[Sunset-L]

I cannot stand such idiocy.

How can people be this stupid.

What else can I do BUT laugh...

I hope to that I never meet anyone with such a low IQ.

I'm really bothered about the fact that people like to ridicule about innocent people's stupidity, especially posting them on websites.. Really this type of thing that really pisses me off!! Sometimes innocent people make idiotic mistakes that cost them big time.. I don't think it's fair that innocent people are getting punished by making a really bad mistake they never meant to make. People make too many judgements about certain others b/c of their mistakes they never intend to make pushes them so far that they will do something tragic.. IMO innocent people being ridiculed b/c of their stupidity is cruel.. It's just wrong..

I don't like it either but there is nothing we can do. Internet anonymity gives people the tendency to act like jerks because they know they can get away with it without being judged right back.

[lynn P.]

Yes I agree and I don't like it either. People are way more brave and rude on the internet compared to real life. I think some even like the reaction they get. It's sad.

[darkrunner]

Did you find those quotes on THIS website?

[susan888]

One of the BEST bumper stickers....."Mean People Suck"!

[NuckingFutz]

Yeah, where did those quotes come from.

[ECHOES]

Do you notice that they something about the speaker?
So a person can't stand what they judge to be idiocy... okay.

That doesn't mean that it IS idiocy. It meand the speaker can't tolerate things like differences of opinion, diversity, explanations or conculsions other than the speaker's.
It is only about the speaker.

[susan888]

OK....I know I'm being annoying quoting bumper stickers...but...another good one..

Coexist

The beautiful thing about this life is the diversity of people. How boring would it be if we were all the same??

[Ygrec23]

Sunset-L said in post number one of this thread: "I'm really bothered about the fact that people like to ridicule about innocent people's stupidity, especially posting them on websites.. Really this type of thing that really pisses me off!! Sometimes innocent people make idiotic mistakes that cost them big time.. I don't think it's fair that innocent people are getting punished by making a really bad mistake they never meant to make. People make too many judgements about certain others b/c of their mistakes they never intend to make pushes them so far that they will do something tragic.. IMO innocent people being ridiculed b/c of their stupidity is cruel.. It's just wrong.. "

I think Sunset-L is absolutely right. We're all born with pre-set intelligence and to humiliate someone about a characteristic that's like the color of their eyes or the size of their feet is downright sadism. They already suffer from having fewer opportunities in life and not being able to understand things that others can. It's disgusting to try and cause them more pain. If you want to differentiate between people, focus on their kindness, their help of others worse off than they are and whether or not they'll hold grudges or forgive other people for mindless petty offenses committed against them. Even dumb people can be nasty when they choose to. And even they should not be immune from the kind of retaliation I'm advocating here.

Kaika thinks there's nothing we can do. I respectfully disagree. We can speak up immediately when we see or hear someone, on or off the internet, deliberately try to hurt the feelings of another person, disadvantaged by genetics or not, when the attack seems solely for the purpose of inflicting pain on a person who's just not that bright (or of course on people who have other disadvantages as well). Sadists should be discouraged by a timely counterattack when the person originally attacked may not have the smarts to be able to defend themselves.

Take care.

[El-ahrairah]

It is mean, I duno though, some people deserve to be ridiculed, like people who decide to keep wild animals like chimps as pets and wonder why they get mauled, ya know?

[AkAngel]

I am, unfortunately, one of those people. I don't say it to their face because I don't want to make them feel bad but I certainly am thinking it quite often and I will not hesitate to talk to my wife or daughter about it.

It isn't a low IQ that bothers me, like Ygrec23 said, that's like making fun of someone for the color of their eyes or the size of their feet or something. But a low IQ with an arrogant attitude, that'll set me off. The guard at the mall who got a baton AND a badge and suddenly he's Dirty Harry; he's ridiculous in my opinion.

I play poker for a living; have for almost twenty years. Ever since the end of 2003 when Texas Hold'em became a household word the casino's have been full of young men who have watched three episodes of the world poker tour, bought themselves a really cool pair of dark glasses and suddenly know more about poker than God. Every time they open their mouth it seems they are ridiculing someones play, or educating someone or quoting someone from a poker show.

Their ignorance/stupidity is annoying - it's like living in The Office (tv show). Do those of us who actually know what we are doing make fun of him when he goes to the bathroom? Yeah. Listening to someone spewing stupidity nonstop gets old quick. It's my job, I have to be there and it feels like I'm being held hostage.

[pachyderm]

Does anyone really want to understand why people criticize others for being "stupid"? I know that's hard, but it might be a topic for discussion, rather than condemnation...

When I look back at my life and recall the choices I have made, I can understand why a number of therapists have questioned my ability to understand simple concepts. What is common sense to one person is totally foreign to another.

My point is I have enough to deal with. To go after another seems like an exercise intended to build self-esteem at the expense of another; a form of schadenfreude.

Having said that, I know too my arrogance does not always allow me to practice what I preach.

Be well.

[pachyderm]

It's not something you have to do; it just might be interesting (to some).

[Junerain]

I have been ridiculed mercilessly by my family, strangers, and everyone around me, and it hurts

Just for being eccentric. Sorry to be me.

[pachyderm]

Originally Posted by Junerain

I have been ridiculed mercilessly by my family, strangers, and everyone around me, and it hurts

Just for being eccentric. Sorry to be me.

It's their mistake, Junerain, not yours; no need for you to apologize!

