What good is intelligence when people always assume you're dumb?

1. 0

   Stevennix2001posted 2 years ago

   Hypothetical question.    As the old saying goes if a tree falls in the woods yet nobody is around then does it truly make a sound if nobody is around to hear it?    Similar question here.  If people always accuse you of being dumb, and always dismiss whatever facts you present to them if it contradicts their narrative then does that make you a dumb person because everyone else says you are?     And what good would intelligence be if everyone thought you were just dumb?     
   
   No this question has nothing to do with me or anyone else.    I'm just bored and thought this would be a fun topic to discuss.    If anyone else wishes to interpret it as anything other than what I just said then that's on them.    Anyways happy holidays everyone, and stay safe.

   replyreport
   1. 78

      Castlepalomaposted 2 years agoin reply to this

      I'm not insulted by the truth and just adjust it if I hear too often and move along. I have a bs detector and when someone gose pass my BS detector , I first warn them, if they keep it up , then just ignore them. Knowing yourself and thinking for yourself is most important, don't let the turkeys get you down.

      replyreport
      1. 60

         robhamptonposted 2 years agoin reply to this

         Yikes!

         replyreport
   2. 76

      lovetherainposted 2 years agoin reply to this

      Well, intelligence helps you understand the world better,and figure things out more easily. So you have an advantage over those who really are dumber than you.
      
      If they think you are stupid, you have a super SECRET superpower.

      replyreport
      1. 78

         Castlepalomaposted 2 years agoin reply to this

         Like STUPIDMAN!!!!
         Leading the cause of death in the world
         Able to screw up everything all the time
         Able just off cliffs of the tallest mountains

         replyreport
   3. 91

      Sherry Hewinsposted 2 years agoin reply to this

      Sometimes it's better to hold your peace than express a thought that you know won't be accepted. Even then though, if no thought is expressed, they may assume you have no thoughts. For me, I'd rather be thought a fool than engage in debate with fools.

      replyreport
   4. 73

      Miebakagh57posted 2 years agoin reply to this

      I'm not a Jehovah Witness or are you? Anyway, enjoy the holidays and stay safe.

      replyreport
2. 96

   Readmikenowposted 2 years ago

   Interesting question.
   
   My response would be why you would care what they think of you?  That gives them power to control your feelings about yourself and your beliefs of your intelligence.  Experience has taught me the less you care what people think of you, the more they care what you think of them.
   
   "If people always accuse you of being dumb, and always dismiss whatever facts you present to them if it contradicts their narrative then does that make you a dumb person because everyone else says you are?"
   
   This has nothing to do with actual intelligence and more to do with emotional maturity.  If you are secure in the belief that you are intelligent, people's reaction to you should not matter.  If you let it get to you, then you are an emotionally immature person.  These are tactics that will always be done by people who disagree with you.  A good rule to remember when discussing a topic with anyone is that when they resort to name calling, you've won the argument.  This only means they can no longer defend their position and must engage in personal attacks. 
   
   "And what good would intelligence be if everyone thought you were just dumb?"
   
   The only person who can make you feel dumb is you.       
   
   "Anyways happy holidays everyone, and stay safe."
   
   Happy holidays (Holiday is a word derived from 'holy day')

   replyreport
   1. 60

      robhamptonposted 2 years agoin reply to this

      You..Sir, have nailed it. This couldn't have been said more perfectly, only because I feel like this sometimes (worried about what others think) Thank you for your insight.

      replyreport
   2. 78

      Castlepalomaposted 2 years agoin reply to this

      Wise words Readmikenow
      Wish you the best and a happy holiday buddy.
      
