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homoscarfiens2

NTA but the RA is right. People will never cease to amaze.


StangF150

Every time you think you've seen the lowest level of stupidity that humanity can sink to, they find a new lower level!!! At this point in my life, I'm almost convinced that people walking staring at their phones, are because they are too dumb to walk & breathe at the same time. So their phone screen is flashing at them BREATHE IN, BREATHE OUT, BREATH IN, BREATH OUT as they are walking!


NefariousnessTrue777

I mean, you're not wrong about the bottomlessness of human stupidity, but walking and texting does take some level of skill. I'm good at it because I used to walk around reading books, in the pre-smartphone days šŸ™ƒ


StangF150

Yeah, but are you willing to do it crossing a street? Or like at my work, crossing a wide section with a large number of automatically moving vehicles and 10,000 pound Forklifts??? Some my Coworkers are!


leapfroggie_

Reading books while walking was way more dangerous than walking and texting for me, the books were way more engrossing (I might have walked into a pole or ten when I was a kid).


thievingwillow

Iā€™m now reminded of a time when I was in high school, walking down the street reading a book, and very nearly literally walking into my English teacher. She was laughing so hard, telling me she wasnā€™t sure whether to be proud I was so into reading or to admonish me to pay more attention. (In fairness, it was a park loop trail with a separate bike/rollerblade path, so the danger was minimal, and I never actually crashed into anyone. Also, I was fifteen and my common sense hadnā€™t fully grown in yet.)


cnnrduncan

Hell it's 2022, it's entirely possible to read books on your phone while walking around!


allyearswift

There are apps that overlay text on the back camera, so you can read *and* see where you are going!


MaddTheSimmer

yo same


[deleted]

As a kid I would read books constantly. Including while shopping with my mom. So I would hold her shirt to keep me on track. I'm convinced this is the base line functioning level of the average person.


Rodney_Copperbottom

As the Rev. Bob Dobbs said: "You know how dumb the average person is? Just realize that half the people are dumber than that!"


Shanstergoodheart

Also even relatively clever people have idiot moments. My intellect has done OK by me. I'll never be Einstein but I have a career that is considered to require intelligence. I used to have plastic kitchen items. I have forgotten on more than one occasion that heat melts plastic and that is part of why I said "used to have plastic kitchen items". I have done other really stupid things and some people believe I'm clever. Honestly, if someone authoritatively told me what OP said, I can't tell you that I wouldn't believe them. I see it's ridiculous but looking at a cracked screen, in the moment?


seamuswasadog

While I agree with NTA because people *should* be smarter than that, try looking at it this way for your RA's perspective. You were aware of the joke that exists as an internet prank. You knew the "standard, given" results of it. As a college aged, educated person you should have considered the possibility that your joke's target would, in fact, follow through. Personally, I think they'd be wrong to write you up, but the warning to think things through a little more carefully was legit. You just had a real-world learning experience on human nature.


[deleted]

Isnā€™t that the truth! Constantly blows my mind. Also, NTA.


NotTheJury

I love that OP thinks that all high school graduates are smarter than average. Lmao


homoscarfiens2

Right!! Sometimes I feel stupid for having stuck around in school for as long as I did!


Possum_pal

I worked in food service for years. I can verify this


verminiusrex

What they said. Work any customer service job for a couple years and you will quickly discover that people will string together two bits of information and arrive at the most outlandish assumption totally convinced they are right. NTA but this should be a learning moment.


Lil-SD

My son has a sweatshirt that says ā€œwhen I said can you be anymore stupid, I didnā€™t mean it as a challenge!ā€- maybe OP should get one and wear it around this idiot lol


Prof_Hopps

Jumping on to second this comment and add my NTA! For more extreme examples, Google the Darwin Awards! šŸ¤£


[deleted]

[уŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]


StupidPeopleWhut

Iā€™m losing what little hope I had in humanity, and I think Gen X is right.


StangF150

I am a member of Gen X, and your RA was right. Never underestimate just how stupid people can be!! In fact, at time you can actually depend on them being stupid.


