# What is the stupidist movement? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 14, 2012, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-stupidist-movement/644049 "2012-12-14T18:34:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-stupidist-movement/644049/41 "2012-12-15T16:10:46Z")
> [@Lasciel](#): > > And yes, their hair apparently gets fairly disgusting after the first two days or so - but the idea (and I’ve never seen it work, but miracles happen, right?) is that eventually the body and the hair reach this point of balance and your hair looks good, and your scalp isn’t oily any longer, and you don’t have to wash it any more! I think I heard something similar…in Peckinpah’s _Cross of Iron_. > [@](#): > > Unteroffizier Krüger: I stay dirty for a reason. If you’ve been in the field as long as I’ve been, you’d know why. > Sargeant Steiner: Explain. > Unteroffizier Krüger: Natural body oils, combined with dirt, can keep you waterproof. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-stupidist-movement/644049/42 "2012-12-15T16:40:47Z")
I think I must be part of the stupidist movement because for the longest time I kept thinking, "Why is everyone going on about this stupidist movement thingy? they aren’t addressing the OP at all and even the OP is joining in on it… wth??? Then… I saw the thread title again and got it. I honestly read it as stupidest the first time! ---
**Author:** ![flight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbce88/32.png) [@flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flight)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-stupidist-movement/644049/43 "2012-12-15T17:44:35Z")
> [@gracer](#): > > I want to vote: > > 1. Anti-vaxers for most stupid/evil/harmful. > > 2. The Secret for most stupid. > > Because the anti-vaxers do the most damage, but the Secret-followers are really stupid. Oooh, I hadn’t even thought about the secret. They take all the silliness of every new age movement and combine it with hard core laziness. The only thing they actually _do_ is buy an occasional book on the subject. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-stupidist-movement/644049/44 "2012-12-15T18:02:18Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Free dumb! Sadly, it is invariably both free and plentiful. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-stupidist-movement/644049/45 "2012-12-15T18:06:25Z")
Pick-up artists. Does that shit work on anyone with an ounce of self-worth? ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-stupidist-movement/644049/46 "2012-12-15T20:35:35Z")
Christmas shoppers, especially those who herd into malls. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-stupidist-movement/644049/47 "2012-12-15T20:58:35Z")
[Taking Children Seriously](http://www.takingchildrenseriously.com/). I joined the mailing list years ago out of curiosity. A six-year-old still in diapers. An entire family with lice because the youngest refuses to let his mother use the special shampoo on him. (So everyone keeps getting reinfected) The website looks like it’s out of date, so maybe it’s moved, but it was creepy. ---
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-stupidist-movement/644049/48 "2012-12-15T21:12:20Z")
The anti-adoption movement > **[Anti-adoption activists defy popular opinion](https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2004-08-11-0408110320-story.html)** “An entire movement, it turns out–fighting with a primal passion to expose what activists insist is adoption’s darker side: The lifelong trauma of women coerced into surrendering babies. Adoptees denied their heritage. And, they say, a billion-dollar industry that focuses more on money than youngsters’ welfare.” ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-stupidist-movement/644049/49 "2012-12-15T21:25:45Z")
You sort of left out a big piece of the puzzle for the no shampoo movement. The deal is your hair produces an over abundance of oil in direct response to you stripping it with harsh shampoos daily. If you switch to just using conditioner (what they recommend!), there is, of course a period of adjustment wherein your hair can get a little greasy. The oil producing will subside substantially after a few weeks. From them on, you can wash your hair infrequently, using far less product, at far less expense and your hair will be beautiful and indistinguishable from anyone else. No, I am not an adherent, but you somewhat unfairly characterized the whole idea quite badly. ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-stupidist-movement/644049/50 "2012-12-15T21:57:15Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > [Taking Children Seriously](http://www.takingchildrenseriously.com/). I forgot about that one! Yeah that is totally fucking crazy. > [@elbows](#): > > You sort of left out a big piece of the puzzle for the no shampoo movement. The deal is your hair produces an over abundance of oil in direct response to you stripping it with harsh shampoos daily. If you switch to just using conditioner (what they recommend!), there is, of course a period of adjustment wherein your hair can get a little greasy. The oil producing will subside substantially after a few weeks. From them on, you can wash your hair infrequently, using far less product, at far less expense and your hair will be beautiful and indistinguishable from anyone else. Washing it less often than every day is far different than washing it never. And I wouldn’t say it’s “far less” expense. I wash and condition my long thick hair every day and the cost is negligible. And I’m poor. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-stupidist-movement/644049/51 "2012-12-15T23:15:56Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > He might have been thinking of the Fifth Symphony. Actually the Fifth’s middle movements are somewhat related to the bookends if you listen well enough, whereas I can’t find any such similarities in the Ninth. Haven’t listened to either for awhile, though, so I can’t point to anything specific. ---