      I really don't have argument because they are angry discussion and angry is inefficient  When people are downing me with name calling, most often. I find they don't know me and have a great lack of facts and evidence and resort to using negative emotions outbursts. I don't mind playing the fool. The fools are able to talk to many of the kings without getting their fool heads cut off if they are wise in their delivery.

      replyreport
   3. 80

      Misbah786posted 2 years agoin reply to this

      Such a beautiful response. Full of wisdom!
      Blessings to you!!

      replyreport
3. 88

   Jodahposted 2 years ago

   Interesting discussion and well-answered. Happy Holy Days everyone.

   replyreport
4. 81

   Brenda Arledgeposted 2 years ago

   Readmikenow & Sherry Hewins both gave excellent answers to this one....
   Don't let what others say bother you

   replyreport
   1. 73

      Miebakagh57posted 2 years agoin reply to this

      I like that. My pastor lead us to question those nonsense talkers are God!

      replyreport
   2. 78

      Castlepalomaposted 2 years agoin reply to this

      +++

      replyreport
5. 0

   Vladimir Karasposted 2 years ago

   First -- there is no sound in the wood if no one is around to hear a falling tree. That's because it takes an ear, human or animal, to turn the air vibration from the falling tree into a sound.
   And second -- people need others' validation, approval, and yes, praises, because they are not giving themselves enough of it. It's like we use others as a mirror for our true value.
   Since we are social beings, even when we give ourselves enough of any of that, it's NORMAL that we also seek some feedback from others, otherwise we might turn into narcissists.
   Then, the whole deal is to recognize those whose opinion doesn't matter, as they are feeding their insecurities with that need to put others down.
   On the other hand, it's good to hear a constructive criticism from those whose opinion we respect. But those are NEVER the ones who would resort to calling you "dumb".

   replyreport
   1. 78

      Castlepalomaposted 2 years agoin reply to this

      Val
      Agree
      It's actually disrespectful nameing people low or no intelligents. When they are no better or worst than you. Everyone can do something better than the next person and vice versa.
      Disrespecting or pointing one finger at them is more often pointing three fingers back at yourself. I wish my finger pointing at billionaires bullies work,  where some would trickles back towards my way. But that would be called bribery and I prefer integrity

      replyreport
6. 91

   charleskikasposted 2 years ago

   Not calling anyone dumb. The tree falling in the woods answer really bothered me....the correct answer is: Scientifically, yes. When a tree falls in the woods and no one is there to hear it does it make a sound? Just because there is no one in the woods to hear the sound does not mean that the sound did not take place. If once places a recording device in the woods and later plays the recording after a tree fell, we emphatically know that the sound occurred. Merry Christmas!

   replyreport
7. 0

   Vladimir Karasposted 2 years ago

   Castlepaloma,
   We live in an imperfect world, and our life-orientation simply has to go selective about what will be accepted in our orbit. Losing nerve over whatever is unacceptable for us. is not life-promoting. Thus, it ultimately doesn't matter what certain human specimens think, say, and do. As long as they are not hurting us physically, to me they are just an unknown fish in the Atlantic ocean.
   It's our problem if we keep such people in our life -- and it's always good to remember that Chinese proverb:
   "We cannot prevent birds to fly over our head, but we can prevent them to build a nest in our hair."

   replyreport
   1. 78

      Castlepalomaposted 2 years agoin reply to this

      I'm more alone this Christmas than ever, due to covid being bigger since the planedemic started.
      
      Most everyone has some kind of addiction, the worst kind in the world, is greed. Their Totalitarianism slaves who can have their arms cut off and they will still comply . With the passion of attracking opposing views
      regardless of them making good sense.Yet
      It will all come out in the wash by faith in the humanities kindness and deep down they have the greatest strength in collective consciousness and will overcome Tyranny again.

      replyreport
8. 0

   Vladimir Karasposted 2 years ago

   Charleskikas -- Sorry, but a wrong science. A recording device is working just like an ear, transforming the waves of disturbed air into a sound. Similar principle works in radio, which transforms the broadcast waves into talk and music. Try to hear those waves if you can without a radio. Thus, a cracking vibration  of a falling tree needs "something" to transform it into a noise. If you talk to a deaf person, his ears cannot do it, but the fact that others can hear you doesn't mean that the sound is there regardless of whether the deaf person heard it -- because we, who can hear it, are transforming it into a sound. THAT's the science about it.
   Happy Holidays!

   replyreport
9. 79

   bhattucposted 2 years ago

   Other people are free to asses us the way they want. We have no control on that. At the same time we should have our self assessment also to be done in a realistic way. When both of these converge then that could be a good situation.
   Happy Christmas time and happy new year.

   replyreport