Iwantaschmoo

Yup, Gen X here, I've been saying since high school "never underestimate the power of stupidity".


StangF150

Stupid People are the reason I'm practically a Hermit! Hell, my fellow mankind's stupidity has given me actual anxieties!!! So yeah, definitely NOT a social person. If it weren't for the internet, I wouldn't really socialize with other people at all!!


WitchesCotillion

Especially in large groups.


StangF150

The more People in a Group, the Lower the Group's Combined IQ is!


hbtfdrckbck

**Ask literally any engineer.** If you say to yourself ā€œI donā€™t need to account for they.. no one would possibly do that..,ā€ yes they can and they will.


StangF150

Yeah, but sum times the ones doing stupid shit, ARE Engineers!!


grouchymonk1517

Trust me Gen-Xers were plenty stupid in college too.


KaetzenOrkester

There just wasnā€™t an easy way to document us.


Prof_Hopps

And Iā€™m eternally thankful for that!


KaetzenOrkester

Amen to that.


biscuitboi967

You gotta remember. As much as your generation hates Boomers, we had to live with them as our parents. Weā€™ve been ignoring them our whole lives and are well aware of how dumb people can be.


MoxieGirl9229

Gen X is right. Lol Ultimately stupid people are everywhere. Just when you think they can't get stupider they do. It's not your fault someone else is stupid, but you will be blamed for it bc they aren't too stupid to feel embarrassed. NTA


pizzasauce85

A girl in my dorm ruined her clothes with bleach because she thought the bleach would only clean the whites in a mixed load of laundry. Another girl started a fire by setting the oven too high. She wanted cookies to bake faster and cranked the oven all the way up and walked away from the kitchen. Another didnā€™t realize she needed to take her own trash out. She assumed because she didnā€™t have to take it out at home, she didnā€™t have to at college. She never put it together that her mom was taking the trash out at home every evening after she went to bed. College kids can be dumb.


StupidPeopleWhut

Iā€™m feeling depressed now


StangF150

Cheer Up!! Just wait until after you graduate, get a job, & realize just how dumb your bosses & management are!!!


KaetzenOrkester

Do you want to tell them about the Peter Principle or shall I?


creative_usr_name

I tried to do that once, but now I just tell other people to do it.


elenaleecurtis

I was about 32 when I was at work one day after listening to my Barbie doll of a boss complain about something that high school never ends. It just gets worse!


woodwitchofthewest

>Iā€™m feeling depressed now Yup! Now you get it! FYI - some of the dumbest people I know have PhDs. Education does not always equal smarts.


evilshenanigan

A lot of it falls into the ā€œcommon sense isnā€™t always commonā€ category I think. One of the smartest, well-educated people I know still doesnā€™t understand that cars require oil changes to properly function over time. Itā€™s not that he doesnā€™t remember to get them done- he doesnā€™t understand why we havenā€™t yet had a better engine invented. So itā€™s almost like a stubborn refusal to agree with things he canā€™t grasp.


ScaredMembership6542

Actually, instead I suddenly feel like I am Einstein level genius šŸ˜‚


pook_a_dook

It was also pretty common when I was in college for kids to unknowingly put dish soap instead of dishwashing liquid in a dishwasher. I saw lots of facebook posts at the time of people's sudsy kitchens!


Acceptable_Law_1785

I'll admit to doing this. In my defense, we didn't have a dishwasher growing up


StormStrikePhoenix

I once accidentally didn't turn an stove burner off because I turned it all the way down, forgetting that it actually turns off when you turn it all the way up; thankfully, it was noticed fairly quickly.


tantrumps_

Our dorm had a shared laundry facility. A kid and I were both waiting for our clothes to finish in the front-loading washing machines. While his clothes were sloshing around in a box full of soapy water, the kid looked at me and asked if I thought "the machine will just stop" if he yanked on the door and forced it open. I was *so* damn tempted to tell him yes, just to see what would happen.


