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Those who have the power to hurt but don't... have won

Strawberry_lovemuffin

Strawberry_lovemuffin

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... I just heard this quote and although I don't know where it's from I couldn't agree more.

What I'm talking about here is intellectual superiority, and in particular, the way that is used sometimes to belittle, condescend and patronise those whom we deem 'stupid', 'ignorant' or lesser than us.

I consider myself of above average intelligence. I don't need to prove that by pointing out others' deficiencies. But lately I've seen a lot of people who do, and do it often, and seem to relish in it.

What is your opinion? Do you tolerate 'stupid' (in your opinion) people? Do you think there is such a thing as 'stupid' and 'smart' or is it a grey area, subjectively determined by different markers of intelligence...

How do you respond in a situation where you think you know more than someone?
 
I dont believe in intelligence anymore. Possibly because i've fried my brain into insanity. I think everyone just sees reality a little different from everyone else. Perhaps the so called "stupid ones" just have less of an ego trip going on, thus dont waste a bunch of brain waves to attach to the grand ole' concept of "hey i know this and that so that means you are this and that."

please dont listen to me. :\
 
I tolerate those who naturally don't learn as well as I do, I was blessed with the ability to learn quickly. That doesn't mean I'm smarter than anyone, it just means that I learn material for school more quickly and easily than others.

I do however, not tolerate ignorance. If you're stupid because you can't be bothered to try, you have no place taking up space on this earth. If you're just going to coast through life, you shouldn't belong, really.

Intelligence really is just a measure of how well you learn, and well, there's a difference between learnign something and being good at it. I can learn an instrument in an hour, that doesn't mean i'll ever be really good at it. It just means I can learn it. Does that mean I'm smarter than the person who took years refining his craft to learn that instrument inside out and play it beautifully? No, it just means thta we have different intelligences.

I suck at acting. Does that mean someone who's great at acting is smarter than me? In acting yes. They could score dramatically below me on a test like the SAT's, but it still means that they're more knowledgeable about what it takes to be a good actor than I am.

Intelligence is only a measure of skill at a certian thing-most often that certain thing is learning.
 
Yea, "stupid" and "smart" aren't really words I use too much. But I guess I do now & then. However, I certaintly have nothing against "stupid" people, although I may not want to spend time with them as much because we have very dissimilar interests (yes I would consider myself "smart"...I dunno, at least that's what people tell me?!?!?).

In the end...I think "smart" is just being able to make yourself happy. Stupid is running around in circles and confusing yourself or ignoring what is right in front of you.

There are a lotta "smart" depressed people...I'd call them stupid, personally.

The "stupid" beerdrinkers...well...perhaps they'd never even hope to experience the level of happiness that a smart person can? I don't know.

I don't care about "smart" or "stupid" I just wanna feel content/happy/comfortable/etc. :)
 
If I think someone is talking out of their ass, I do...nothing. This is for two reasons:

1.) I don't know everything. They may either have a point, or I can at least imagine how I would feel if someone came up to me and lorded some "superior" information over me; needless to say, I wouldn't like the latter.

2.) Life isn't an intellectual contest, and I think everyone is where they need to be, whether I agree with it or not. It's not my job to critique others' mental states or beliefs; I have enough problems with my own.
 
I consider myself to be pretty intelligent in the traditional sense. When I hear people say things that I deem 'stupid', I try to avoid belittling them, although I often think of doing it and sometimes something slips out. When I do belittle someone for doing something stupid, it usually ends up making me feel bad for being such an egotistical jerk.

anyone who puts people down because they are 'stupid' is usually suffering from low self esteem. That's why I do it, when I do.

Also, I would like to say that I believe that their is a distinction between 'stupid' and close-minded. The former is a questionable concept at best. There is no excuse for the latter.
 
if i *know* someone is talking out of their ass and is being an arrogant twat, i would point it out to everyone present.
i wouldn't be mean or cruel - i would never call anyone stupid, but if someones talking bullshit i usually won't be able to tolerate it.
I do know people who act like that (belittle other people), and *all* of them have big insecurity issues, and aren't at all happy themselves.

I don't care about "smart" or "stupid" I just wanna feel content/happy/comfortable/etc.
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yes, that rings true with me.

as does this
I do however, not tolerate ignorance. If you're stupid because you can't be bothered to try, you have no place taking up space on this earth. If you're just going to coast through life, you shouldn't belong, really.
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depression is not the same thing, its more, unfortunate than anything else. You'll probably understand this at some point in your life.

But really, a certain percentage of the population are dickheads, who relish in making other people feel bad, and you'll find this in all aspects of life (music is one of the worst)

How do you respond in a situation where you think you know more than someone?
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usually try and convey what i know to that person. It would be equally wrong to let them sit in ignorance. teaching people (and learning) in conversation is interesting.

those that have the power to hurt...have that equal power to do good. It's strange that the quote depicts such a negative view of the majority of intelligent people - when intelligence generally symbolises hope and peace. That simply not doing bad things should be admired strikes me as a view that is irresponsible and unambitious.
 
monkeyjunky said:
[B


depression is not the same thing, its more, unfortunate than anything else. You'll probably understand this at some point in your life.
. [/B]
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I think I probably worded my thing wrong.

I know plenty of people who coast through life wihtout trying, not because they're depressed or apathetic towards life, but because they don't want the hassle of actually trying to get anywhere-it's not like they're depressed and think that they should just squander where they are, but they ENJOY squandering where they are, they enjoy living on the bottom rung of society and not trying to get anywhere.