**Author:** ![gracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@gracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracer)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-stupidist-movement/644049/52 "2012-12-15T23:21:06Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > [Taking Children Seriously](http://www.takingchildrenseriously.com/). I joined the mailing list years ago out of curiosity. A six-year-old still in diapers. An entire family with lice because the youngest refuses to let his mother use the special shampoo on him. (So everyone keeps getting reinfected) > > The website looks like it’s out of date, so maybe it’s moved, but it was creepy. Bahahaha! They win “Most Deserving of What They Get” :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-stupidist-movement/644049/53 "2012-12-15T23:56:21Z")
Freegans. Flat Earthers. Chemical-free. ---
**Author:** ![Disheavel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@Disheavel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disheavel)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2012, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-stupidist-movement/644049/54 "2012-12-16T00:16:21Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > I’ll go with the anti-vaccers. Not only stupid but dangerous to boot! Agree, but there is only a slight lead ahead of climate change deniers. ---
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2012, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-stupidist-movement/644049/55 "2012-12-16T00:27:05Z")
Criticise shampoo-free all you like, but the proof is in the pudding, it works. My hair is better than ever, and though I’ve never had acne, other people have said it has said going-shampoo free has helped with it. Granted, it is not for all people, the white-vinegar really fades dyed hair quicker than shampoo. Now I’ll try to play devil’s advocate for the other suggestions. The pickup-artist movement… it motivates people to improve themselves, it helps get people what gives them pleasure, and some women actually like men like that. The Secret™, I know I’ll get a lot of flack for defending it, but when you cut through all the woo, it’s just teaching people to set goals and focus their effort to achieve them. Radical Honesty is very offputing to strangers, but when people acclimatise to it, they can reach a new level of closeness, trust and emotional intimacy. Adherents of the Church of Jesus Christ the Scientist, and other faith-healing groups do sometimes put themselves at risk by avoiding treatment, but many medical treatments are not as effective as having a healthy lifestyle and being optimistic about being healed, things which Christian “Science” followers are encouraged to have by their religion. However, if more people act like them, the lack of herd-immunity would make infectious disease a real problem. Taking Children Seriously looks extremely stupid, and it looks simply seductive enough to grow into a huge problem. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2012, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-stupidist-movement/644049/56 "2012-12-16T00:43:02Z")
Nobody has mentioned the Tea Party? ---
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2012, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-stupidist-movement/644049/57 "2012-12-16T00:55:30Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Nobody has mentioned the Tea Party? Come on, this thread has reached the second page without partisan sniping. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2012, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-stupidist-movement/644049/58 "2012-12-16T05:21:59Z")
> [@Namkcalb](#): > > Criticise shampoo-free all you like, but the proof is in the pudding, it works. No— the proof of the pudding is in the tasting. That always gets misquoted. > [@](#): > > Now I’ll try to play devil’s advocate for the other suggestions. Why? Satanism pings my stupidometer too. (Like so much else in life… so much stupid, so little time.) > [@](#): > > The pickup-artist movement… it motivates people to improve themselves, it helps get people what gives them pleasure, and some women actually like men like that. It is nothing of the sort, and you know it as well as I. It’s pure sleaze. Eeww. > [@](#): > > The Secret™, I know I’ll get a lot of flack for defending it, but when you cut through all the woo, it’s just teaching people to set goals and focus their effort to achieve them. Nice spin, but the problem with it is that its modest little core of reality-based usefulness, with its finite applicability under some conditions, is blown up into the universal and sole panacea for everything, which is the stupid. > [@](#): > > Radical Honesty is very offputing to strangers, but when people acclimatise to it, they can reach a new level of closeness, trust and emotional intimacy. Nice in theory, but in practice, it’s just another way to feel self-righteous about being a dickhead. Of course, Satanism would endorse this. > [@](#): > > Taking Children Seriously looks extremely stupid, and it looks simply seductive enough to grow into a huge problem. Come on, Old Scratch! You’re taking it seriously? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2012, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-stupidist-movement/644049/59 "2012-12-16T05:31:58Z")
Antivaxers are too easy. My choice for flamingly stupidist movement are Urine Therapy Believers. Now you might ask, what sort of wackaloon would drink his body’s waste products as a health tonic? Bet you didn’t know that since antiquity, learned sages have been disgusting their family and friends by slurping down their own urine, which dispels disease, maintains a full head of hair and discourages wanton women. 🆒 There have been at least three [World Urine Therapy Conferences](http://www.wise-mens-web.com/ut_3_conf.html) where practitioners and users share recipes and secrets. And there are [testimonies from cancer patients](http://www.urinetherapy.in/Index.aspx). > [@LavenderBlue](#): > > I agreed to debate (an antivaxer) next month on an internet radio show. The nitwit thinks his daughter’s Type I diabetes was caused by the hep b vaccine. I normally don’t think they should even be given a platform but I was tired at the time and she caught me off guard so I said yes. No! Don’t do it! It’s like wrestling a pig - you’ll get filthy and the pig will just enjoy it. You’ll be pummeled by logical fallacies and Gish-galloped until you scream for a commercial break. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2012, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-stupidist-movement/644049/60 "2012-12-16T05:47:48Z")
Well put **Johanna**. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-stupidist-movement/644049.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-stupidist-movement/644049.md?page=4)