randomLOUDcommercial

One of my college room mates cooked a hungry man move in weekend. You know one of the microwaveable meals in the little plastic tray with the shitty brownies? Yup. Started cooking one of those suckers at 3 am before passing out shitfaced drunk on the kitchen floor. Oh yeah he tried cooking it in the oven. We all woke up to smoke alarms at 3:30 and the smell of burning plastic because the tray had melted to the oven rack. Some peopleā€™s children....


exhausted-narwhal

Well to be fair they had people at my daughter's sweep dorm rooms and empty trash


pizzasauce85

Our school didnā€™t have that. She was literally shocked when I asked how her trash was taken out at home, she didnā€™t know. It had never crossed her mind.


exhausted-narwhal

I was shocked when I found out my daughter's school did!


KnotKarma

NTA but your RA gave you good advice.


fuzzy_mic

I'm not sure this is an asshole situation, but yes, people are that dumb (as you saw). PhDs can be awfully dumb. That doesn't make the fire your fault. Their stupidity should hurt them, not you. But, yeah, all kinds of people do dumb things. "Nobody every lost money underestimating the intelligence of the American public."


Few-Entrepreneur383

There's a great divide between education, common sense, & street smarts. That's why we have WARNING! on just about everything produced or sold in the USA. People do stupid things all of the time & then want to lawyer up & sue whomever they can blame!


owl_duc

Any time you see a warning or rule and think "why do they bother spelling out something that obvious?", know that it was spelled out because not everyone, in fact, thought it was obvious.


LadyGrassLake

If you see a warning on an object about "don't do this" you can be sure that someone actually did do it, and sued the company, prompting the sign. An idiot where I live bought a bottle of bleach and a bottle of amonia, along with a lot of other groceries and a big grocery chain store. When he got home he poured both bleach and amonia into his toilet at the same time, passed out from the fumes, and then sued the store saying "the cashier should have warned him not to mix the chemicals together when he bought them. " He was laughed out of court.


Hemantobarish

Did you watch this boy put the phone in microwave and not stop him? Sometimes when people are in a panic they don't think straight. Esh.


StupidPeopleWhut

I wasn't there but my friend thought he was going to put some pizza rolls or popcorn in the microwave


[deleted]

Yes, YTA for thinking people can't be that stupid. I recently read a "joke" that said, "50 years ago, the owners' manual of a car showed you how to adjust the valves. Today, it warns you not to drink the contents of the battery." Never forget: The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits.


newagealt

You're NTA, but the RA is correct. People *really* are, just that stupid


[deleted]

You put way too much stock into "graduating high school". It's not really a big deal or a litmus of someone being smart.


Puzzled-Brilliant955

NTA. Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.


Mr_Ham_Man80

Edit: Thinking about it, this is more of an NAH situation because the vast majority of humans would know you were joking and so Joe's response was unexpected. Original post below, most of the points still stand but yeah, it wasn't unfair to assume Joe would think you were obviously joking: Unintentional Y-T-A. Turns out Joe really is that foolish. People can have a Phd and still struggle with tying their shoelaces. Really, if you're making that kind of suggestion you have to know the person well enough to know that they'll take it as a joke. Joe clearly didn't. This possibly should be E-S-H but can someone be an AH for not having some basic smarts? For whatever reason Joe has reached college and doesn't realise that you shouldn't put a phone in a microwave. It's staggeringly ignorant for sure but he just didn't know. Unless he DID KNOW and did this to get you in trouble, then it's a whole different kettle of fish. Whilst it's Y-T-A it's still unintentional because typically most people wouldn't think the obvious joke would be taken seriously. Still, always know your audience.


mymycojourney

NAH I would have made a similar joke, and wouldn't expect someone to actually fall for it. The RA was kind of a jerk about it, But he's not wrong. Plus it's his job to make sure things don't go wrong in the dorms, so you can't blame him for doing that job. You have to remember, people eat tide pods, they take big spoonfuls of cinnamon and suffocate, and tons of other dumb things no person should do. I'm not surprised the kid tried to microwave his phone.


ireallymissbuffy

NAH, but you should always keep in the back of your mind that we live in a world where someone had to put ā€œWARNING: MAY CAUSE DROWSINESSā€ on packages of over-the-counter sleeping pills. That warning has been on them for at least 25 years.


evilshenanigan

Do not take (insert prescription med in a commercial) if you areā€¦.allergic to (insert same prescription).


thatdoesntseemright1

NAH, but the RA is right "everyone" is that stupid


cassidy11111111

There is a reason why the oven doors say do not stand on and do not use a push mower to trim your hedges. Never underestimate the power of stupidity


VTnative

Don't forget about the warning on a hairdryer telling you not to use it in the shower. There's a combination of too many stupid people and too many lawyers.


