It feels like stupidity is on the rise everywhere I look. By stupidity, I don’t just mean a lack of intelligence or understanding, but something deeper—a failure to connect, to reason, to see the bigger picture. It’s as though we’re collectively losing our ability to work together, to respect one another, and to appreciate the miracle of being alive. Instead, society seems to be fracturing, becoming more extreme, more antisocial, and more focused on division than unity.
I’ve always believed that teamwork is the cornerstone of success. Whether in management courses or life lessons, the message is clear: when we harmonize our different skills and perspectives, we can achieve something greater—something that benefits everyone. But that’s not what I see happening today. Instead, I see a world where individuals, groups, and even nations are locked in a perpetual competition to outdo one another. It’s not just about nations at war (though those conflicts persist); it’s about the everyday battles between genders, families, neighbours, and social classes. It’s exhausting.
I often think of Juvenal’s ancient quote: “Give them bread and circuses, and they will never revolt.” Today, the “revolt” isn’t against oppressive rulers but against each other. We’re too busy striving to be “better” than the next person, too distracted by the endless noise of modern life to see the bigger picture. Media plays a huge role in this. It feeds us a constant diet of negativity—wars, scandals, outrage, and conflict. Yes, there are great documentaries and thoughtful programs, but they’re drowned out by reality shows glorifying outrageous behaviour, action films that portray violence as a solution, and dramas that focus on humanity’s darkest impulses. The message is clear: conflict sells.
And it’s not just on TV. It’s everywhere. Simple acts of courtesy and respect—holding a door, saying thank you, caring for our environment—seem to be disappearing. Instead, we’re increasingly focused on the negative. We’re glued to screens, escaping into endless games and online worlds where we don’t even have to face the consequences of our actions. War itself has moved online, fought with drones and missiles, where the enemy is faceless and the human cost is abstract.
What saddens me most is how we’re missing the point of being alive. Life is a miracle, a fleeting opportunity to connect, create, and enjoy the world together. Yet, instead of cherishing this gift, we’re squandering it on petty differences and manufactured conflicts. We’re so focused on what divides us—gender, race, politics, wealth—that we forget what unites us: our shared humanity.
I wish we could step back and see the bigger picture. We have the potential to achieve so much if we could just learn to work together, to respect one another, and to focus on what truly matters. But that requires a shift in perspective—one that values cooperation over competition, kindness over cruelty, and hope over despair.
It’s not easy, and I don’t have all the answers. But I do know this: life is too short to waste on stupidity. We owe it to ourselves and to each other to do better. To see the commonality in our shared humanity, to celebrate the good, and to work toward a world where the “greater good” isn’t just an ideal but a reality. It starts with each of us, one small act of kindness at a time.
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