Dumb Down

A pleasant evening with a dear friend and her family last month got me re acquainted with the word dumb down. Dumb down is the strategy to be used when working among those who are easily threatened and intimidated by intelligence said her spouse. i was dumbstruck. A couple of days later upon pondering, i had to grudgingly agree that downplaying one's intelligence is most often required and crucial to safeguard the bread and butter.

If you work in an environment where speaking articulately is frowned upon and being smart,sharp and sagacious is a death sentence to your post and pay - You best dumb down. It's an absolute shame that intelligence and real talent aren't recognised nor appreciated. Intelligence is dismissed as arrogance and wisdom overlooked in a growing number of workplaces.

Then, one hears of importing expertise from elsewhere under the illusion that brains from abroad are somehow better. An irony considering the large exodus leaving for lack of recognition here of the very qualification and skills seeked!.

Question is; is a person willing to dumb down?. Is it the price to pay for protecting one's rice bowl?. Can one actually dumb down and choose to ignore a blatant mistake?. To bear witness to foolish undertakings?.

It's rather difficult for me... i cannot be who i'm not. i suppose i just have to find somewhere i don't have to dumb down. What about you?

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