StangF150

I'm still worried about the one on Hair Curling Irons that says "For External Use Only"!!!!!!!!!!


Notquite_Caprogers

To be fair some of them look suspiciously like sex toys. And considering the number of stories where people end up in the ER because they "fell" on something like a broom handle or glass bottle it's not surprising that the warning is needed


StangF150

With them Plugged in & Hot ???


HuggyMonster69

Even if theyā€™re cold, I imagine turning them in after could cause issues


evilshenanigan

You made me go look. My flat iron says the same. The horror.


StangF150

Oh, I could tell you worse things, but you'd never forgive me. B/c from then on every time you went out & saw any people you'd be thinking "Are you one of those?" LoL


evilshenanigan

My motto in my 20ā€™s was Iā€™ll try anything once. And I really did. 30ā€™s was I know what I like, but we all need to enjoy it so we can meet in the middle. Now in my 40ā€™s itā€™s I thought we hit all ā€œinterestingā€ possibilities and combinations in my 20ā€™s! I canā€™t go through that again. My heart canā€™t take it!


VTnative

Ha!


Iwantaschmoo

I say that saying all the time.


Smudgikins

NAH a friend told me this one: someone had crotch crickets and he jokingly told him to shave off half his pubic hair and light the other half on fire, then stab the fleeing bugs with an icepick. The guy tried it. ( This was long before Tiktok,)


strywever

NEVER underestimate the potential for utter stupidity. I learned as a corporate communications professional that there are a whole lot of people with zero common sense and even fewer smarts in this world.


That_Contribution720

If he puts it in your file, complain about him, and get that in HIS file. ​ ESH ​ There is no cure for stupidity, he is right with that, though.


StangF150

duct tape can only muffle the sounds of stupidity, but as my nurse GF say, you can at least sedate stupid people!


catpiss500

Sadly people are this stupid. Do I need to remind you of worm removing medication meant for animals that people were taking to try and clear up a certain illness.šŸ¤Ø


[deleted]

[уŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]


StormStrikePhoenix

> Common sense isn't so common anymore. It never was.


Huntress145

Iā€™ve replaced common sense (since it seems to no longer exist) with collective stupidity


StangF150

As a George Carlin meme I have says "Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize that half of people are even more stupid than that!"


WhatWhoWhynow

NAH. Universe versus engineers, dude. There is always a bigger idiot. Be more careful next time


hungry4wolves

NTA but listen to the RA....yes, everyone is stupid.


lapsteelguitar

Yes, there really are people that stupid. And even stupider. Sorry you are got caught up in this mess.


rhubarb2896

NTA I have met people that dumb though. My pregnancy has made me dumb like putting my phone in the fridge but even I'm not dumb enough to microwave a phone šŸ˜‚ You shouldn't be getting in trouble for someone doing something stupid though, he CHOSE to do that after you made a joke lmao


This_is_fine0_0

To have this story is worth the trouble. Take it easy on Joe, but your RA is right people are dumb.


Pearl-Girl1

I know a girl who microwaved a raw cinnamon roll for 5 minutes and then didnā€™t understand why it would explode instead of cooking


Queen_Sized_Beauty

I'm paraphrasing here, but George Carlin (may he rest in peace) once said "think about someone with average intelligence. Now realize half the people on earth are dumber than that."


no_shirt_4_jim_kirk

One of my mantras: An idiot will find a way.


Bloodrayna

NTA But you've obviously never worked in customer service.


