Frustrated by attacks on intelligence...

[rcyannacci]

I really enjoy posting on political or debate threads, but I often get frustrated with posts insinuate that someone is unintelligent because they express a different point of view. One thing I've learned in the classroom is that there are multiple types of intelligences, different ways that people are smart, intuitive, and imaginative.

So in celebration of ALL of our intelligenceS, some quotations I've pulled on the subject:


The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.
Albert Einstein

Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength, mastering yourself is true power.
Lao-Tzu

To repeat what others have said, requires education; to challenge it, requires brains.
Mary Pettibone Poole

Young Cassius has a lean and hungry look. He thinks too much. Such men are dangerous.
From Shakespeare's play, Julius Caesar

An intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius, and a lot of courage, to move in the opposite direction.
Hoshang N Akhtar

There was never a genius without a tincture of madness.
Aristotle

Half of the world's misery comes from ignorance. The other half comes from intelligence.
Baslo

It has yet to be proven that intelligence has any survival value.
Arthur Charles Clarke

 

[flaps]

the current tagline of a poster on a board I lurk:

A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is great.
-- Saul Bellow

 

[luvthatduke]

rcyannacci, ITA

I think I've read some posts responding in kind, like you are suggesting, and I'm always a little embarassed when someone
I agree with calls an opposing post'rs intelligence into question.

When it's political it can really get passionate,
and some of my responses have been pretty clear in detailing my beliefs,
but I hope I would never stoop to the intelligence
'cheap shot' just because someone didn't agree with me!

I make enough etiquette breaches on the Boards as it is (got my hand slapped today - oops!) to not want to battle someone over theirs/mine intelligence or lack thereof!

You made a good point

 

[SnowAngel]

There was never a genius without a tincture of madness.
Aristotle


Hey, that sounds like me!

 

[rcyannacci]

Originally posted by SnowAngel
There was never a genius without a tincture of madness.
Aristotle


Hey, that sounds like me!

That's certainly one of my favorites as well.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Here are my thoughts on this, geeky as they are.

I play Dungeons & Dragons, which is a fantasy role playing game. When you start out, you have to create a character and you basically get a certain number of points you need to split up between your characters strength, dexterity, constitution, wisdom, intelligence and charisma. How you split the points up, determines how your character would likely behave in certain situations.

Sometimes, people don't "get" why there are separate categories for wisdom and intelligence. Well, wisdom is life knowledge. It is a tally of what you have learned throughout your life, your common sense, your ability to reason and judge situations, your street smarts.

Intelligence is your book knowledge and your capability to learn more book knowledge. It is your formal education, your skill training, your knowledge on academic subjects.

One of the most amusing definitions I have seen online on my D&D message board is this :

Intelligence is being able to recognize a dragon. You know what kind it is, and where it is from, and maybe you can tell how old it is.

Wisdom is being able to recognize that going up to said dragon and poking it with a stick while calling it mean names is probably a VERY BAD idea.

I think recognizing the difference between the two is extremely important and am often shocked at how often people confuse the two in real life.

The other day, there was a thread here about Jon Stewart's audience being more likely to have college degrees than Bill O' Reilly's audience. I did not really respond there except to say I love both shows for different reasons, but I wanted to.

What I wanted to say was, so what? Jon Stewart's audience is also younger and these days, more and more young adults are pursuing college degrees than they did 40 years ago. And no offense meant to Jon Stewart (because I think he's a riot) but having a college degree does not necessarily make his audience smarter. More book smart, maybe. But not all around smarter. I don't think you can judge all around smarts by having or not having a degree.

I know some people with college degrees who have no common sense, do really stupid things and never consider the consequences, even when it's blatantly obvious that the consequences will be dire. On the other hand, my mother is one of the wisest people I know. She never got a degree. My dad has always been innovative and he did not get a degree until fairly late in life.

There was a also a thread recently about the 10 most wealthy people in America. It said whether or not they were self made and whether or not they got a college degree. ALL of the self made people were college drop outs. They must have done something right though, to have an idea, act upon it and start up a business that earned them millions.

