Surrounded by Idiots? Maybe You’re the Problem?

We’ve all had those days where it feels like the world is full of idiots. The driver who can’t work a roundabout. 

The colleague who emails “per my last email” as if that’s a personality trait. 

The colleague who thinks reheating fish in the office microwave is acceptable. Idiots, the lot of them.

But here’s the uncomfortable truth: if everyone around you is an idiot, chances are… it’s not them. It’s you.

The Idiot Magnet Theory

Think about it. If you’re forever muttering “I can’t believe how thick people are,” yet these so-called idiots somehow manage to hold jobs, run households, raise kids, and even pay taxes, then maybe they’re not quite as clueless as you think. Maybe you’re just the common denominator. Congratulations: you’re the idiot magnet?

Ego in Action

Maybe you’re not surrounded by fools at all — maybe you’re just a bit of a know-it-all. If your internal motto is “my way or the highway,” then every other way will look like idiocy. Spoiler: it’s not. Sometimes, people simply think differently, and that doesn’t make them wrong. It just makes you… difficult.

Communication, or Lack of It

Another possibility: you’re rubbish at explaining things. If everyone “doesn’t get it,” perhaps the problem isn’t their brains, but your mouth. 

Or your PowerPoint. Or that passive-aggressive WhatsApp message you thought was “crystal clear.” If you speak Martian and expect people to reply in fluent English, don’t be shocked when you get blank stares.

The Dangers of the Idiot Label

Here’s the kicker: once you decide everyone else is an idiot, you stop listening. And when you stop listening, you miss out. You miss the colleague who had the better idea. You miss the friend who spotted the flaw in your plan. You miss the chance to not look like a prat.

Quick Self-Test

Ask yourself:

Is everyone else wrong, or am I just impatient?

Do I explain things properly, or do I just bark instructions and hope for the best?

Do I secretly think the world would run smoother if everyone just did what I said?

If you’re nodding along, I’ve got bad news: you might just be the problem.

Final Thought

Yes, there are genuine idiots in the world no denying that. But if you’re convinced you’re drowning in them daily, it’s time for some self-reflection. Either you’ve got the unluckiest life imaginable, or maybe, just maybe, the idiot in the room isn’t them.