I found this article by Mark Goldblatt through Joanna Jacobs (who found it through Number 2 Pencil; such is the blogosphere) and I found its assertion that “ignorance is no longer tempered with humility” in students particularly enlightening. So many people today assert opinions without even knowing basic facts, and the reason why was some teachers were foolish enough to give them self-esteem that was unwarranted. Stupid people shouldn’t have self-esteem; it’s like giving a chimp a gun but much more annoying. When people have self-esteem, they think they have relevant things to say when too often that is far from the truth. Teachers should be extremely frugal with self-esteem, only giving it to the highest achievers, i.e., those deserving. Everyone else should be constantly berated for their ignorance until they are too scared to ever open their fool mouths. If this is followed, most of the idiotic opinions out there will cease to have people willing to assert them, and the world will be a more tranquil and peaceful place.

UPDATE: Response on brand new blog IMFO. Hmm.