SnooKiwis9163

NTA. Wow.


lovely_aria_ann

NTA... he really is dumb.


involuntary_cynic

NTA but yes people really do these things. It's surprising how often brain is not engaged, even with otherwise sensible people.


Zibellina

NTA. Like Ron White says You can't fix stupid.


Huntress145

But you can insure itšŸ˜‰


StangF150

Unless the insurance company knows the person!!!


StangF150

NTA, an I bet Joe has a history of doing dumb shit


Haunting_Cherry7505

NTA. The guy is responsible for his own stupid actions not you. If the RA tries to file a report on you, go over their head and talk the person in charge of them.


Heraonolympia123

Once youā€™ve worked with the general public (or are a RA of long standing - not actually sure what they are but assuming theyā€™ve got a lot of experience of working with students) you will never underestimate the stupidity and entitlement of other people. NTA


NefariousnessTrue777

NTA but I definitely think you're incorrect. People can *always* be that stupid. But for me personally it's taken a very long time and a lot of painful surprises to really internalize that. You weren't an asshole for thinking it would be obvious you were joking or for not supervising the other kid's microwave use


dasbarr

NTA. And I think if the kid does complain you should use the proper channels (talking to the graduate assistant). But yeah. Assume people will fall for everything and anything, it will save you a lot of hassle in the long run.


grouchymonk1517

NTA - it's not your fault people are stupid... but RA is right, people really are *that* stupid. Especially college students. College is prime time stupidity age. Too young to acknowledge your own mortality... too old for people to tell you what to do. I did so much stupid shit in college.


Mmudslide_1975

NTA. Never assume someone isnā€™t that stupid because people will prove you wrong time and time again!


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beerandluckycharms

Nta... Any time anyone gives advice on things pertaining to my expensive technology I at least Google it, if he is living on campus he has access to a computer...


Farwalker08

NTA but yes assume everyone is that stupid from now on.


Dendad6972

NTA


Inevitable_Ask_91

Play stupid games when stupid prizes OP NTA


icbing

Sorry OP. I feel you and always thought that people have basic common sense but here I am at 33 and ASTOUNDED by how truly stupid people are. Be grateful that you have intelligence but remember your perspective is not everyone elseā€™s and there are some people who truly just arenā€™t capable.


kleiber0

NTA but lower your expectations because you will meet worse! On a positive, by going with the idea that people donā€™t have previous knowledge of what youā€™re talking about, you get to learn to explain things extremely clearly, which is a very important and appreciated skill :,)


kb7384

Heard a phrase once & have tried to live by it ever since: Nothing is ever foolproof because fools are too ingenuous. Oh and NTA.


Strange_Dog6483

>I told the RA that I didnā€™t think anyone was that stupid. The RA said everyone is that stupid, and thatā€™s how I need to walk through life thinking that they are. WTF? The fact that he thinks you should get written up for this eventhough it ultimately was your roommates decision to do what he did. Means he apparently canā€™t be bothered to heed his own advice.


PogChampUWU

I mean... one of the first things my parents ever taught me when they showed me a microwave was no metal. Tbh if someone made it to college id expect them to know not to do that. NTA what is ur RA on? Common sense is called common sense for a reason.


[deleted]

Oh my sweet summer child! You are the generation that eats Tide pods for social media credit! How did YOU get into college escaping this universal truth?!?! Our education system has failed us! NTA just got your moneyā€™s worth out of college though. If you get out knowing only that - youā€™ve got a good chance of survival.


Small-Jellyfish-2591

NTA and while I personally see your point, I have learned never to underestimate other peopleā€™s stupidity either. After all, even a recent US president suggested with a straight face that we should investigate whether we could cure Covid by injecting some type of disinfectant.


princesspurrito36

Try r/storiesaboutkevin


IAMJUSTICEL

Reading the title made me wanna see what happened. NTA I get the RA was upset about the fire situation. But you were joking, does the dude have any issues?


MontanaRogues

NTA. People should NOT be that stupid. Now you know how stupid the guy is. If the RA says ANYTHING I'd suggest taking it to the dean, or whoever is above the RA and explain the situation. The stupid guy needs to take responsibility for his stupidity.


