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Stupidity Olympics
23/07/2008 09:14 - (SA)
Chris Roper
Yesterday, a bunch of people were asking me what today's column was going to be about. "Stupidity", I announced proudly. "Oh, so the usual thing," said a mean girl in the corner.
As much as that hurt, she was right. A lot of my columns are about stupidity, or more accurately, about stupid people. In fact, if you look at it a certain way, I make money out of stupid people. Hey, I have the same business model as McDonald's, invest in me! One day I'll have a satirical site called Sick Sense, with the pay-off line "I see stupid people."
And why shouldn't we make money off stupid people, since being stupid doesn't seem to stop those selfsame people making money. Hell, I can't be the only one who watched the television coverage of Mugabe shaking Tsvangirai's hand, and felt sick to the stomach.
Here's your reward for being an evil, corrupt, self-serving bastard - you get to be part of a mediation success story, and negotiate a fat pension fund for all your cronies while your people starve. Next, he'll be sharing a joint Nobel Peace Prize (just kidding, that was a cheap jibe).
Bribery
But the reason I was meditating on stupidity and all its discontents, is something I heard on the John Maytham show on 702/Cape Talk. For those of you not blessed to live in Die Mutterstad, as we are now forced to call it by Cape Tourism, John Maytham is a talk show host who combines the incisive intellect of a Parkinson with the kindly nature of the Duchess in Alice in Wonderland. So avuncular but deadly.
Maytham was talking in incredulous tones about the police officers in Observatory who tried to solicit a bribe from someone. When the guy told them he could only pay them later, they actually gave him a cell number to call, and arranged to meet the following day. Of course, he arrived with other cops and they were arrested. Hopefully, a case of exchanging a cell number for a cell number.
What freaked Maytham out was the incredible stupidity. You're trying to coerce a victim into bribing you, and you give them your contact details? It's not the corruption that bothers us anymore, it's the stupidity. Frankly, if you can't even take a bribe sensibly, how the hell are you going to be an effective public servant?
But that's one kind of stupidity, which perhaps we could term as functional stupidity. There's another kind, which we'll call ego stupidity, which is much worse. It's the kind that causes journalists - or at least pseudo-journalists, I don't want to offend my colleagues in the Fourth Estate, or Third Force, or whatever they're called now - to believe that they're untouchable, and above human intervention.
Plagiarism
It's the only way I can explain how, according to the Sunday Times, somebody like Siphokazi Sowazi, chief executive of Mafube Publishing, the company that owns Enterprise magazine, can allegedly lift, word for word in one case, editorial columns from the internet. For god's sake, this idiot actually lifted the subtitles! How unspeakably lazy can you get.
The online version of the Sunday Times reckons she "has plagiarised about six of her editorial columns, passing them off as her own work." Leaving aside the ambiguity of that "about", which I can see appearing in a lawsuit close to you one of these days, it's shocking stuff.
No, it's not shocking stuff. I just said that automatically. We're not shocked at all, alas. It's seems to be more and more prevalent in what I'll laughingly call "our industry". More and more, people entirely unfit for journalism jobs are being forced into positions where they appear to lose their heads entirely. I cite Jon "Man must not sleep with goats" Qwelane as a case in point, but for more on that read my blog.
Okay, time for a masterclass. In this next paragraph I'm going to both give the reader more information about Sowazi's alleged plagiarism, and simultaneously teach aspiring journalists how to plagiarise. You'll notice that the simple addition of what we in the trade call "theft marks", allows you to plagiarise entire articles legally.
"The incident, which is said to have embarrassed senior staff members at the magazine, comes hot on the heels of the resignation of its editor in chief Vusi Mona this week. Mona... said he had to resign after a fallout with Sowazi regarding her editorial interference. Mona said he later discovered that her articles were plagiarised. He said he had suspicions about the flawless articles Sowazi had submitted to him while he was in charge of editorial."
I love that. He suspected her because she wasn't writing bollocks. Publishers everywhere, that one's for you.
And now for the funny bit: "When contacted about the plagiarism allegations made against her, Sowazi pleaded ignorance, saying the matter had not been brought to her attention." Ha ha! Ignorance is right. It's the curse of invincible stupidity. But what will her punishment be? Will she be given lots of money to go away, a la Robert Mugabe, or will she be promoted to CEO, where she can't do much damage? Times will tell (and that's the last plug our rival product is getting on this one).
Chris Roper has more blah blah blah at chrisroper.co.za
Send your comments to Chris.
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Personal standards
23/07/2008 09:54
People have varying standards in terms of what they deem acceptable behaviour. Stories like this, showing what people do (and often get away with) simply reinforce how low they have dropped in comparison to our own. - AJ |
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SA-BREEDING GROUND FOR STUPIDITY
23/07/2008 09:57
haha..it seems stupid people like to breed in this beutiful country. I am surround by them everyday, they seem to be taking over!! On average 2 out of 3 s.africans seem to be very stupid...or just plain dumb. Is there a medication for this madness somewhere?? - proudly unpatriotic |
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The usual thing ...
