I'm sure there is something to this. For example, it may help to explain my consistent failure to raise songbirds, no matter what procedures I use in planting the birdseed.
Had the same problem raising chickens ;^)
"An incompetent and vigorous commander is a calamity" - Sun Tsu
this is wonderful stuff, NNB
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/serendipia/Stupidity2.html
There can be countless types of behavior that are, or appear, "stupid" but are harmless. They come up close to neutral in the Cipolla matrix -- and that is, indeed, where they belong.
For instance, sharing silly fun with friends and having a good laugh may be seen as "stupid" by outsiders, but according to the Cipolla Theory such behavior is likely to be classified as "intelligent": which indeed it is, as long as the fun shared by the people being amused is more than the annoyance or boredom caused to bystanders. Generally the intelligence (practical advantage) of such behavior is limited to a moment of good humor; but quite often it can lead to more relevant effects, by sparking up cooperation and ideas in ways that would not be possible in a boring environment.
I would add that bystanders have the option to mind their own business, thus making their boredom and annoyance with the harmless fun of others a form of damage caused by a function of their own stupidity.
As an aside, the UTs stand validated on the "right" side of the diagonal.