stupid is as stupid does

people don't like to be told they are stupid. that's a fact. so a lot of times you just assume someone knows something and don't bother to bring it up because "no one is THAT stupid!" apparently they are. the last couple days, i've seen and read a few things that really made my brain explode.

the first story was a news report about security and debit cards. the question was, how easy was it to get a persons personal information.... on the street. not with any fake online services, not any kind of direct mail piece. just straight up asking people on the street; someone faking being from "Numerical Recording Agency" or something asking random people on the street for their debit number. when i first heard it, i did laugh. i thought they might get a few numbers because, lets face it, there are a LOT of people who's tank isn't filled even half-way to the top. boy was i wrong. you would have been surprised the number of people when asked gave up their PIN numbers, without question. "Hi. My name is X from Blah blah blah doing a survey for blah blah. Can i ask you what your PIN number is please?" it was that easy. am i kidding you? i wish i was. so, what's the problem? do they not know that PIN stands for Personal Identification Number? does the concept elude them? do they not make the connection that this number is the KEY to your BANK ACCOUNT aka YOUR MONEY? maybe no one told them. maybe the teller or whoever signed them up for the card didn't spell it out for them or hold up a huge sign with a basic diagram. i guess these are one of those things that you don't mention because you just assume that one would know. assume nothing, i suppose.

the second story i came across was in the paper, about a woman who drove illegally in the HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle) lane. these lanes are for vehicles that have at minimum of 2 people. i've already written a blog on how stupid the one located in toronto is so we'll move on. anyway, that is the law. now, there are a few things people do to try to get around the law like sitting one or more dummies or dolls or anything that resembles and could pass for a human being in the car, or darkening the tint of their windows, or in the winter not clearing the snow from the passenger side of the car, etc etc etc. these may seem.... stupid, but people still do it. even when they have officers stationed to observe the lanes and give out tickets, which is public knowledge, people will still try to beat the system. people are willing to risks hundreds of dollars and points to save a few minutes and they catch hundreds of people trying anything they can to beat the system. stupid? yes. oh, but there's part two. guess who the majority of the offenders are? criminals of course!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! people driving on the roads who are "doing their best" to avoid contact with the police. people without licenses. people who owe money for multiple speeding tickets and other offenses. people in unregistered vehicles. people driving cars that haven't and/or don't pass inspection. people wanted for petty crimes. people wanted for major crimes. the list goes on. well, i guess i shouldn't complain about criminals being too stupid to remain at large. kudos to them for being smrt.

oh, i forgot to mention. the woman who got pulled over had a stuffed animal she won at canadas wonderland in the front seat. it was probably a purple dinosaur or a giant penguin. maybe a giraffe.

stupid is as stupid does.