We all have our moments of forgetfulness, bad decisions, or saying something that immediately makes us cringe.
That being said, there’s a major difference between making the occasional silly mistake and showing a consistent pattern of, well… complete idiocy. This is more than just a lack of common sense, an inability (or unwillingness) to learn from mistakes, or sheer ignorance—some of these behaviours just scream, “I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed.” These lighthearted (but painfully accurate) signs of total cluelessness will probably sound familiar to you if you’ve met someone like this.
1. Arguing with facts
There’s nothing more frustrating than someone who refuses to accept facts because they “just don’t believe it.” If science, history, or basic logic proves something, arguing against it doesn’t make you smart; it makes you stubborn. Instead of clinging to opinions as if they were facts, a wise person stays open to learning. But some people would rather fight with reality than admit they might be wrong.
2. Repeating the same mistakes (and expecting different results)
Everyone makes mistakes—that’s just life. However, if you keep making the same mistake over and over and somehow still expect a different outcome, that’s a special kind of foolishness. In fact, pretty sure that’s the definition of insanity. Smart people learn, adapt, and adjust. That being said, if someone keeps touching the hot stove and acting surprised when they get burned, there’s only so much sympathy you can have.
3. Assuming they know everything
The smartest people are the ones who admit they don’t know everything, but complete stupidity is when someone is convinced they have all the answers, even when they clearly don’t. The moment someone stops being curious, stops asking questions, and acts like they’re always right—well, that’s when the lights are on, but no one’s home.
4. Thinking confidence equals intelligence
Just because someone speaks with confidence doesn’t mean they know what they’re talking about. There’s a difference between being sure of yourself and just making things up with a straight face. Truly smart people question things, do their research, and don’t assume they’re always right. Sadly, some people think that if they say something loud enough, it magically becomes true.
5. Believing every conspiracy theory they hear
A little scepticism is healthy, but blindly believing every wild theory without a shred of real evidence is another level. If someone is convinced that the moon landing was fake, birds are government spies, or that the earth is flat, it’s safe to say critical thinking isn’t their strong suit. There’s a difference between questioning things and refusing to accept reality. If the entire scientific community says one thing, and “some guy on the internet” says another, maybe—just maybe—the experts are right.
6. Never taking responsibility for anything
Smart people own their mistakes, learn from them, and move on. The not-so-bright ones blame everyone and everything else—bad luck, the universe, their cat—except themselves. If every problem in someone’s life is somehow never their fault, chances are they’re not the problem solver they think they are.
7. Thinking “common sense” is a superpower
Common sense should be, well… common. But for some people, basic logic and reasoning seem to be an advanced skill they never unlocked. It’s like when someone leaves their car running with the keys inside and then acts shocked when it gets stolen, or microwaves aluminium foil and wonders why sparks are flying. Some things just shouldn’t need an explanation.
8. Taking social media as absolute truth
Scrolling through social media for entertainment? Fine. Using it as your sole source of “news” without questioning anything? Not so fine. Believing everything on the internet without checking facts is like trusting a fortune cookie to plan your financial future. If someone gets all their opinions from random memes, that’s a red flag.
9. Making fun of people who are actually smart
Some people don’t just lack intelligence—they actively resent it. If someone rolls their eyes at scientists, mocks book lovers, or calls well-informed people “nerds,” they might be compensating for their own lack of knowledge. Being smart isn’t a bad thing, but for some reason, a few people think ignorance is something to be proud of.
10. Believing their opinion is the only one that matters
Having opinions is great. But assuming that your opinion is the only valid one, especially when the topic requires actual expertise, is next-level clueless. If someone refuses to listen, dismisses other perspectives without thought, and refuses to change their mind no matter what, they’re not debating—they’re just being difficult.
11. Following trends without understanding them
There’s nothing wrong with enjoying trends, but blindly following something just because everyone else is doing it? That’s a little questionable, like when people drank bleach because they saw it on TikTok, or when everyone suddenly started putting glue on their lips for a “beauty hack.” Maybe a little independent thought would go a long way.
12. Thinking yelling makes them right
Volume doesn’t equal intelligence. But some people believe that if they shout loud enough, they automatically win the argument. Unfortunately for them, facts don’t get less true just because someone yells over them. And if their main debate tactic is raising their voice instead of making a valid point, they’ve already lost.
13. Never asking questions
Curiosity is a sign of intelligence. People who ask questions, look for answers, and try to understand things tend to be pretty sharp. For those who never question anything, that’s a different story. If someone assumes they already know everything they need to, they stop learning. And when you stop learning, well… let’s just say it doesn’t lead to brilliance.
14. Thinking they’re the smartest person in the room
If someone constantly brags about how intelligent they are, odds are, they’re not. Truly smart people don’t need to remind everyone—they let their knowledge speak for itself. Meanwhile, the ones loudly insisting they’re geniuses? They’re usually the ones who struggle the most with basic reasoning. If you have to keep telling people how smart you are, it might be time to rethink things.
