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Idiocy
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| Lira |
A curious thing about judgements - be it moral or intelectual - is that it can't be made devoid of context. When you say someone is an idiot, for example, you're most likely saying "(s)he's an idiot compared to me, because I (think I) wouldn't ever do what (s)he did in that particular occasion". Even when you talk about things that happened in the past, and you may claim the results are a better referential, it's inevitable to judge them according to your values. Even if you feel colours, for example, are a better referential, think again - what you perceive as being red may not be read to the next poster (i.e. one of you may be colour blind, for example, or have an epic optimised colour vision not yet known to the rest of humanity).
One Brazilian author, whose name I forgot, used to say that "idiocy is in the mind of the beholder". I first heard that 10 years ago, and can't help agreeing with this statement. Every instance I've seen of "idiocy", ever since, fit this quote perfectly. More often than not, the person that criticises an idea the most, is probably the person that least understood what it is trying to say (I once met a guy that claimed all physicists were plain dumb, because if you ran toward light at the speed of light, the light beam you're running towards would appear to approach you at twice the speed of light, thus making the whole thing about "nothing being faster than light" just absurd - needless to say, he only thought that because he knew as much physics as an eight year old child; creationists are also eager to point out how near-sighted the scientific community tends to be; and, we all know how conspiracy theorists think everyone else is just a sheep).
I don't want to simply defend idiocy here, but the idea that for there to be a concept like "idiocy", something much more interesting must lie beneath this phenomenon. There's a wide range of insults availables in most languages, regarding how inferior someone else's intellect is. I tend to think people see idiots around them as a defence mechanism ("I'm smart; if they're doing something I'm not doing or that I judge to be worthy, they're not as clever as I am; hence, they're idiots"). What better way there is to feel special? But, that's probably because I happen to hold the view that we're all insecure by nature, and this explanation fits my beliefs quite nicely, so it begs the question whether or not this can be generalised without ignoring relevant examples.
So, what is it? Do you believe in idiocy? What, to you, makes a person an idiot? Would you be hurt if someone calledd you an idiot? What if you thought this person was an idiot as well?
CORe version: If you can't be arsed to read the whole thing, I'm just saying that's okay, never mind. |
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| whiskers |
| quote: | Originally posted by Lira
A curious thing about judgements - be it moral or intelectual - is that it can't be made devoid of context. When you say someone is an idiot, for example, you're most likely saying "(s)he's an idiot compared to me, because I (think I) wouldn't ever do what (s)he did in that particular occasion". |
I think Sartre wrote once that without other people, there would be no 'scales' in the world - smart, rich, etc. We're only "something" in comparison.
On that note, here are lyrics from The Cure:
The world is neither fair nor unfair
The idea is just a way for us to understand
But the world is neither fair nor unfair
So one survives
The others die
And you always want a reason why
But the world is neither just nor unjust
It's just us trying to feel that
there's some sense in it
No, the world is neither just nor unjust
And though going young
So much undone
Is a tragedy for everyone |
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| MrJiveBoJingles |
I'd say most usage revolves around "idiots" being people who don't measure up to some standard of knowledge or competence -- according to the person using the word. Often the word "idiot" gets used when an ignorant person is particularly persistent about demonstrating his ignorance (for example, continuing to argue about something when it seems obvious to others that he's ill-informed).
:p |
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| XaNaX |
| quote: | Originally posted by Lira
Do you believe in idiocy? What, to you, makes a person an idiot? |
yes I believe in it. any person who doesn't agree with me automatically becomes an idiot in my book :D |
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| chach |
| quote: | Originally posted by Lira
So, what is it? Do you believe in idiocy? What, to you, makes a person an idiot? |
This:
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----wdcanes wrote: ---------------
but i dont believe this class is anything to write home about! Aside from Ray Ray and Dyron we didnt do much..... Cudos though for landing Mike James that kid is a sleeper he will beat out Lamar Miller!
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| Renzo |
Bryce Brown is a fag for not signing already.
/threadjack |
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| DJ_Eternal |
| quote: | Originally posted by Lira
So, what is it? Do you believe in idiocy? What, to you, makes a person an idiot? Would you be hurt if someone calledd you an idiot? What if you thought this person was an idiot as well?
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Don't believe in idiocy at all. I respect the fact that some individuals just might not understand, or have previously perceived a particular piece of information in a different way to myself. I wouldn't call someone an idiot or any derogatory insult, especially if I didn't know the first thing about them to begin with ie. Background; Environment; Social Upbringing, and generally any other factor which could affect their ability to have a sensible/constructive discussion in the first place.
Often I find, the word idiot is used to demonstrate superiority of one person's perception of their own intelligence over another, whilst trying to crush the other person's perception of the issue in the process. It can also be used to stir up a discussion and turn it into an unnecessary argument. :)
You deliver once again Lira. |
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| SYSTEM-J |
I believe idiocy is a temporary state, although how long it can last is not limited. I probably call myself an idiot more than any other person. It's possible to be very intelligent in many areas and still act like an idiot in others, sometimes simultaneously. I define someone as an idiot whenever they make an oversight or an unwise decision or when they completely fail to comprehend something logical. I call people idiots regularly, but that doesn't necessarily mean I think they're consistently idiotic.
In many ways I define intelligence as consistently not being an idiot. Even the smartest people do stupid things, but it's all about consistency. |
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| chach |
| quote: | Originally posted by Renzo
Bryce Brown is a fag for not signing already.
/threadjack |
I don't even want him here. He looks like nothing but trouble and shadiness. This "mentor" butler seems like a scam artist. We were lucky enough for him to give us Arthur. I want kids that bleed orange and green not some puss who thinks he is too good for a team mentality. A Marve in training imo. |
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| Capitalizt |
| Some people can be true idiots.. If people maintain certain views when presented with factual evidence that contradicts those views, if they don't change their mindset or evolve their thoughts on the subject, I think it's fair to call them idiots. There can be an objective definition for the word idiot..not just "someone who disagrees with me".. |
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| pkcRAISTLIN |
| quote: | Originally posted by Lira
More often than not, the person that criticises an idea the most, is probably the person that least understood what it is trying to say |
sorry lira, but i think this is bollocks. idiot is a term for someone with a particular IQ range isn't it? so if that is how an idiot is defined, there must be idiots ;)
perhaps the person that criticises the idea the most is just leaps and bounds ahead on the scale of understanding, hence the idea is idiotic in comparison?
the COR is full of idiots. |
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| CONNERMAN2000 |
I don't use the word 'idiot' as a form of comparison for myself (demonstrating superiority, etc.), but as a general standard set for everybody to follow.
Now, where or what is that general standard? THAT is the real question. |
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