It's not like they feel as if they can't get anywhere, or feel as if there's no point in life. These people know that there's a point to it, and they know they could get somewhere, they're just content to stay where they are because it's easier. Because it means they get to sit on their ass, and have everyone else work to support them.
 
sorry, that was directed at leg.
i don't know anyone like that personally, mainly because they're boring. And i know exactly what you mean when you say they enjoy it, they feel superior to people primarily because they aren't working at anything (i obviously don't mean employment here)
yes, i'd call them stupid, if only because they'd think i was stupid for putting effort into life. Idiots.
 
Those who have to power to win but don't are still losers

that's how human society works it's all about proving yourself by dissing the others (although I hate this it's just as much a part of me as of anyone else)
 
^That's a bit cynical, don't you think?

It's one thing to be self interested. i mean, the self is all there is, right? But this whole putting others down/ feeding off others trip. That's not human nature, whatever that means. That's a purely capatilist, judeo-christian thing, although thats not to say that there aren't aspects of this behaviour in other cultures. Naive as it may sound, I firmly believe that huamn beings can get past this.
 
^
nah man has nothing to with religion at all , more with evolution and reproduction I guess
 
It's easy to judge people, and just about everyone has something ignorant to say, if you give them enough time. There's nothing to "win" or "lose" by casually putting down people for their ignorance, and it only makes you look like an asshole when you do it.

While it's slightly unrelated to the topic, i find it curious that intellectual superiority is practically the only sort of domination relationship that's accecptable in our society. Pushing the debate into the physical, sexual or emotional realm quickly becomes taboo, and yet it's somehow accecptable to do what is essentially the same in debate, and it's consitered okay.

Edit: re-reading my post, it becomes obvious i didn't even really address straw's questions.

There are some people who are subjectively "stupid" that i deal with (ironically, my family seems to dominate the niche). But, for such a relationship to occur, i have to be able to bond with people on a different level, meaning that people who are quite obviously dumb rarely reach a point beyond aquantiance when dealing with me. If you're too dumb to understand the meaning behind the philsophy that i discuss, you're probably not the sort of person i'm going to want to hang out with. There are exceptions to this rule, however...
 
This ego trip of fame is unfortunately one of the driving forces of our society, along with money and certain biological drives. And a closed mind can't see that our society isn't the only way to validate our own existence. I think stupid refers strongly to narrow-minded people who can't see that we need to be involved in every moment of our life and embrace it's dynamic aspects, such as learning and the idealistic concept of progress. The ego's job is to set up a rigid and clear view of it's life, but I believe there really isn't a self beyond the collection of changing values that makes up every single moment.
 
Ironically this is posted after certain times in the death thread.

Smart is a synonym of intelligent. Intelligence is, according to the definition at dictionary.com:

# The capacity to acquire and apply knowledge.
# The faculty of thought and reason.

The former would seem to be open minded.

So, being smart, or intelligent, would seem to be open minded. As you can take someone else's viewpoint and get as much information out of it as you can and then applying it.

But yes, I fell victim to this earlier.. and I apologize.

But the question that begs to be answered is: When the difference of opinions/ideas matters, like a decision made in science, say genetical engineering, what does one do? There needs to be either a compromise or a convincing of the other party that their belief is wrong (although that's seemingly contradictory, it does hold merit). Of course, if one was never to enter a field in which decisions regarding multiple opinions and ideas then these intellectual excercises would be meaningless.

And by intellectual excercise I mean learning to be open minded. I wish I was there, but clearly I'm not. :)

But now I wonder: can one be brainwashed into being rationally open minded?
 
I think you can apply the quote to individuals that have an advantage because they are physically superior, part of a larger group, or in the know.


Intellectual superiority is not something secure people flaunt or use to bludgeon others unless they have an agenda that includes driving someone away or down into the ground.

:)
 
Strawberry_lovemuffin said:
... How do you respond in a situation where you think you know more than someone?
Click to expand...

With tact, patience and compassion.

Noone likes a lecture they didn't ask for.

... my little sister keeps telling me :\
 
While it's true that we're all born with differing capacities to absorb and process data, this kind of natural intelligence is only a minor part of the picture. I was lucky enough to be born with above-average intelligence, but that counts for very little in itself. What's FAR more important is what I do with it. Sure, I can get frustrated talking with people who insist on dumbing everything down (especially during an argument/debate, grrrrr), but that doesn't mean I naturally treat other intelligent people any more special than I would an average person.

However, if a person (intelligent or otherwise) shows clear signs that they've used what intelligence they have to tirelessly keep challenging themselves (by acquiring more knowledge, generating wisdom through personal reflection and so on), then that is special. That is what wins my admiration and praise.

So to answer the original question, of course 'smart' and 'stupid' are just the ideal extremes between a massive shade of darkening greys. Everyone fits somewhere along that shade, so it makes most sense to try and guestimate the degree of someone's intelligence (or if you like, stupidity), rather than talk in absolute terms (as if a smart person can't do stupid things).

But again, this kind of intelligence is influenced by genes alone (or so I assume), and to judge someone on something so out of one's control such as genes is, in my opinion, morally reprehensible.

What I will judge people on, however, is how they make the most of what they have. My inspiration for this kind of value-system comes directly from Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President of the United States, 1923-1929:

"Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence.
Talent will not. Nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.
Genius will not. Unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.
Education will not. The world is full of educated derelicts.
Persistence and determination, alone are omnipotent."

In this context, intelligence is a means, rather than an end.

I hope that answers your question strawberry_lovemuffin
 
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