Are we getting more stupid?

snowblind

m_c said:

snowblind said:

Do they need to be asking the husband some more questions? Bathroom sockets are normally isolated and have earth leakage trips all over them. Sounds a bit hooky. 

The article I read, she'd run an extension cable from another room.

Well that's what the husband said anyway. 

StormshadowGuitars

Sadly common sense isn't that common anymore.

thecolourbox

StormshadowGuitars said:

Sadly common sense isn't that common anymore.

I'd wager that the rate of people dying from stupid stuff has remained pretty static, if not fallen, over time. A quick google search didn't really show me any data to back it up re electrocution, admittedly. But I think there have always been stupid people doing stupid stuff

Adey

But these days we protect stupid people from themselves with H&S legislation. 

We have gone from survival of the fittest, to survival of the thickest.

PhilW1

Kittyfrisk said:

Sassafras said:

I'd be suing the water company.

Yeah, I'll bet it was Thames Water's fault, the complete & utter bastards...

Yeah putting the water meter in... careful Philly_Q

S56035

Adey said:

But these days we protect stupid people from themselves with H&S legislation. 

We have gone from survival of the fittest, to survival of the thickest.

Well, not exactly correct in this case. 

LionAquaLooper

thecolourbox said:

StormshadowGuitars said:

Sadly common sense isn't that common anymore.

I'd wager that the rate of people dying from stupid stuff has remained pretty static, if not fallen, over time. A quick google search didn't really show me any data to back it up re electrocution, admittedly. But I think there have always been stupid people doing stupid stuff

Agreed.  The internet just exposed them as usual.

Offset

Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your perspective) you can't legislate for stupidity.

JEM

Stratavarious said:

Device distraction and the collective dumbing down will probably combine with AI to see humans off.  How does one not know water and electricity do not mix?

Is it really that obvious? The issue in this country is that we use a relatively high voltage for our domestic supplies and our supplies are neutral-earth bonded. We even install isolated sockets in bathrooms as they are considered safe. I'm not sure how anyone is expected to instinctively know the difference.  

Most people here have grown up watching US films and TV programmes where people are routinely depicted using hairdryers and the like in the bathroom.

Apart from anything else it's quite difficult to electrocute yourself in that way. Killing people by chucking an appliance in their bath only works in Bond films.

JEM

thecolourbox said:

People have always died from stupid stuff. The Darwin Awards are perfect examples of such.

Indeed, and people have always gained a sense of superiority by mocking the untimely deaths of others by attributing it to stupidity. The Darwin Awards are perfect examples of such.

sinbaadi

S56035 said:

Adey said:

But these days we protect stupid people from themselves with H&S legislation. 

We have gone from survival of the fittest, to survival of the thickest.

Well, not exactly correct in this case. 

It hasn't exactly been Darwinian for a long time, and not should it be.

We are, however, reading less and less.  Literacy levels are lowering.  Lots of negative impact of our smart devices. 

thecolourbox

Adey said:

But these days we protect stupid people from themselves with H&S legislation. 

We have gone from survival of the fittest, to survival of the thickest.

I'd argue that the fittest are probably still surviving, and that by the looks of this, not all of the thickest are surviving

Adey

On the subject of AI and stupidity, the current ads "encouraging" me to use AI go along the lines of: -

"Google. I am unable to follow a simple recipe and have fucked up my dinner. Please assume that I am not incapable of following simple instructions, and give me some other simple instructions. I am unlikely to be able to follow these though (because I am clearly useless at it). So should I just go to Macky D's?"

Or: -

"AI programme here are a load of cosmetics on a shelf. Can you tell me which ones pay you the biggest slice of cash in advertising revenue, but dress it up so that I think it is a great product for me, when all I really need to do is wash properly"

Danny1969

JEM said:

Stratavarious said:

Device distraction and the collective dumbing down will probably combine with AI to see humans off.  How does one not know water and electricity do not mix?

Is it really that obvious? The issue in this country is that we use a relatively high voltage for our domestic supplies and our supplies are neutral-earth bonded. We even install isolated sockets in bathrooms as they are considered safe. I'm not sure how anyone is expected to instinctively know the difference.  

Most people here have grown up watching US films and TV programmes where people are routinely depicted using hairdryers and the like in the bathroom.

Apart from anything else it's quite difficult to electrocute yourself in that way. Killing people by chucking an appliance in their bath only works in Bond films.

Pure water is a pretty shit conductor but she may well a load of bath salts or similar shit in there with her. Even then though I think it's unlikely she would receive enough of a shock to prevent her from throwing the charger / phone out the bath. 

My money is on foul play of some kind. 

thecolourbox

Adey said:

On the subject of AI and stupidity, the current ads "encouraging" me to use AI go along the lines of: -

"Google. I am unable to follow a simple recipe and have fucked up my dinner. Please assume that I am not incapable of following simple instructions, and give me some other simple instructions. I am unlikely to be able to follow these though (because I am clearly useless at it). So should I just go to Macky D's?"

Or: -

"AI programme here are a load of cosmetics on a shelf. Can you tell me which ones pay you the biggest slice of cash in advertising revenue, but dress it up so that I think it is a great product for me, when all I really need to do is wash properly"

21st century version of that annoying paperclip character that used to pop up in Microsoft Office and mess up your formatting

Philly_Q

thecolourbox said:

21st century version of that annoying paperclip character that used to pop up in Microsoft Office and mess up your formatting

I miss Clippy.

Sporky

The person in question isn't getting any more stupid if that makes anyone feel better. 

Penn

You have the title wrong. You get more stupiderer don’t u?

Sporky

Philly_Q said:

thecolourbox said:

21st century version of that annoying paperclip character that used to pop up in Microsoft Office and mess up your formatting

I miss Clippy.

I liked Power Pup. He was far more helpful. 

Philly_Q

Sporky said:

Philly_Q said:

thecolourbox said:

21st century version of that annoying paperclip character that used to pop up in Microsoft Office and mess up your formatting

I miss Clippy.

I liked Power Pup. He was far more helpful. 

We had a company secretarial software package where you could choose between a wizard, a genie and a third animated character which I can't recall.  I liked them, but they did slow everything down so I reluctantly dispensed with their services.