Does Anyone Know Any Idiots?

^^^haha, sluvious that made me laugh

While one definition of intelligence is WHAT you know, the principal definition (taken from the concise oxford dictionary) is one's capability to learn, absorb knowledge and apply those skills. Stupidity is either a lack of knowledge OR a lack of common sense. Stupidity has wider connotations though. Stupidity implies an inability to learn. A lack of knowledge implies ignorance more than stupidity. Ignorance can be dispelled.

SO...

It could easily be argued that someone who appears to know a lot is 'stupid' if they fail to recognise the above and apply that knowledge when dealing with people who APPEAR to have less intelligence.
Appearances can be deceptive and general knowledge, though treasured in the western world, is not the only indicator or even a solid one to assess over all intelligence.

I did not know who the first American President was until the other day. Ok, some people would excuse my ignorance because I am not American, but I AM English, yet I don't know who the first English Prime Minister was...yet I have an IQ (assessed in London by an educational psychologist over a long process) in the 140s. My verbal comprehension (for example) was assessed 98% higher than the general adult population in Britain. Over all, my IQ implies that I am intelligent, but assuming that I am in any way superior because of my IQ or what I know is what I would be sorely tempted to call 'stupid'.

Intelligence is only a 'positive attribute' according to how we use it.

Remember when you didn't know what you do now, and how many people you must've met who knew more than you, understood things you were yet to. I wonder if they thought you were stupid.

You are obviously, at the institution at which you study, considered to be of a high intelligence, but location plays its part. I wonder how intelligent you would feel sat in a room with Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking, Aristotle and Socrates. I also wonder how you would like them to think of you. My guess is that you wouldn't want to appear stupid, based on the fact you've begun a thread all about the seeming importance of 'intelligence'.

'Intelligence' is relative; it depends entirely on comparison.

As for the person who asked you who the first American President was, well, I don't see that as a demonstration of stupidity. I see it as an example of courage. There is so much pressure to be a brainbox that people often do not ask, do not seek to learn things because of the fear of looking stupid, ironically.

I guess intellegence makes an idiot out of us all, sometimes. ;)

Oh this is gonna be a long one haha. I might be a tad (a lot) delayed on this comment, but anyways, here I go.

I think what this guy was trying to ask is why people that have the capability and brains (which now excludes all those with mental handicaps and/or disabilities restricting their mental structure) don't use their brain to the extent he finds they should. Personally, i think he's far to full of himself and went about this the wrong way, (especially by calling them idiots, because that's completely inappropriate) but I believe his point is still valid, and there for I will answer in my opinion :]

People who don't reach their full potential normally don't do it because they don't notice the consequences that will come later, they just do what they want to and what's easiest for them at the moment, they don't realize how much their setting themselves up for failure. Although, I wouldn't call them idiots for that, just a typical person at that age.

You'll see later that most of the kids that "slack-off" like that will be taking extra courses their Junior and Senior year because they (when they didn't think it was very important before) now care to go to college, or even pass high school.

Your ideas on what matters to you in life will change depending on your age or just who you are as a person. Also, take into thought not everyone can ride easily through classes simply from brains, a lot of peoples study their butts off to get a passing grade. It doesn't make them stupid, it makes them N.O.R.M.A.L.

You should pride yourself in your brains, but not be so cocky about it, you should be humble and thank God for it, and then go and try to help those less fortunate then you who will never, ever, no matter how hard they try, be able to reach the same mark as you may be able to. Don't get so frustrated with them, be understanding and helpful. I think those that can do that, are there the most intelligent here :]

P.S. If you want to call these people at your school stupid, go ahead, but go ahead and call basically every single person (including yourself) an idiot because every single one of us has made a "dumb" decision, whether it be with grades, relationships, friends, family, anything. We've all been there, but in no way does that makes us idiots, its human nature to learn and grow from our mistakes, even the ones that cost us.

So, if that changes your opinion, so be it. If not, maybe you should, instead of looking at others, check out your own mind and see if they're really the idiots here. :]

"I feel everyone is missing the point of this post."

^ Nope, just getting into more depth with it.

"I am arrogant. Why not be?"

I've a proposition for you. How about you take whatever it is that's stuck up your rear end and dispose of it, hm?

So the question is " Does anyone know any idiots" ?

I must say I see one more often than I would like to admit. My mirror reflects the image of a man who has made his fair share of bone head mistakes and decisions.