Calling people "stupid"

[lawrocket 3]

I've noticed that there is an increasingly prevalent use of the term "stupid" to describe people. This is especially true of political candidates or politicians.

I've found that these comments are mainly directed at:
(1) Conservatives; and
(2) Women

Take Michele Bachman, for instance. Here's a right wing woman who does say some stupid things. Of course we ALL say stupid things. She's now being called "stupid" for saying that gas prices will be cheaper if she is President. Yeah, I agree that she cannot control it. But a key part of the campaigns in 2008 was fuel prices skyrocketing and that the candidates would make gas less expensive.

These candidates were not called "stupid." Yet put a right wing woman out there saying it and "stupid" gets put out there.

Often, the education of the person may be looked at as evidence of stupidity or lack thereof. Sarah Palin's educational qualifications were deemed no good - a BS from Idaho. So she's stupid. On the other hand, Dubya had a bachelor's degree from Yale and a Harvard MBA. Doesn't matter. He's stupid.

Barack Obama? JD from Harvard. Must be smart. Bill Clinton? JD from Yale. Michele Bachman? LLM in taxation from William and Mary (an LLM is an advanced degree in law. Most lawyers have a JD. She has one of those but also has post-JD education in law. It's like a post-doctoral degree).

I have a problem with throwing the term "stupid" around. Sarah Palin only has a bachelor's degree so she's stupid. That's insulting. Michele Bachman is stupid. Well, she's got a higher level degree than any other president in history (except Woodrow Wilson, maybe). Bush is Harvard AND Yale.

I note that neither Bachman nor Palin nor Bush should ever worry about being kidnapped by MENSA. But I also note that if someone is not a genius it doesn't mean that person is not stupid. Michele Bachman may not be a genius, but there is no such thing as an idiot who earned an LLM. It doesn't take a genius to get an LLM, but a stupid person cannot do it.

I think that the use of the term "stupid" and "idiot" is evidence of lack of civility. This is not to say that they do not say or do stupid things. They do. I question the judgment of anyone who believes that the earth is 6000 years old. The again I also question the judgment of anyone who says that the icecaps will melt and Miami will be under 10 feet of water before I die.

It would be a good thing to knock off the "stupid" allegations. I'd like to see the right wing knock off the "ignorant" and "immora"" allegations. Kirk Cameron calling Hawking stupid or ignorant does serve to destroy any credibility.

How does one define "stupid?" Is it on the basis of what someone says? Somebody says a stupid thing? (Credit to the President - he and his staff understand this. Hence, he won't talk without a teleprompter).

I just find myself shaking my head at the flippant allegations of stupidity or ignorance. Let's define "stupidity" and see how it fits.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[rushmc 23]

I do not agree with everything you post here but your point in general is spot on

But what bothers me worse than the name calling is the double standard

Obama called the Whiffle company (I don’t know the real spelling) the Waffle company yesterday at a speech

While it is not a big deal, had a republican done that, especially a candidate, the news and the lefties here would be going nuts

Same with Obama and his corpsman pronunciation

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[masterrig 1]

Any more,it's so hard to tell righties from lefties, it's like one's just the other turned inside-out!


Chuck

[lawrocket 3]

It is not a double standard so much as it is different species.

The righties had a nice monopoly on "Patriot" and "Real American" and "Traitor." That kind of thing, as well as the "ignorant" and other religious connotations.

But the lefties look at "stupid" and throw it out there just as a matter of course. Much like "racist" and "bigot." Criticize Obama? Bigot! Criticize Hillary Clinton? Chauvenist. Criticize stupid ditz Palin? "Well, she is stupid!"

But "stupid" seems to be the big one lately. "Racist" is falling by the wayside because there are so many of those on the left who are starting to criticize the President.

But "Stupid" has had some real staying power. Reagan? The Amiable Dunce. Ford? Stupid AND clumsy. Buh, sr? Well, not stupid but "The Wimp." Quayle? Moron. Dole? Stupid and mean. Bush? Stupid. Dumb. Solt. Cokehead.

Clinton? Smartest man ever married to smartest woman ever. Al gore? A genius who cares. Kerry? What a smart man. Obama? He's a Constitutional Scholar so he must be smart! Biden? He's a lawyer, too! Sorta.


Obama? Well, he experimented with blow.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[rushmc 23]

Quote

It is not a double standard so much as it is different species.

The righties had a nice monopoly on "Patriot" and "Real American" and "Traitor." That kind of thing, as well as the "ignorant" and other religious connotations.

