What is a good way to herd people away from stupidity?

Too late...I am superior to them.

You can only educate the ignorant. Stupid people can't learn.

If you are defining "stupid" other than "ignorant", you are correct.
However, since Weylon didn't say WHAT type of "stupid" he meant, I went with "ignorant" ... with the caveat of "attempt", because there are even some ignorant people who revel in their lack of education and believe it is something to be proud of.

I respectfully disagree.
Some people are too stupid to learn from pain, whatever the type.  Instead, they blame others for it.

I know people who won't see a doctor, yet constantly complain about their ailments.

And there's the many examples of people who live in poverty, but instead of helping themselves or their children get an education to get better jobs and move out of poverty - they complain about "the man" keeping them down, and expect others to "do something" for them.

Emotional pain?  There are thousands of people who live in abusive relationships, who refuse to leave because "I can change him/her".

It doesn't hurt them enough.

All the coddling and sympathy gets in way of the lessons..  \

When it truly hurts and aren't given some THERE THERE,  you learn, you change.  Sure there are always gonna be a couple of morons who never learn.   Let the wolves have at 'em. This post was edited by Benedict Arnold at November 17, 2017 10:23 AM MST

Learn what?  We don't want to be in pain so why would we even want to learn?  Seems to me then all we are learning is to be in pain and hurt.  And is that the way we want to live our lives?   We would much rather be stupid then. 

I think once we feel initial pain that we will do what we can to learn so we avoid pain. To gain pleasure or avoid pain is seemingly the motive for most things in life.

Yes I agree.  Unless we get so into pain or, as many people seem to, use it as contrast to make our pleasure feel even better. 

Correct. Pain and discomfort builds strength.

No pain, no gain.  The hedonistic imperative is losing philosophy.

You're right, in that we are adverse to pain.   Which is way we learn from it as to avoid in the future.

Examples:   Child puts finger inflame.   He learns it hurts and not to do it again
A person loans money to flaky friend to bail them out and never gets repaid.   Person A learns not to lend money out willy-nilly
A women sleeps with the first guy who calls her pretty and is never called again and ends up heartbroken and feeling dirty......  Learns to be more selective and cautious with herself.
Construction worker bangs head on exposed nail.  Learns to wear that goofy looking and uncomfortable hard hat.


Pain and consequence bring lessons to people who use their brains.

So true.