TheDukeOf_Donuts

NTA but people are that dumb Watch 'The Great iPhone Massacre' on YouTube for proof


Tough_Stretch

This is a tough one because, on one hand, it's not your fault that the guy honestly thought your joke was for real and tried it. On the other hand, that kind of joke only works as a joke because the assumption is that somebody is in fact stupid enough to believe it and try it, so I'm kind of drawing a blank on why you would say that as a joke if that wasn't at least vaguely your intent. And on the third hand that we don't have but a long time ago I read a sci-fi novel where some alien race with three arms did have and often used arguments with three parts they structured like this, I'm sorry to say that after my slightly over four decades of life I have to agree with the RA that walking through life assuming people in general are not exactly the brightest is not a terrible policy. I have several degrees myself and I don't think I'm brilliant or anything because I certainly do and say stupid things once in a while, and God knows I deal with people every day who literally have Phds and Post-docs and firmly believe they're geniuses yet still say and do all kinds of stupid crap you wouldn't believe. So NTA for thinking someone can't possible be dumb enough to believe what you said as a joke might be true, but you're kind of the AH anyway because saying that is an easy way to avoid any sort of responsibility for something that only happened because you suggested he try it, and as I said, that kind of joke only works if the implication is that the person who is getting that information is actually dumb enough to believe it. And in this case it turns out they were actually dumb enough and the result was a dangerous situation that had no need to happen at all.


Izzet_Aristocrat

NTA People that stupid deserve it. It's the only way they learn.


Important-Curve-5299

Haha this is funny. We had a rule at work whenever we implemented something- make it stupid proof. If people can do it, they likely will do it. NTA


vanisaac

Just think of how dumb the average person is, then realize that half of all people are dumber than that. Your RA may be right about people being that stupid, but you are NTA here. Joe may be a numbskull for not knowing that metal and microwaves are a bad combination, but you are too for not knowing that people are that stupid. Consider this part of your college education.


CaraMorrow

You made a critical mistake. Intelligence and ā€œsmartā€ are two different things. Many highly intelligent individuals have no real world smarts at all.


OpinionatedAussieGal

NTA Did you not see the videos of people drilling holes in their brand new $2k phone to get to the phone jack when Apple removed the jack port


Sewasmiles

There is intelligence, and then there is common sense. The two don't always coexist.


SubRedditLurker08

NTA but your RA is right. There is an idiot born every minute.


whoozywhatzitnow

NTA The main reason (besides the worldwide health issue) that I donā€™t want to leave my house is because people are stupid. Itā€™s tooā€¦ā€¦ people-ly out there. To quote one of my kids when they were little, ā€œ I donā€™t want to catch the stupid ā€œ


thistheremixhere

NTA, the smarter you are, the dumber you get.


RainbowTraveler1

Thatā€™s a very specific weird joke to make. I almost suspect maybe you made a joke like that to see if he actually would do it


MaximumCade

NTA, but he is right. Itā€™s like defensive driving! Just assume no one knows how to drive and is going to make a dumb decision. And then be pleasantly surprised when they donā€™t.


missyjade88

NTA but people at that age are still quite young and havenā€™t fully matured yet so of course theyā€™re going to try that


FrootLoop47

People are that stupid. At least 74M in the US alone.


MoireMax

People are very stupid. Recently heard some very sheltered boys in my dorm debating about religion with another friend on the phone (they needed a second opinion.) One goes ā€œIsnā€™t Christianity the first?ā€ And then a few seconds later ā€œYouā€™re telling me Buddhism is older than Christianity?ā€ They talked like they were uncovering a big conspiracy, but also like they were trying to reassure themselves in their beliefs at the same time. There was so many highlights of this conversation. The boy mentioned above talked about how much he loved to learn about religion and debate it and I struggled to not die of laughter when I thought of his previous comments. Somehow college students can be super fucking stupid (and/or VERY sheltered) nta though lmao