But the lefties look at "stupid" and throw it out there just as a matter of course. Much like "racist" and "bigot." Criticize Obama? Bigot! Criticize Hillary Clinton? Chauvenist. Criticize stupid ditz Palin? "Well, she is stupid!"

But "stupid" seems to be the big one lately. "Racist" is falling by the wayside because there are so many of those on the left who are starting to criticize the President.

But "Stupid" has had some real staying power. Reagan? The Amiable Dunce. Ford? Stupid AND clumsy. Buh, sr? Well, not stupid but "The Wimp." Quayle? Moron. Dole? Stupid and mean. Bush? Stupid. Dumb. Solt. Cokehead.

Clinton? Smartest man ever married to smartest woman ever. Al gore? A genius who cares. Kerry? What a smart man. Obama? He's a Constitutional Scholar so he must be smart! Biden? He's a lawyer, too! Sorta.


Obama? Well, he experimented with blow.

Interesting thread

Will be fun to follow

Thanks

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[airdvr 210]

You put way more thought into it than I did. It's pretty simple...anyone who doesn't agree with me must be stupid.

Please don't dent the planet.

Destinations by Roxanne

[Skyrad 0]

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She's now being called "stupid" for saying that gas prices will be cheaper if she is President.

Not to mention that she thinks the Soviet Union is on the rise

You're right stupid is inappropriate, shes a fricking idiot.

When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

[shropshire 0]

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She's now being called "stupid" for saying that gas prices will be cheaper if she is President.

Not to mention that she thinks the Soviet Union is on the rise

You're right stupid is inappropriate, shes a fricking idiot.

she's .... just sayin'

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[JohnRich 4]

Excellent post lawrocket!

The people who throw derogatory insults around all the time like that are really just reflecting upon themselves, and their own inability to think critically or express themsleves in a civil manner. Rather than invest their own brain power into figuring out why what was said might be incorrect and explaining that reasoning, they just go for the easy knee-jerk name-calling. Such people don't get any consideration from me. There's a short list of them in this forum whose posts I routinely just skip right over every time I see them, because they've proven themselves unworthy of my time. And we certainly shouldn't determine our political candidates based upon a 3rd grade name-calling contest.

Post like this one from you, and a recent one from Bigun, are the rare gems that make it worthwhile to read here, and earn respect for their authors.

[headoverheels 333]

You are a wordsmith by occupation. What word(s) do you suggest for describing Bachmann's propensity for making outrageously wrong statements? Idiotic? Ditsy? Ignorant? Careless? Mindless? Clueless? Sloppy? Totally unencumbered by facts?

[Gravitymaster 0]

Yep, and when called on it rather than admit to it and use it as an opportunity to re-examine their own attitudes, they look for pathetic justifications.

[Gravitymaster 0]

Quote

You are a wordsmith by occupation. What word(s) do you suggest for describing Bachmann's propensity for making outrageously wrong statements? Idiotic? Ditsy? Ignorant? Careless? Mindless? Clueless? Sloppy? Totally unencumbered by facts?

What words would you use to describe Obama's statement that "jobs weren't as shovel ready as we thought"? I didn't hear anyone on the left calling him an idiot.

[Skyrad 0]

Quote

Yep, and when called on it rather than admit to it and use it as an opportunity to re-examine their own attitudes, they look for pathetic justifications.

like trying to justify comments about the rise of the Soviet Union?

When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

[jakee 1,489]

Quote

The righties had a nice monopoly on "Patriot" and "Real American" and "Traitor." That kind of thing, as well as the "ignorant" and other religious connotations.

But the lefties look at "stupid" and throw it out there just as a matter of course. Much like "racist" and "bigot." Criticize Obama? Bigot! Criticize Hillary Clinton? Chauvenist. Criticize stupid ditz Palin? "Well, she is stupid!"

Seems true to an extent, and certainly part of the blind vitriol that seems to poision political debate at every level in your country.

However... the high profile republicans do play up to it, don't they? What was that quote from a Bush/Gore debate way back when - "This guy can give you a bunch of fancy numbers but I can tell you what feels right." or something like that. A large portion of the campaign strategy from the republicans for the last decade or so has been targeted at this (quite condescending) stereotype of the 'common man' who works with tools, protects his family and doesn't trust libraries. Candidates like Palin don't put forward a manifesto so much as a large print comic book painted in primary colours with the broadest brush available.

When you choose to present yourself so simplistically in the bloodsport arena of US politics it shouldn't be a surprise if your opponents focus on it.