23/07/2008 10:01
... is more than good enough for me. There's nothing I enjoy more than making fun of stupid people, unless it's watching a master of the craft doing the same. Brilliant as usual. It says a lot about the standards of the rag in question that they get suspicious when someone hands in good work. Mind you, JQ's editor would probably have the same reaction if he ever turned in a well written, properly researched and unbiased column. - Marna |
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Studpidity
23/07/2008 10:06
I couldn't help but feel the same way after watching last night's news. The stupid people are the inhabitants of the Kruger building in Pretoria who - on the one hand complain because of evictions in a nearby building and about poor service delivery in their own building - and on the other hand decide to burn down their own homes and kill innocent children in the process to get their pointless point accross - this after the mayor decided to listen to them and help fix their building for free! - Charl |
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Stupidity
23/07/2008 10:09
Those people in the Kruger building refused to leave their building so that it could be fixed - so when the forces stepped in, they decided in typical African mentality - to burn and kill. Most sane and sober thinking people can't fathom this act of stupidity. Am I the only one? - Charl |
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stupidity
23/07/2008 10:16
Ah, for a law against stupidity... - taurus |
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WHAT IS WRONG?
23/07/2008 10:18
Im an Aussie, and my mate is s.african, he is coming over due to the sheer strangness of things. What is the matter with the majority of 'people' of SA? Is there an antidote? It seems most of them are lunatics, and it looks like you guys thrive on stupidity. Its a real shame with the things you have to live with there - Oz |
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Standards of journalism
23/07/2008 10:23
have never been lower than right now. Sensationalist headlines seem to proliferate....and they're stupid. Case in point was one a few months ago where the paper screamed "Man killed at gym!!!!" Turns out the poor man suffered from that well known gym malady of being shot by a hijacker as he got out of his car outside the gym. That's like saying "Office worker killed" if I crash my car on the way to work.
Great column, by the way.
- jonathan |
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What's typical about it?
23/07/2008 10:27
Charl, I'm sad that you think of this as "typical African mentality." What's the point of saying something like that? It's like saying all American love killing Arabs, because of their foreign policy. Africa is a big continent, with lots of different types of Africans. - Chris Roper |
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blowing things out of proportion here Chris
23/07/2008 10:40
Come on I read Jon Qwelane?s column on your blog and realise that you might be blowing things out of proportion, the churches has uttered the same sentiments in the past about homosexuals, even our famous ANC president JZ said once , if any man would look at me lustfully I will moer him.the question has always been then why there was no gays prior 1994,believe me I am also under the impression that homosexuality is a fluctuating fashion passions orchestrated by wrong sexual orientations, - Kolobe |
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STUPIDITY OLYMPICS
23/07/2008 10:40
That was one of the most informative articles i have ever read, keep up the good work!!! - MORNE JONES |
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Brilliant
23/07/2008 10:43
In a land of idiots, the mildly intelligent shine brightly. - Theresa |
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Appalled
23/07/2008 10:43
Chris, I just took a little detour to your blog. All i can say is that I am appalled! What make someone/people like this? Is there a cure for stupidity? Because it looks suspiciously hereditary. - Tim |
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Kings of Stupid
23/07/2008 10:43
One just has to look to our roads on a daily basis to find the Kings of Stupid... mini bus taxi drivers. Unfortunately, this stupidity seems to be contagious, because on the same day one will see more and more drivers/riders doing stupid things. Third vs First world, Intelligence vs Stupidity, is there a relationship here? Something to think about although I have seen some really dumb yanks... - Sean |
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Stupid people
23/07/2008 10:48
I love this - "Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups" - Gert |
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@ Oz
23/07/2008 10:54
Yeah we have our problems here but no matter how bad it gets I am grateful for one thing...I'm not an Aussie! Now that would be a cross to bear. :-) - Odette Mohammed |
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Idiocracy
23/07/2008 10:56
Chris, Idiocracy is alive and flourishing. Just think of how many of us (all over the world) would be without jobs if there were no stupid people? You wouldn't have much to write about for instance. - Odette Mohammed |
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Confused
23/07/2008 11:00
Charl, my guess is you're white, right? Ok. So all those who are white like poor old Charl, can you please tell me why you always say "Africans" like to pull out the race card, but here you are bringing it in? White people, is Charl your spokesperson? I'm really starting to believe that after all, all white people have an intolerable disgust for Africans. Please help me or perhaps, help Charl - Thabitha |
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Aussie?
23/07/2008 11:12
Aussie, you commenting on stupidity? I thought the land of Oz was right up there in the co. of George W when it comes to stupidity...!!! - stan |
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@ Kings of Stupid Sean
23/07/2008 11:24
For your information, it is not just us South Africans or Africans that are stupid.
The large majority reside in 1st world countries by the way. - CD boy |
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African
23/07/2008 11:30
I think he was refering to all of us, when he said African.
Believe this or not, I am not a black person, but I am an African - @Thabitha |
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@thabita
23/07/2008 11:35
Er - no, Charl is not our spokesperson. And we do not all have an intolerable disgust for Africans. - white person |
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Even more confused
23/07/2008 11:35
Thabitha, why are you really starting to believe that after all, ALL white people have an intolerable disgust for Africans? The Stupidity Olympics is not a real race, I think! - Theresa |
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And the Olympic team's captain...