[ECHOES]

I have been ridiculed mercilessly by my family, strangers, and everyone around me, and it hurts.....
Just for being eccentric. Sorry to be me.

They are talking about their intolerances when they do that. When you can hear things like this as being only about them and not about you, it will feel different.

[Moreta]

I know I do this sometimes, but I am working on it. I even do it to my husband and friends. It's embedded in my brain. I was ridiculed and told that I would never amount to anything, when I was growing up. Since I was very sensitive, to what people said/thought about me, the coping technique that developed in my mind was that since people ridiculed me, I should just ridicule them as well. Last year, I finally learned the proper coping technique, but I still do it. It's one of the main reasons I haven't been posting much, b/c I reread what I've typed, and most of the time, there's a subtle tone, that basically makes me sound narcissistic. I really do care for others, but sometimes I just can't handle people who call out for help continually, but don't do anything about it. Most likely that's due to the fact, that when I turned 18, I had a psych appointment the next day. I knew there was something wrong with me, and nobody would listen. Looking back, I should have reached out sooner, but my mom knew that there was nothing wrong with me and in my desire for her approval, made me afraid to even bring up the topic.

Well, that was probably more information that you wanted to know. But I would like to ask for patience while I work on my issue. I am sorry if I have hurt any ones feelings, since one of those quotes is probably mine.

-QA

[Maven]

I think there are people who need to be made fun of, and that's people who intentionally do something stupid like these crazy stunts on video, just to gain a few minutes of fame via YouTube or whatever site they use.

A guy in Australia put a firecracker in his buttcrack or his rectum (I'm not sure which) and lit it. Do I think he's an idiot? Yes. People often post what they call "nutshots," where guys intentionally let people kick, throw objects at, or otherwise risk harm to their genitals. Idiots? Yep. People who get hammered and get behind the wheel? Dangerous idiots.

I don't think everyone is an idiot for not knowing things...there are lots of things I'm not familiar with, having lived a very limited life. But I feel there are legitimate reasons for calling someone an idiot sometimes.

[lonegael]

I don't know... there are people who constantly flap their mouths, don't care who they hurt, and expect people to respond with "oh my gosh, you are just SOOOO wonderful" to every word that comes out of their mouth. I mean, we have ALL put our selves in the position of being a target for this stuff, as well as criticzing it. What I find offensive is when it targets
a) Those who can't help it, are in other words "naturals" or for other reasons they can't choose can't think clearly
b) when the results are tragic. Here I can think all sorts of things about the person's smarts, but laughing about it makes my stomach turn. This can be stupidity on an individual or national level.

As a side note, I think the person who gets my cruelest comments is myself. Knowing myself is not what I would recommend. I'm always smarter than myself and always ready to crawl over myself to boost my self esteem, now does that sound coherent? No. But since when has that mattered?
Anyhoo, interesting thread. Huggs

Sorry you have to endure the ridicule, Junerain.

[Ygrec23]

Originally Posted by AkAngel

It isn't a low IQ that bothers me, like Ygrec23 said, that's like making fun of someone for the color of their eyes or the size of their feet or something. But a low IQ with an arrogant attitude, that'll set me off. The guard at the mall who got a baton AND a badge and suddenly he's Dirty Harry; he's ridiculous in my opinion.

Dear AkAngel:

I said (among other things): "Even dumb people can be nasty when they choose to. And even they should not be immune from the kind of retaliation I'm advocating here."

In other words, I don't see any disagreement between what I said and what you said in your entire post. There are plenty of arrogant, sadistic or otherwise noxious stupid people around. All I was objecting to was the bad treatment of stupid people who are not noxious or obnoxious or otherwise objectionable. And there are plenty of those around too, as anyone who's graduated from a normal public school can attest.

Take care.

[Ygrec23]

Originally Posted by Maven

I don't think everyone is an idiot for not knowing things...there are lots of things I'm not familiar with, having lived a very limited life. But I feel there are legitimate reasons for calling someone an idiot sometimes.

Hi, Maven,

People are idiots not when they don't know things (that's ignorance), but when they don't have the capacity to know things. And when a normal or smart person does something idiotic (an everyday occurrence), they deserve to be called idiots. But real idiots, when they haven't done anything truly objectionable, should NOT have it shoved in their faces.

Take care!

[Ygrec23]

Originally Posted by pachyderm

Does anyone really want to understand why people criticize others for being "stupid"? I know that's hard, but it might be a topic for discussion, rather than condemnation...

That's a really interesting question, Pach. I can see no reason to criticize harmless, decent, kindly stupid people other than bolstering one's (obviously weak) self-esteem. That's if you don't have any real connection with the stupid person involved. If you and the less gifted person are in some way forced into the same group (family, school, work, marriage, etc.), then the reasons may well be different. The more closely you have to work with them, the more irritated you may feel at their slowness or inability. You still shouldn't go after them for their stupidity, but somehow give them a task they're up to while the rest are working on different aspects.

Nasty, arrogant, abusive, sadistic, offensive, rude, stupid people on the other hand get criticized not for being stupid but as retaliation for their bad acts. In other words, for the same reasons that normal or smart people would be criticized if they did nasty, arrogant, abusive, sadistic, offensive, rude things.

Take care.

[pachyderm]

I find upon self-inspection that I feel the desire to criticize someone when I need them to be intelligent, self-aware, and so on, and I feel that they are not. When I feel the need for them to help me in some way, and I think they ought to be able to help me, and they fall down on the job. When I don't feel the need, when I feel secure in my own beliefs, it is much easier to let them be whatever they are.