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[Darius11 12]

Quote

I've found that these comments are mainly directed at:
(1) Conservatives; and
(2) Women

I think you feel that way because your coming from where you assume every thing conservative must be right even if they are factually wrong, about history, recent events, etc etc.


They are called stupid because they are fucking stupid, Sarah Palin you don’t see why she could be viewed as retarded?????
WOW this might be an eye and hearing issue for you.

I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not." - Kurt Cobain

[freethefly 6]

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How does one define "stupid?" Is it on the basis of what someone says? Somebody says a stupid thing? (Credit to the President - he and his staff understand this. Hence, he won't talk without a teleprompter).

Do you not realize that Eisenhower was the first to use the teleprompter? He introduced it into the Presidential speech. Every President since, except G.W. Bush, has relied on the teleprompter. Bush did not use one because he would fumble as he tried to read from it. He used large index cards instead. Nothing wrong with that. Whatever makes them more comfortable.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-4848259-503544.html

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[Darius11 12]

Hey I know everything about the galaxy and stars because I can see them when I look up!!!!!

So i should be the head of NASA??

Yea thats fucking stupid.

I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not." - Kurt Cobain

[FreeFallFiend 0]

Quote

You are a wordsmith by occupation. What word(s) do you suggest for describing Bachmann's propensity for making outrageously wrong statements? Idiotic? Ditsy? Ignorant? Careless? Mindless? Clueless? Sloppy? Totally unencumbered by facts?

I wouldn't want to speak on behalf of any other poster but I don't believe that is the point of his post. The point, as I interpret it, is name calling or labeling of ANY kind is wrong and nonproductive. Maybe we should call it "labeling" since "namecalling" might lead people to believe we are only speaking about insults. You are asking to OP to use a word to label someone. I see this as wrong. If you do not agree with someones words or positions that's fine, but to properly express your disagreement you need to tell them why and support your point of view. This cannot be accomplished by simply labeling someone.

Let's look at your example:

"What word(s) do you suggest for describing Bachmann's propensity for making outrageously wrong statements?"

You are asking the original OP to label them with one or two words. If we do that, and for example call Bachmann an idiot, all we have done is say that we dont agree with what the person is saying. We arent saying what part, or why, or even stating what our position on the matter is. That's not debating, and it does nothing to progress or change the issue. This is what frustrates me so much about many people that follow politics. If you have an opinion, and want to discuss it, that's great! However, simply labeling or insulting someone is debating or discussing at all.

Fiend

I am about to take my last voyage, a great leap in the dark. - Thomas Hobbes.

[Skyrad 0]

Quote

Quote

The righties had a nice monopoly on "Patriot" and "Real American" and "Traitor." That kind of thing, as well as the "ignorant" and other religious connotations.

But the lefties look at "stupid" and throw it out there just as a matter of course. Much like "racist" and "bigot." Criticize Obama? Bigot! Criticize Hillary Clinton? Chauvenist. Criticize stupid ditz Palin? "Well, she is stupid!"

Seems true to an extent, and certainly part of the blind vitriol that seems to poision political debate at every level in your country.

However... the high profile republicans do play up to it, don't they? What was that quote from a Bush/Gore debate way back when - "This guy can give you a bunch of fancy numbers but I can tell you what feels right." or something like that. A large portion of the campaign strategy from the republicans for the last decade or so has been targeted at this (quite condescending) stereotype of the 'common man' who works with tools, protects his family and doesn't trust libraries. Candidates like Palin don't put forward a manifesto so much as a large print comic book painted in primary colours with the broadest brush available.

When you choose to present yourself so simplistically in the bloodsport arena of US politics it shouldn't be a surprise if our opponents focus on it.

Well said.

When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

[jclalor 12]

Quote

Obama called the Whiffle company (I don’t know the real spelling) the Waffle company yesterday at a speech

While it is not a big deal, had a republican done that, especially a candidate, the news and the lefties here would be going nuts

He screwed up the name of where he ate breakfast?
Bachmann fumbles with the most historic event to possibly occur in our lifetime and you compare that to forgetting where he ate breakfast?

Fucking priceless once again.

Everyone makes mistakes, the frequency and severity of mistakes is what makes the difference.

OTOH, Rick Perry told a child the other day that evolution "is just a theory" It appears his understanding of what a scientific theory is based upon is a little lacking. You know, just like the germ theory, gravitational theory , atomic theory, cell theory, plate tectonic theory, just to name a few.

What will those wacky scientist think of next?