23/07/2008 11:36
might be our president next year? O gaats - marius |
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@CD boy
23/07/2008 12:08
You are 100% correct, we do not have sole rights on stupidity in SA, one just has to watch something like "America's Funniest Home Videos" to see how stupid people can be, anywhere. It just seems that we in SA, seem to have more than our fair share, especially on our roads... - Sean |
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@ Theresa
23/07/2008 12:08
Read Charl's comment. Especially the second one. It does seem to imply something and maybe Charl will oblige to clarify the implied meaning of his comment. - Observer |
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@Odette and Stan
23/07/2008 12:09
Here we go again, with the usual Aussie-bashing., now that it is stupidity! There may be a few stupid ppl in aus, but FAR less than in SA. If, according to yourselves, there are so many 'stupid ppl in aus', then why is it a 1st world country? I would rather be aussie than s.african, based on all the evidence - Soon-to be Aussie |
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Thabitha...
23/07/2008 12:15
I think Charls was reckless with his comments, and would in hindsight probably not have said it. But the question remains why certain members of the public always prefer to destroy property when they are unhappy with things. I believe this has been seen on numerous occasions so I am safe from generalising. Please people of the public, explain how destroying property helps your unhappiness, maybe if we all understand people like Charl wont make reckless comments. Dear ed, pls post this - Skiballas |
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Great Chris
23/07/2008 12:15
I wish I had the resolution for all South African to live together in peace and harmony. But like myself I am always amazed at the jealously demonstrated in SA. For instance, it boggles the mind when a place or event created by whites need to be taken over by blacks. They do not create or simulate their own but they will go to all lengths to invade and take over. I know it is racist to say this but why are the places that were joy able and neat taken over and it is untidy and destroyed - KAC |
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@ Thabita - You just won gold in the 100 metres and the long jump
23/07/2008 12:16
You were so quick to jump to conclusions there weren't you. Why do you immediately assume when he used the word "Africans" he was only refering to black people and not africans as a whole. Seems to me you need to stop pointing fingers and burn that race card you're so fond of yourself there. It all smacks of hypocrisy. Pot, Kettle, Black perhaps? - Mabs |
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Stupidity
23/07/2008 12:24
I am an African and most days when I look at the news I am disgusted and ashamedvby what is going on in our country. Yes, I happen to be white, why is that relevant? Perhaps you should look at yourself and see what your mentality is. African mentality is regarded as STUPID by anyone viewing Africa objecitvely, we can't hide from it, rather deal with it I say. - Charl |
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Kolobe - JQ
23/07/2008 12:26
I have read what JQ has written and, instantly "What a stupid thing to write" came to mind. Stupid because there are already so many attempts to "box" people - foreigners, black, white, etc., which is only going to lead to trouble. Whoever you are, you are accountable for your actions, and if that action leads to someone being hurt (physically or mentally), then that is wrong. People don't choose to be black, white, gay, left-handed; it is just something that is a "gift" from nature. - Dave Robbins |
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Stupidity
23/07/2008 12:26
I had an email someone of a Barry Hilton sketch called "Here's your sign" If anyone has got it archived somewhere, please post it - quite fitting material when dealing with stupid people like those we encounter everyday around us - Danny |
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Re: Confused
23/07/2008 12:29
Most white people and I believe most black people have an intolerable disgust for the actions of (mostly) black people who plunder, murder and rape. Why Thabita, don't you just take a look at the stats to see which race commits crime and behaves 'stupidly' most of the time and then ask yourself whether I am being unfair in my judgment. I have great black friends, believe me and they are also sick of this crap. Just get real please. - Charl |
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No brainer
23/07/2008 12:30
It's obvious, she'll get promoted. At least that's what happens in our newsroom. - CB |
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@Sean
23/07/2008 12:50
I completely agree with you about S.African roads but it is not only the taxis. I drive on the N1 between Lynnwood road and Botha everyday and I have to dodge ten near accidents on that stretch of highway everyday all of them as a result of stupidity. I'm talking hear about drivers cutting in front of me with out checking their blind spots and with out actually making sure that they actually past me with sufficient space for their car befor coming in front of me. To be continued. - annonymous |
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@Sean Continued
23/07/2008 12:56
I also see women doing their make-up in the car on the highway whilst driving. I am a woman myself and I cannot see how it is possible to watch where you are going while driving and apply eye make-up at the same time but I have seen it being done! I also see children in cars who are not restrained in car seats. And suprisingly the taxis are actually not the biggest culprits. The biggest culprits from what I have seen seem to be the drivers of certain brands of cars who think they are invincbl - annonymous |
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@thabita
23/07/2008 13:00
No Charl is not our spokes person and we do not all have an intolerable disgust for Africans. Many whites who were born here also regard themselves as being African. However, I have to wonder if certain segments of the non-white population don't perhaps have an intolerable disgust for white people. - annonymous |
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