FADE IN.
INT. WANCHAI - DAY
Walking past Wanchai, PETER notices something.
PETER (V.O.)
I see two lines of orange
ribbons enclosing part of
a train station...Doesn't
look natural to divide like
that...
Peter takes a photo of the tram station.
INT.SITTING ROOM - DAY
Peter is having screen time.
PETER (V.O.)
Even outsiders can't
bear to ask the question
I've in my mind too.
We see the Quora question: Why are Hongkongers so stupid to ruin Hong Kong's reputation?
PETER (V.O.)
Let me jot down my
draft answer first.
Having typed intermittently, Peter pauses.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
What exactly is stupidity?
Peter serves the web.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
A great lack of intelligence
or common sense...
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
But there're university
students, professors,
professionals etc who
are equally stupid. Why?
INT. RESTAURANT - DAY
Finishing the last mouthful of barbecue pork rice, Peter researches with phone.
PETER (V.O.)
Oh, there was a study
on the issue decades
ago...
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Stupid people are
those whose efforts are
counterproductive to both
their or others' interests.
Nodding.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
There's a Chinese
saying to that effect too.
We don't do those things-
because they're stupid.
Peter reads on.
PETER(V.O.) (Cont'd)
Everyone underestimates
the number of stupid
people around them.
Nodding.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Yes, the recent events
reveal them...
Peter is in thoughts.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Stupidity is an independent
characteristic of a certain
person...
Digesting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
That explains why some
apparently smart people
can be stupid! There're
empirical proofs.
Nodding.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Engaging with stupid
people always turns out
to be a costly mistake.
Nodding.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Yes, confronting stupid
radicals can be nasty.
As he reads on, Peter is taken aback.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd)
Stupid people are most
dangerous...as rational
people can't understand
or predict their behaviour.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
This's what's happening
in Hong Kong. The analytical
model has explanatory
power. Let me revisit my
draft.
Peter taps his phone screen a few times.
PETER (V.O.)
As there are stupid people
in every society, the role of
the non-stupid, particularly
the intelligent ones is
significant. This's particularly
so if the societal development
is on the decline, as the
negative force of stupid
people, bandits and helpless
ones would make life
particularly tough for the
intelligent ones.
Peter adds to his Quora answer:
(At the top)
Opening hard fact of being born: Humans are not born equal.
(At the bottom)
Closing hard fact of roles in life: Some humans are intelligent and constructive, while some are stupid and destructive.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Such are hard facts of
life and society. It has
been like that since time
immemorial. Nature works
in mysterious ways. I've
no complaint!
FADE OUT.
THE END