The Bill Engvall Approach to Life

Some of you may be familiar with Bill Engvall. If you're not, that is somewhat of a tragedy.

Bill is renowned for his comical (and, seemingly justified) dispassion for "stupid people." He explains this anti-affinity in the following manner:

I just hate stupid people. They should have to wear signs that just say "I'm Stupid." That way you wouldn't rely on them, would you? You wouldn't ask anything. It'd be like "Excuse me... Oh! Nevermind. I didn't see your sign!

I often wonder to myself what the world would be like if we adopted this kind of approach? I wonder if people would try harder to figure things out on their own, if common sense would become the norm, and if natural competition would foster greater intelligence?

Yeah, yeah. I know what you're thinking... there would be many people who don't agree with this philosophy. It would violate human rights charters and create an imbalance in society where instead of there being a considerable gap between rich and poor, there would instead (or additionally) be a gap between "smart" and "stupid." We'd find discrimination against those seen as less intelligent, and they would be consigned to work in burger joints and socially necessary jobs while those of high IQ would work according to their passions, desires, and affinities (ironically, Mr. Engvall could remain in the exact same profession). The disparity this view could create would seemingly offset any potential benefits and would likely (re)form the free continent we live on back into one of heavy discrimination, and of slavery and abuse of the "lesser" peoples.

Obviously, I don't believe in a world like the one described above. However, just as a common man may dream of a life on a sunny beach with beautiful women, as far removed from reality it may be, I dream of a what life would be like if obligation to help others arose out of their use common sense and their willingness to "RTFM" (Read The Flippin' Manual).

Without considering the plethora of disadvantages and problems to such a world, the benefits seem almost miraculous. Better educational systems, greater economic competition, immensely superior creativity, and flourishing technological and economic innovation could all possibly develop. Of course this is an idealistic view but, at least for me, it's interesting to think of. I'd also imagine that anyone who's worked in customer service for any extended period of time would probably sympathize with me :P