Like you, I marvel at the stupid things people do.   (Sometimes I marvel at the stupid things I do, as well.)  As I watch others in the public eye, I think about the worst thing you can do is go off half-cocked.  You know what I’m talkng about.  Someone stands up with the air of authority and says something that is absolutely the craziest thing you’ve ever heard.  Usually those things are said off the cuff in an attempt to impress or garner support.  When that happens, those types of statements have just the opposite effect.

Be wise about what you say, how you say it, and whom, you say it to (especially online, where it will never die.)  People judge you, your character, your intelligence and wisdom (yes, they’re different,) and your problem-solving ability by what you say.  Avoid the temptation to say something that sounds really good if you’re not sure of your facts.  Done correctly you could sound like a hero.  Going off half-cocked will make you sound uneducated, uninformed, and unwise.  Be careful what you say!