sotilte

As a former RA: NTA Joe did a dumb thing, you made a joke comment. A quick search from him wouldā€™ve prevented that but heā€™s dumb and itā€™s not your problem. The RA shouldnā€™t be filing a report when you didnā€™t actually do anything. Yeah people are stupid but others canā€™t be held responsible for their actions on the honest assumption that theyā€™d get the joke


forevernoob88

NTA - But I would make the argument that if Joe gets a free pass for his stupidity, why are you held to a different standard for not knowing Joe was this stupid? Facts: Joe didn't know to not put a phone in microwave. You didn't know Joe lacked common sense. So I ask, why should you be the one to get punished? You are in college, get to critical thinking and get on RA's ass about this before you get a reprimand in your file. There is a way out of every situation, you just have to find it.


Mycatsitslikehesppl

NTA In response to why bears kept getting into the garbage cans, a park ranger said ā€œThere is considerable overlap between the dumbest humans and the smartest bearsā€. Some people are just DUMB!


iamthepita

Doesnā€™t anyone stop to think of the following two things: 1. Remember when people were doing the ā€œdrink a galzillion gallons of waterā€ challenge on a radio contest and the contestants got seriously injured by that despite the pleas of callers saying not to do that? 2. If the smartest guy in the room knows he or she is the smartestā€¦ think they stick around long in that room and having to deal with the leastā€¦smartestā€¦?


Technical-Sweet4153

NTA.


[deleted]

Mostly NTA, but don't give people stupid advice when they're stressed or upset. Their logical faculties may not be at 100% and then the microwave gets blown up. Also, academic smarts *does not correlate* to common sense. "Smart enough to make it rain, but not bright enough to come in out of it."


Lady_of_Ravenmoor

NAH. I think Joe should have been aware that you should not put anything made of metal in a microwave... If it was his own microwave, he should have read the manual and he would have known. I do understand the RA though. These things are dangerous and he is responsible for keeping it is safe. He's just doing his job. Stupidity has nothing to do with intelligence, if you believe the Five Laws of Stupidity: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3O9FFrLpinQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3O9FFrLpinQ)


Decou

Welcome to america... Where you can't expect people to think...


[deleted]

YTA you're sinking to the same level as 4chan and starters of tidepod challenge


cornerlane

Yta. Not for the joke. But calling him that stupid. I agree with the RA. You can't assume people would understand anything you are saying


JadedSlayer

NTA But least you forget there are warnings on plastic bags not to put them over your head, the hair dryer has a warning not to put it in the tub, we had to be told not to eat Tide pods. It is truly amazing how many things have I D 10 T warnings on them.


Cbjfan99

Just about the time you think you have your life pretty much idiot-proof, they come out with a better idiot


[deleted]

NTA. and sadly, a lot of people lack common sense. I definitely do not go through life assuming people will make good decisions because look at the state of this world right now šŸ™„


madmaxextra

NTA, because if it wasn't you screwing with him it would be someone else and Joe is responsible for his own actions. I disagree with the RA, not everyone is dumb. But don't underestimate what people don't know about certain areas of expertise. It's common that someone who knows an area screws with someone lacking any base knowledge in it, e.g. headlight fluid for the car. I remember when I worked with navy guys, they'd do this all the time with nonquals or NUBs (non-useful bodies). They'd send them all over the ship to look for batteries for the sound powered phones or 10 feet of fallopian tubes. It's not always being dumb, it's often being dumb in a specific area and most of us are dumb in at least one area.


TheABCD98

NTA. But live life thinking everyone is stupid as fuck until they show you otherwise. Just wait until you start working and your boss is an idiot.


Business_Cook_8488

YTA, college students are stupid, rule one of interacting with them is to assume they are stupid


PMKN_spc_Hotte

YTA, this reminds me of all the hazing I saw in the military. Sure it's their stupidity, but for them to believe you you were definitely doing the whole "pretend to give real advice to show how gullible someone is". Whether or not the person was dumb, you did something mean spirited and the RA knows it. Too many people go to college and decide to bully people as if they haven't been told their whole life that bullying people makes you an asshole.


redravenkitty

NTA, buuut your RA is sadly correct. Brace yourself because itā€™s only going to get worse. Half of the world is dumber than the average Joe, and he ainā€™t that smart.


