# Why is it that people simply don't think? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 29, 2009, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-people-simply-dont-think/512037 "2009-09-29T21:45:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-people-simply-dont-think/512037/21 "2009-09-30T07:20:04Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > I think it’s a matter of curtsy…or lack there of. We aren’t a polite or orderly society, as a whole, so people tend to do whatever they want. If you go to other countries where curtsy is expected then, because of social pressure, you get people who don’t act like those in the OP. I have been biting my tongue while reading through this thread, debating whether I should say the same thing. Once upon a time in this country manners and courtesy were taught and expected and people could count on it when out in public. Sure, there were still some self-absorbed doofuses who would behave that way but that behavior wasn’t nearly as prevalent as it is today. People these days, however, have become accustomed to acting pretty much in any way they want because now they’re “free” from such uptight societal constraints as manners and consideration for others, and now they feel they are entitled to dress and act however they want based on their whim of the moment. So, they get to the point in the aisle where they want to look at something and the furthest thing from their mind is that they may be inconveniencing someone else. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-people-simply-dont-think/512037/22 "2009-09-30T12:05:38Z")
Stopping on the escalator. Do they not think that their legs continue to work? Or around these parts, they have underground parking garages with moving walkways at angles to serve as ramps. The grocery carts have brakes so they don’t get out of control. Please, at least _think_ and park your stupid cart on the right side of the ramp so that people with working legs can pass you! Back home, the average grocery shopper seems much more intelligent than the average grocery shopper here. You know, we do tend to keep right, pass on the left, not leave carts in the middle of narrow aisles, and allow people to pass us when we’re slow. Not here. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-people-simply-dont-think/512037/23 "2009-09-30T13:42:21Z")
Whose turn was it to corral **Starving Artist** this week? Cause he done got out again. As for the rest, I think it’s that people really are just clueless and oblivious. It’s the same thing with driving - people just don’t plan ahead. I try to plan ahead, you know, to make the least amount of difficult left turns, and try to make my commute - and other people’s as clean as possible. Not so others. They can only see direct from goal to goal - no matter if it’s a bass-ackwards way to do it. As for **Starving Artist** , the only way, _the only way_, to cope with it, is not to come on here bitching to everyone about how rude the world is - what the heck is that going to accomplish, other than alienating people, which admittedly you’re good at - but to go out and continue your own practice of civility, every day, and everywhere. I do so. I always say that civility may not make the world go round but it sure greases the wheels. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-people-simply-dont-think/512037/24 "2009-09-30T14:01:46Z")
> [@Critical1](#): > > in short what the hell is the deal with people, out in public, operating as if they are the only person in the whole universe? I specifically call this “the Center of the Universe problem.” ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-people-simply-dont-think/512037/25 "2009-09-30T14:04:35Z")
I think it is mainly the educational system. It seems to produce people who are afraid to think for themselves. Which is why people vote for the same pandering politicians, over and over. The highschool system is part of this-it forces people who have no interest in education, to sit through classes (and disrupt them as they see fit). The curriculum is increasingly “dumbed down”-with little geography, world history, American History, or practical mathematics. Which produces kids who have no understanding of world affairs, and cannot understand compound interest.(This is what the elite wants, so the graduates can become consumer slaves, to be exploited at every turn). ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-people-simply-dont-think/512037/26 "2009-09-30T14:15:31Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > I think it is mainly the educational system. It seems to produce people who are afraid to think for themselves. Which is why people vote for the same pandering politicians, over and over. The highschool system is part of this-it forces people who have no interest in education, to sit through classes (and disrupt them as they see fit). The curriculum is increasingly “dumbed down”-with little geography, world history, American History, or practical mathematics. Which produces kids who have no understanding of world affairs, and cannot understand compound interest.(This is what the elite wants, so the graduates can become consumer slaves, to be exploited at every turn). Did you think of this yourself? ---
**Author:** ![cdsilv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cdsilv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cdsilv)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-people-simply-dont-think/512037/27 "2009-09-30T14:18:53Z")
I AM only person in the whole universe. The rest of you are figments of my imagination and therefore inferior to ME and subject to my whims! \ ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-people-simply-dont-think/512037/28 "2009-09-30T14:34:00Z")
It occurs at all levels. This morning I almost ran head-on into a cop car that was parked _in the middle of the driveway_ into school. The cop was sitting there trying to nail speeders down the boulevard. But really, in the middle of the driveway? When you _know_ teachers are going to be trying to get to work? That’s just plain stupid. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-people-simply-dont-think/512037/29 "2009-09-30T14:41:07Z")
Same discussion 2 weeks ago … [Rude, Clueless Or No Peripheral Vision? - In My Humble Opinion - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=531918) Pretty much the same conclusions too. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-people-simply-dont-think/512037/30 "2009-09-30T16:02:23Z")
My theory is that most people are incredibly self-centered, myself included. They’re usually in their own mental bubble and most people think about what others do that affects them, not vice versa. The OP is sort of reminiscent of that. “Why are these people doing such annoying things to me? Don’t they realize that others are around?!?” I’m not saying that as a criticism - it’s completely normal. It’s kind of like when you do something you think is really embarrassing but no one even notices. But most people doing embarrassing things don’t realize that - they’re too busy making sure others don’t think they’re stupid because it’s all about what they look like and how others see them. ---
**Author:** ![silvermist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@silvermist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silvermist)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-people-simply-dont-think/512037/31 "2009-09-30T16:49:49Z")
I was taught to be considerate of others. Some were not, but I feel should have been, if they are going to live in a society rather than a cave somewhere. It might be hard to change habits, but would certainly be worthwhile for them to retrain themselves as adults. It would spare a lot of hard feelings. ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-people-simply-dont-think/512037/32 "2009-09-30T17:49:10Z")
