Behavior: Stupid Is The New Black

Stupid is the new black. Don’t believe me? Ask Paris Hilton. Actually — don’t ask her. She’s not really bright enough to answer. But who cares? She’s everywhere; she’s popular; and she’s what so many people want or want to be like now.

Why is she so popular? Well….that’s because people love to feel superior, and Paris Hilton makes people feel superior. That’s why they can’t get enough of her. Audiences loved it when she thought that Wal-mart was a store that sold walls.

Same goes for Jessica Simpson — when she was popular. She was loved because she didn’t know if Chicken Of The Sea was a fish or a chicken. Her husband loved it about her, and so did the audience.

Stupidity Sells?
Dumb shows do much better than smart shows because people love to see characters dumber than themselves.

Same goes for lazy and smarmy. Smarmy characters are never really happy characters — like George on Seinfeld. The reason is that they’re only successful characters if the audience feels superior. George’s smarmy-ness is only acceptable because he is usually angry or frustrated. He never wins. That’s how his smarmy-ness becomes acceptable.

Lazy people also make audiences feel superior. No matter how little you get done in a day, if you see someone who’s done less than you, you can say to yourself, “At least I’m better than him,” and feel good about yourself — and the lazy guy.

Television has just capitalized on this human dynamic.