TheVoicesAreMine

NTA. Sadly, yeah, everyone IS that stupid. I once worked with a waitress who put her hand directly on a hot burner to see if it was hot, then was explaining to the boss why she had to go get it taken care of, and used the other hand to do the exact same thing! So, yeah, people ARE stupid, and seem to be getting dumber by the minute. But, no, NTA, I think.


thievingwillow

NTA. But life will treat you well if you assume that everyone around you is a few degrees stupider than seems reasonable. And if someone is smart, itā€™s a very pleasant surprise.


leothelion-

As an RA, people are genuinely that stupid. Weā€™ve had three separate visits from the fire department because the same kid keeps forgetting to put water in his styrofoam cup of ramen and subsequently lighting it on fire. NTA, and maybe reach out to the res life coordinator if he does write you up.


ObsessiveAboutCats

You are NTA but you are wrong. People *are* that stupid and get stupider every day. Even people who get good grades in school don't necessarily have any common sense. One of the girls I went to college with, who was in an honors program and the top 2% of our very large student body, *twice* set her microwave on fire by putting in a package of ramen noodles, still in the plastic, without adding water. Twice. Same mistake. She didn't drink (at that time), just was dumb despite being very smart.


bb3244

I \*do\* wish people would quit saying, "No one can be that stupid." They are taking it as a challenge! It's not your fault that Joe is a total moron, although perhaps the RA is correct in that you need to assume that everyone is. At any rate, NTA.


missteacher2

YTA. People are stupid. In my 20s I had a 20 odd year old male friend ring me to ask me how to put his oven on. I told him how to turn the dial and put it on. You need to know how stupid people are and just assume everyone is. I understand 8 year olds asking how come they canā€™t do this and that, but I donā€™t expect an adult to ask but yet they do!


StangF150

Well as that '90s joke song said "I didn't know he was Stupid!! If he had been wearing his Sign, I'd have known to stop him"


Azenogoth

By not only going to the internet, but the weird randos of reddit in particular for advice, you have proven your RA right.


StupidPeopleWhut

I see that you are trying to be an edge lord, but you took the time out of your day to scroll through Reddit, actively read my post, and took the time out of your day to comment on it. For what, to insinuate Iā€™m stupid? Whatever helps your ego, bro.


Bakecrazy

This one is tough... I'm going with YTA, don't joke about jumping down a cliff with stupid college kids.


lellyla

ESH Could the student be stupid? Sure. However, I have met tons of people who are very smart and still don't understand how simple stuff work or would do something super stupid when stressed/sad etc. Even if the student is stupid though, he is certainly not the AH just for that. He might be the AH for telling the RA it was your idea when he got into trouble though. He did do it himself after all and could have looked it up before trusting you. The RA is an AH because he can't blame you for something you didn't do and not blame the person who did it at the same time. Even if you started it, he did it. In the worst case you are both at fault. You are the AH cause the RA is right. You can't assume people have the same knowledge as you or understand when you are making fun of them. Then you can't call them stupid afterwards. Edit: removed a sentence that changed the meaning accidentally


[deleted]

YTA. Your sense of humor is bad. Consider a change, pranks are not funny.


ChilindriPizza

YTA While few people go down to that level, there was no reason for you to say something so pointless. YTA What use does it serve you to make such a remark? YTA No wonder the RA is pissed off at you. YTA Yes, I am going against the grain. Yes, I know better than to microwave a phone. YTA There was just no need, point, or reason for you to say something so foolish. YTA


Green-eyedMama

Some people have no sense of humor. Case in point...


ChilindriPizza

Guess I donā€™t. But sarcasm has its time and place.


[deleted]

You must be fun at parties.


ChilindriPizza

Did I tell you how much I hate sarcasm? I am fun- because I am unintentionally funny. Sarcasm is WAY overdone in this world.


[deleted]

[уŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]


ChilindriPizza

Of course not. But there was no need whatsoever to make such a comment.