What does “fight stupidization” mean?
Quite simply, the fight against stupidization is the battle against the dumbing down of America.
Remember when you were introduced to 1984 in high school (the George Orwell novel, not the Van Halen album), and you thought that the concept of Newspeak was something that could exist only in a made-up story - much like flying cars and a whole meal in one pill, complete with gravy and blueberry pie? It seems Orwell was peering into our dim future and seeing a time when being well-read would be a liability, something that only effete New Yorkers do while drinking coffee made from beans that were pooped out by a weasel onto the Sunday edition of the New York Times and ground into a beverage by illegal aliens who are stealing all the good jobs. When the pursuit of knowledge would be seen as something negative that real, honest to goodness Americans don’t have time to do, what with hunting terrorists, watching Pregnant Dwarf Dance Contest and wearing flag lapel pins made in China. When everyone is expected to make snap judgments about any situation, no matter how complex or limited the information might be, rather than taking their time to craft a reasoned response based on fact and not emotion.
In other words, people are becoming really fucking stupid, wearing their stupidity like a badge of honor. And their stupidity keeps growing like some horrible rolling snowball of idiocy that is plowing down everything in its path.
Why is stupidization dangerous?
If you want to control people, keep them scared and take away their ability to express themselves. Get them to focus on peripheral issues that don’t matter so they won’t notice that, while you’re putting one supportive hand on their shoulder, you’re grabbing the wallet out of their back pocket with the other hand. Encourage them to value superficiality over depth. Medicate them with pills, booze, food, television and the promise of their upcoming 15 minutes, but only if they’re good and don’t think too much.
What can I do to fight stupidization?
Your fight is your own. The following battle tactics are being carried out by your friends and neighbors (as submitted here):
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-Requesting a fight stupidization bumper sticker to let everyone know that I refuse to join the idiocracy.
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-Spelling out the entire word when writing.
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-Raising my kids to be curious, thoughtful, considerate people who love to read and laugh.
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-(from a journalist) Trying to make people understand the difference between information and entertainment media...to address the difference between reliable information and bullshit.
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-Highlighting - and ridiculing - faulty logic.
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-Refusing to walk away from the frustrations of the political process and promising to stay as informed as possible.
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-Reading books, journals and magazines that posit intellectual, non-stupid tenets.
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-Avoiding reality TV at all costs.
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-Questioning my friends and acquaintances when they come out with a “stupid” comment.
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-Demonstrating a lack of stupidity in thought and action.
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-Correcting people who say "me and him" and engaging in ideological debates wherever they may occur.
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-Resisting the urge to just give up and let the stupid people win.
Who are you?
My name is Crystal, and I am the keeper of the stickers. Initially, the stickers were printed up as a way to promote a show that my theatre company, Six Of One Productions, was producing in Houston in 2007. The message on the stickers seemed to resonate with people, so I have continued to print and distribute the stickers (and maintain the Fight stupidization blog) ever since.