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2011/08/rick-perry-evolution-presidential-race-/1

[Gravitymaster 0]

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Yep, and when called on it rather than admit to it and use it as an opportunity to re-examine their own attitudes, they look for pathetic justifications.

like trying to justify comments about the rise of the Soviet Union?

No, like ignoring realities and then being unable to admit when you are dead wrong.

[Butters 0]

There are plenty of stupid people with degrees. We don't know when people are thinking stupid things but we know when people are saying and doing stupid things and if you're saying and doing stupid things then ... you're stupid.

PS: This thread is stupid.

"That looks dangerous." Leopold Stotch

[rushmc 23]

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Obama called the Whiffle company (I don’t know the real spelling) the Waffle company yesterday at a speechNo, I think it was a seed corn business

While it is not a big deal, had a republican done that, especially a candidate, the news and the lefties here would be going nuts

He screwed up the name of where he ate breakfast?
Bachmann fumbles with the most historic event to possibly occur in our lifetime and you compare that to forgetting where he ate breakfast?

Fucking priceless once again.

Everyone makes mistakes, the frequency and severity of mistakes is what makes the difference.Yes they do, my complaint (if you care to re-read it, was based on the double standard and not what I call inocent mistakes. But I guess we can't call your mistake here incocent. Do you have trouble comprending or is this an example of being stupid?

OTOH, Rick Perry told a child the other day that evolution "is just a theory" It appears his understanding of what a scientific theory is based upon is a little lacking. You know, just like the germ theory, gravitational theory , atomic theory, cell theory, plate tectonic theory, just to name a few.

What will those wacky scientist think of next?

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2011/08/rick-perry-evolution-presidential-race-/1

Perry is right here

Are you just giving us another example?

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[lawrocket 3]

[Reply] you assume every thing conservative must be right even if they are factually wrong, about history, recent events, etc etc.

[Amazon 7]

Quote

I've noticed that there is an increasingly prevalent use of the term "stupid" to describe people. This is especially true of political candidates or politicians.

I've found that these comments are mainly directed at:
(1) Conservatives; and
(2) Women

Take Michele Bachman, for instance. Here's a right wing woman who does say some stupid things. Of course we ALL say stupid things. She's now being called "stupid" for saying that gas prices will be cheaper if she is President. Yeah, I agree that she cannot control it. But a key part of the campaigns in 2008 was fuel prices skyrocketing and that the candidates would make gas less expensive.

These candidates were not called "stupid." Yet put a right wing woman out there saying it and "stupid" gets put out there.

Often, the education of the person may be looked at as evidence of stupidity or lack thereof. Sarah Palin's educational qualifications were deemed no good - a BS from Idaho. So she's stupid. On the other hand, Dubya had a bachelor's degree from Yale and a Harvard MBA. Doesn't matter. He's stupid.

Barack Obama? JD from Harvard. Must be smart. Bill Clinton? JD from Yale. Michele Bachman? LLM in taxation from William and Mary (an LLM is an advanced degree in law. Most lawyers have a JD. She has one of those but also has post-JD education in law. It's like a post-doctoral degree).

I have a problem with throwing the term "stupid" around. Sarah Palin only has a bachelor's degree so she's stupid. That's insulting. Michele Bachman is stupid. Well, she's got a higher level degree than any other president in history (except Woodrow Wilson, maybe). Bush is Harvard AND Yale.

I note that neither Bachman nor Palin nor Bush should ever worry about being kidnapped by MENSA. But I also note that if someone is not a genius it doesn't mean that person is not stupid. Michele Bachman may not be a genius, but there is no such thing as an idiot who earned an LLM. It doesn't take a genius to get an LLM, but a stupid person cannot do it.

I think that the use of the term "stupid" and "idiot" is evidence of lack of civility. This is not to say that they do not say or do stupid things. They do. I question the judgment of anyone who believes that the earth is 6000 years old. The again I also question the judgment of anyone who says that the icecaps will melt and Miami will be under 10 feet of water before I die.

It would be a good thing to knock off the "stupid" allegations. I'd like to see the right wing knock off the "ignorant" and "immora"" allegations. Kirk Cameron calling Hawking stupid or ignorant does serve to destroy any credibility.

How does one define "stupid?" Is it on the basis of what someone says? Somebody says a stupid thing? (Credit to the President - he and his staff understand this. Hence, he won't talk without a teleprompter).

I just find myself shaking my head at the flippant allegations of stupidity or ignorance. Let's define "stupidity" and see how it fits.

Did you shake your head at this one or did you and other usual suspects miss it thru those red colored glasses???

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=4172966;#4172966