.
So here I am sitting in Panera’s typing on my computer while playing with the shape of my mouth and my breath while saying different words. I wonder if I look stupid or silly. It will, of course, depend on the viewer. One could do a little scientific study. “Excuse me, would you mind observing me for the next three minutes and labeling my behavior as stupid or silly!” What factors may affect the response?
When we humans or when this human can arrive at the state of mind which allows for laughing at or with myself or when I am not taking myself or others so seriously I might be stunned or amazed that we humans do occasionally have a moment of shared clarity; a moment of simple, joyful acceptance of our shared humanness. Ironically from this space our lips will morph from the serious stupid to the amused silly.
It is really this simple to change our dance with each other? Perhaps when the people in 12-step programs say, “Keep it simple stupid” this is what they are implying. Perhaps it is this simple!
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