Scarier Than “Pre-made Dishes” Are “Pre-made People”
The Ubiquitous “Prefab Human”
In today’s era of information explosion and process‑driven collaboration, are we gradually turning into “prefab humans”?
This article starts by looking at the rigidity often seen in workplace communication — exploring how cognitive laziness, template dependence, and “social stupidity” can erode individual judgment. It’s a deep reflection on the need for flexibility and independence of thought.
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Everyday Office Scenario
Imagine this:
- You ask a colleague:
- “When is the deadline for this urgent report?”
- They answer:
- “This report is quite complex; it might take a lot of time.”
- You follow up:
- “Who is it mainly for?”
- They reply:
- “This report is important, the leadership values it highly.”
Each answer skirts the question — much like tossing a request into a black hole, with no valuable information returning.
This isn’t a matter of IQ. It’s cognitive laziness and mental rigidity at work.
Online commentators have dubbed such people “prefab humans” — like assembly‑line ready meals: fully packaged but devoid of fresh thought, running on preloaded programs and frozen templates.
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The Ubiquity of Prefab Humans
They’re everywhere — and their communication stalls often fall into three main types:
1. Poor Comprehension – Endless Repetition
- Information is received as if through static and interference.
- Even clear instructions are misheard or fragmented.
- Results in repeated follow‑ups and unnecessary back‑and‑forth.
Example:
You send:
> “Friday at 10 a.m., quarterly summary meeting in Meeting Room A. Please print your summary report beforehand.”
Minutes later:
> “Is it next Friday?” / “Do we need to print a report?” / “Which meeting room?”
Impact: Increases communication costs and drains efficiency.
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2. Unable to Sync – Living in Their Own World
- Responses are tuned to their own frequency.
- Conversations turn into monologues unrelated to the query.
Example:
Person A: “I feel lost and might quit my job.”
Person B: “Oh, when I quit last time, I lucked into a better‑paying job…”
Impact: Signals of confusion or requests for advice are ignored, killing empathy and efficiency.
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3. Refusal to Think – Clinging to Templates
- Rely on preset phrases or scripts for every scenario.
- Fail to adjust to context, even in emergencies.
Example:
A student falls into a ravine.
Instead of shouting for help, he calls “Hello” — the standard greeting.
Impact: Critical urgency is lost; “template overrides purpose.”
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Prefab Humans & “Social Stupidity”
German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer described social stupidity as abandoning independent thinking in favor of group mentality and entrenched patterns. Once cognition is preset, self‑correction is extremely difficult.
Psychologist Robert Cialdini, in Influence, shows how environmental cues and preloaded responses override rational thinking.
Consumer Shortcut Example
A jewelry store intended to halve prices to clear stock. A clerk mistakenly doubled them — and the batch sold out instantly.
Why?
Consumers used the shortcut: “More expensive = better”, bypassing rational evaluation.
This mirrors prefab thinking — low‑effort patterns get triggered, leading to predictable, non‑critical reactions that spread easily in groups.
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How Are Prefab Humans Made?
Three intertwined factors contribute:
1. Side Effects of Information Overload
- Endless scrolling, chasing notifications, fragmented content.
- Leads to skimming and the loss of deep reading and critical thought.
- Oxford’s 2024 Word of the Year: “Brain rot” — indulgence in low‑quality content degrading cognition.
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2. Institutional Conditioning
- Workflow templates improve efficiency but can condition employees into passivity.
- Over time, creativity and adaptability erode; problem‑solving muscles go unused.
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3. Psychological Self‑Defense
- Humans prefer easy, familiar paths.
- Cognitive laziness and desire for certainty make template answers comforting.
- AI tools, when misused, can further reduce incentive for independent thinking.
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Not Becoming a Prefab Human
In the digital age, resisting prefab thinking is a crucial self‑development practice:
1. Maintain Mental Flexibility
- Stay alert to habitual thinking.
- Break out of “information cocoons.”
- Cultivate critical thinking by asking:
- “Am I constrained by habit?”
- “Is my understanding complete?”
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2. Step Out of the Comfort Zone
- Embrace uncertainty.
- Learn new skills.
- Engage with diverse people and professions to broaden perspectives.
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3. Keep an Empty‑Cup Mindset
- Acknowledge cognitive limits.
- Listen humbly without bias.
- Treat every conversation as an opportunity for learning.
Economist Carlo Cipolla, in The Basic Laws of Human Stupidity, notes that stupid people harm others without benefiting themselves — often hindering society’s progress. Prefab thinking fits this mold.
Action: Resist prefab patterns. In the flood of information, keep curiosity and critical spirit alive.
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AI as a Tool for Creativity — Not Prefab Thinking
Platforms like AiToEarn官网 show AI’s potential for enhancing creativity, multi‑platform publishing, and content analytics. When used to foster original thinking rather than passive output, AI can support a non‑prefab mindset.
They connect AI generation tools with monetization and model ranking (AI模型排名), enabling cross‑platform creativity informed by deeper insights.
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Recommended Reading
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For Content Creators
If you aim to monetize your content sustainably, platforms like AiToEarn官网 can help:
- Generate AI‑powered content
- Publish across multiple channels — Douyin, Kwai, WeChat, Bilibili, Xiaohongshu, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and more
- Track analytics and performance
- Identify monetization opportunities
It’s a valuable tool for expanding reach beyond WeChat while keeping creativity intact.
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If you want, I can next create a summary version of this article with just the key insights and bullet points — ideal for fast readers. Would you like me to prepare that?