That is why this subject really bothers me too. I am a conservative on some issues and liberal on other issues. I work with and live around a very "liberal on all issues" group of people and have been called stupid, dumb, uneducated, ******** ( yeah that was mature) and idiotic when I voice more conservative views. Then it seems to confuse the heck out of them when they bring up an issue I am more liberal on and I agree with them. (same thing happens when I am talking to extreme conservatives.)

Personally, I don't think it's very wise to call someone who disagrees with you politically "unintelligent". It just makes you come off as very childish and unable to think of a real response.

Now, don't get me wrong, we all say things once in a while that aren't very nice. But I'm talking about people who do it all the time. People whose only response to "I feel that (insert a position on an issue here) " is to say "Well obviously you are a moron" .

I know sometimes people aggravate you. And so I think to reach your boiling point and get aggravated and do it once in a while, fine. But to do it all the time.... not a very good way to come off as wise in a debate.

I feel like more and more I am seeing the "all the timers" . Not just on message boards but everywhere.

 

[jrydberg]

"It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt." -- Mark Twain

 

[rcyannacci]

EsmeraldaX - very excellent post! thanks for responding. Here's hoping for more wisdom all around.

jrydberg- love Mark Twain!

 

[jrydberg]

BTW, rcyannacci, I could not agree more that attacks on the intelligence of those who disagree with any particular point of view really turn me off. I enjoy posting on political threads as a means of tearing apart positions to see how well they hold up. If someone disagrees with me on principle, that's fine. But don't belittle the positions of others. Reasoned discourse enlightens everyone even if no one's mind is changed.

 

[Mom2Ashli]

EsmeraldaX - What a great post.

Thanks for sharing your views.

 

[MikeB63]

There is no need to insult anyone in these posts/debates, although we all probably get the opposition excited and riled with our opinions. Healthy debate is good for us as it should lead to an increase in intelligence.

 

[minniepumpernickel]

OMG- you quoted Lao-Tzu! I'm a big fan, and have books full of quotes.

I like Arthur Clarke too.

You are one of my favorite posters on here.

 

[snoopy]

Great post, E! You are one wise lady.

 

[rcyannacci]

Originally posted by minniepumpernickel
OMG- you quoted Lao-Tzu! I'm a big fan, and have books full of quotes.

I like Arthur Clarke too.

You are one of my favorite posters on here.

Good to mix it up a bit, now and then. I thought about quoting myself, but then thought "Smart is sexy!" didn't contribute as much to the conversation.

Mutual Admiration Society! (I always enjoy your posts as well.)

 

[snarfer1]

As one of the worst offenders, let me publically state, that all the posters above me I consider intelligent, thoughtful and usually (but not always) polite in their posts.

However, as I am a low-functioning, rabid gun-loving conservative, I alas, am not possesing the same level of wisdom, intelligence, strength, dexterity, charisma (or constitution points Essie!), and can not help but engage in FULL CONTACT debate!

Seriously, if I have unintentionally insulted, I'm sorry!

If I have intentionally insulted, well then I just meant it!

'Talk' to ya soon!

-Tony


no clever siggie here!

 

[ThAnswr]

And when all's said and done, you have to agree there really are some morons out there.

(no one on this thread, of course)

 

[Disney Doll]

Unfortunately this political campaign seems to have brought out the worst in many people.

 

[POOH&PIGLET]

Two somewhat related quotes/sayings.

"Never argue with a fool - they will drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience."

"Never argue with an idiot, listeners may not notice the difference."

 

[rcyannacci]

Originally posted by POOH&PIGLET
Two somewhat related quotes/sayings.

"Never argue with a fool - they will drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience."

"Never argue with an idiot, listeners may not notice the difference."

Love both of these! Wisdom for the ages...

 

[snarfer1]

Originally posted by ThAnswr
And when all's said and done, you have to agree there really are some morons out there.

(no one on this thread, of course)

But remember we can still vote!

-Tony