[chousho]

The author makes an interesting point; however, he seems to make the same assumptions that he is actively protesting. If smart people do X, then would not doing X mean people are not smart?

This generalization that can be inferred from the article--as well as demonstrated in this comment section--seems to fall into this same trap.

As a reader of "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People", I think there is a better way to go about this. Rather than "smart people do X [therefore if you do not do X, you are not smart]"; it should be: people do X, which is smarter than doing Y.

People can change. If they have a consistent ability to do stupid things, it just means they are acting in poor judgement and possibly could use help. If they fail to accept help, or are too headstrong/temperamental/can-never-be-wrong then it just means that their behavior and mindset should change [in order to be more productive].

Although, I would sometimes choose a less-intelligent person that is of no fault of their own, than a willingly ignorant person who should know better, but does not act it.