Almost everyone grapples with what to do, what to believe, and whom to associate with. Most of us were taught that stupidity, evil, and laziness run counter to a successful life. We also seek to belong to people we love and trust.
What happens if we fall into habits and systems that do not lead us to success and self-fulfillment? What happens when our belief systems, associates, and actions result in never-ending frustration and anxiety? What happens when we fall under the control of cult-like institutions or personal relationships that harm us more than help us?
A primary cause of this never-ending personal and group frustration is what could be called group stupidity. We can fall under the influence of people who believe things that are not only untrue but also destructive.
I recently found this YouTube video from a British philosopher that provides a good summary of how humans tie themselves in knots and end up in a self-enclosed prison they accept living in.
The following video is long by video standards. Most of us have been conditioned to five- and ten-minute videos. However, you can either watch the whole thing at once or in sections. Regardless of how you watch it, I think you might find it interesting. It is philosophical, but the speaker brings the topics down to earth, although some of his examples are rooted in British pubs.