As usual you guys provide some very nice insights, I especially like this post though > [@Hello\_Again](#): > > It is widely propogated that there are 2 reactions to a problem “fight or flight” but actually there are three, and the third is “freeze.” The freeze reaction is considered the first reaction in the hierarchy of stress reactions, so its the first you’re going to see in a moment of mild stress, such as confusion as to whether to turn left of right at the top of an escalator. > > [http://psy.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/45/5/448](http://psy.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/45/5/448) I also agree with the idea that much of this starts in our lack of education system. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-people-simply-dont-think/512037/33 "2009-09-30T18:27:09Z")
> [@bump](#): > > To answer the OP: Because they haven’t been taught how to think. You’d be amazed at how unperceptive and unaware most people are. If they’ve never been taught to think about what’s going on around them and where they are in relation to it, they just sort of blindly blunder about, focused in on whatever it is that they’re thinking about. Many years ago I was reading an article about the safety of cars, that postulated that one reason we don’t think (or haven’t been trained to think) as much as we used to is because our world is getting so much “safer” that we no longer need a heightened sense of situational awareness. I can’t remember if the article referred to any kind of study, but I do remember it suggesting that as cars got safer and safer, the roads became more dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists because drivers aren’t being as careful as they used to be. The idea was that a car accident is much less likely to kill you if you’re in the car nowadays, so you don’t pay as much attention as a driver would have back in the 1930s when there were no seatbelts or airbags to protect you if you had a fender bender with a tree. So as you feel safer in your surroundings, you don’t invest as much energy observing your environment for potential threats. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-people-simply-dont-think/512037/34 "2009-09-30T20:10:44Z")
While there is some, hell, a lot of, center-of-the-universe syndrome, I think there’s a big segment that just does not think ahead. I’ve just bought groceries. Crap! I’ve got to get money out. I’ve gotten to the top of the escalator. Crap! Where do I go now? Cart in the middle of the aisle? That’s just rectal-cranial inversion. No real cure aside from massive dosages of clue-bat. ---
**Author:** ![Velma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/85e7bf/32.png) [@Velma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velma)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-people-simply-dont-think/512037/35 "2009-09-30T20:51:01Z")
I think some of that reaction also has to do with the many distractions that are around us all the time. Everywhere you look, in stores, on the roadside, etc. there are shiny, colorful, often moving ads, or a phone ringing, or a text message to respond to, or a tv screen, or something to distract you from the task at hand. It used to be that when you drove you had only the radio to occupy your mind, and while shopping you didn’t have 5,000 things giving you sensory overload. We were not meant to multitask this way, our brains are not really very good at it. You can only truly focus on one thing at a time but now the norm is to try to do 2 or 3. But if you are looking at a screen or talking on the phone it is hard to pay attention to the people around you and what you are doing in relationship to them. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-people-simply-dont-think/512037/36 "2009-09-30T21:12:40Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > It is widely propogated that there are 2 reactions to a problem “fight or flight” but actually there are three, and the third is “freeze.” The freeze reaction is considered the first reaction in the hierarchy of stress reactions, so its the first you’re going to see in a moment of mild stress, such as confusion as to whether to turn left of right at the top of an escalator. > > [http://psy.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/45/5/448](http://psy.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/45/5/448) I don’t think that’s why people stop at the top of escalators - they stop to look around and decide which direction to go. Since you can’t see where you are going until you get there, it just makes sense to stop and look around. Unfortunately, this is inconvenient for the people behind you who are going to want to do the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-people-simply-dont-think/512037/37 "2009-09-30T21:41:47Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > I don’t think that’s why people stop at the top of escalators - they stop to look around and decide which direction to go. Since you can’t see where you are going until you get there, it just makes sense to stop and look around. Unfortunately, this is inconvenient for the people behind you who are going to want to do the same thing. Yes, but there is no reason why you can’t step to the side. If I’m lost when I’m driving, I pull over to look at the map. I don’t just come to a dead stop in the middle of the road and park there while I read the Google Maps directions I printed. Coming out of some revolving doors and don’t know which way to go? Step to the side, then get your bearings. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-people-simply-dont-think/512037/38 "2009-09-30T21:59:34Z")
> [@silvermist](#): > > I was taught to be considerate of others. Some were not, but I feel should have been, if they are going to live in a society rather than a cave somewhere. It might be hard to change habits, but would certainly be worthwhile for them to retrain themselves as adults. It would spare a lot of hard feelings. I think it really is this simple. I’ve often thought my life would be a lot easier if I could just ignore everything I’ve been taught and just be a clueless asshole like everyone else, but I can’t, because I know better. If you don’t know any better, it’s easy to just pull up into the fire lane and hop out of your car. I don’t see this problem getting any better, because clueless people won’t teach _their_ kids any better because they truly don’t know any better. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-people-simply-dont-think/512037/39 "2009-10-01T12:10:31Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > I don’t think that’s why people stop at the top of escalators - they stop to look around and decide which direction to go. Since you can’t see where you are going until you get there, it just makes sense to stop and look around. Only if you’re at ground level. Once your head pops up above the floor level, there’s plenty to see. That should give you a good five or six seconds to determine a path so that you can get the hell out of the way. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-people-simply-dont-think/512037/40 "2009-10-01T13:28:41Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Half the population has an IQ **under** 100.:smack: Or, indeed: “Think of the average American\*. Pretty dumb, huh? Now remember that half the population is _even dumber than that_.” \*Or any other nationality you like. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-people-simply-dont-think/512037.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-people-simply-dont-think/512037.md?page=3)