Modern Human Behavioral Issue #1

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   sooner than laterposted 16 years ago

   Intellectuals
   
   When did it become a fad to be an "intellectual thinker". Maybe I'm immature, maybe I can read through B.S. But the "Intellectual thinker" is probably less than 200 years old. I understand being literate and I understand the freedom to ponder, but that does not mean sitting around in coffee houses and 'thinking outside of the box' means you are smart. "I are smart because I ponder" but is what you ponder smart? 90% of the time I say 'not'- but I don't want to start a debate about the personal perspective of what is and is not worth pondering

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      PrettyPantherposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      To me, this just sounds like a different version of the "elitist" accusation.  Since I don't see what you seem to see, I really can't comment on the specifics of it.

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         sooner than laterposted 16 years agoin reply to this

         elitist is a term I used when a particular person purposly irritated another person. Finally the irritated snapped back at the irritator at which point the irritator accused the irritated of not upholding a standard set by the irritants social belief system. Gosh I'm feeling intellectual.

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      tantrumposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      Everyone has the right to think. And everyone has the right to think that what they're thinking is interesting.
      What's the problem?
      I don't like the way you think. so ???
      I only laugh
      

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         sooner than laterposted 16 years agoin reply to this

         your reply is oxymoronical on lines 1 and 3.

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            tantrumposted 16 years agoin reply to this

            Really?
            I don't think so
            

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               sooner than laterposted 16 years agoin reply to this

               1 and 3 actually.

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                  tantrumposted 16 years agoin reply to this

                  Really?
                  

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                     livelongerposted 16 years agoin reply to this

                     No.

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               DogSiDaedposted 16 years agoin reply to this

               Don't worry, it's not. He just likes to use 'intellectual' words. I think he is becoming what he fears most

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                  tantrumposted 16 years agoin reply to this

                  

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   Christeneposted 16 years ago

   Socrates?  399 BC
   Plato? 347 BC
   Aristotle? 322 BC
   
   A bit more than 200 years.

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      DogSiDaedposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      Nail right on the head
      I think what Sooner than later is noticing is a rising number of intelligent people who rationalise. Why that is an issue I don't quite get

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   sooner than laterposted 16 years ago

   I say most don't have a thought worth thinking, let alone mindless hours of pondering. I'm talking more about the social aspect of it. Its a fad.

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      Ralph Deedsposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      That's a very cynical statement.

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         Mishaposted 16 years agoin reply to this

         One man cynic is another man realist

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            Ralph Deedsposted 16 years agoin reply to this

            You think its realistic to categorize 95% of the human race as not having a worthwhile thought? Shame on you.

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               Mishaposted 16 years agoin reply to this

               I stay ashamed

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      DogSiDaedposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      This just sounds like a dig at the people you debate with sometimes on the forums really. I'm not getting involved this time
      
      Edit: Are you trying to say we should limit people's freedom to THINK, let alone speak?

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         sooner than laterposted 16 years agoin reply to this

         No. I'm saying end to the starbucks superheroes

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            Ralph Deedsposted 16 years agoin reply to this

            How would you propose to do that? Round them up and ship them to Gitmo?
            How would you distinguish the Einsteins and Edisons from the "Starbucks superheroes" you want to "end."

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               sooner than laterposted 16 years agoin reply to this

               no, I think we should slap them with cold trout.

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                  Ralph Deedsposted 16 years agoin reply to this

                  How would you identify the ones to slap? Just everybody in Starbucks? What about lingerers in Kentucky fried or Taco Bell? Or Ma's Eats?

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                     sooner than laterposted 16 years agoin reply to this

                     No, I would use my sixth sense. Its not everyone. Really. I can just see them.

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                     DogSiDaedposted 16 years agoin reply to this

                     I like Costa myself...
                     
                     I totally agree with Ralph though, you have no right to decide whose opinion is valid and whose isn't on such a premise as 'thinking a lot'.

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                        Mishaposted 16 years agoin reply to this

                        You mean you have a right to decide this on other premises?

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                           DogSiDaedposted 16 years agoin reply to this

                           Oh no, but I was just addressing this one more specifically

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                              Mishaposted 16 years agoin reply to this

                              Gotcha

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      Arthur Fontesposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      They said Hinduism was a fad!

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   Christeneposted 16 years ago

   The social aspect isn't new either. Instead of coffee shops it was Greek Agoras and Roman Forums etc.

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      sooner than laterposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      and group orgies drinking wine out of lead goblets. I know.

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   sooner than laterposted 16 years ago

   maybe there is something to being an intellectual after all. I feel smarter.

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6. 68

   Mishaposted 16 years ago

   What's wrong with group orgies?

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   livelongerposted 16 years ago

   This is a puzzling thing to get worked up over. And maybe a hypocritical one considering OP is posting his intellectual musings online here.

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   sooner than laterposted 16 years ago

   I'm not saying all conversation is this way. Just an intellectuals conversation is always this way. And I can see it. Its my sixth maybe seventh sense.

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      livelongerposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      You're a psychic intellectual, then.

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         sooner than laterposted 16 years agoin reply to this

         No, I think its more discernment really.

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   Izzy Anneposted 16 years ago

   I just cannot understand the American suspicion of intellectuals. Who was the presidential candidate who lost votes because he could speak French?  If anything, the role of the public intellectual has decreased over the last century.  Sad really.

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      sooner than laterposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      well, its really like this. when did a hippie become a yuppie. there is a difference in being rounded and being a modern intellectual.

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      livelongerposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      Anti-intellectual populism hasn't grown, it's just switched parties. The Dixiecrats and their ilk just bailed the Democrats and moved to the Republicans.

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         Mishaposted 16 years agoin reply to this

         Now, can you say it in the terms understandable to a regular person?

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         Izzy Anneposted 16 years agoin reply to this

         No idea who the dixiecrats are.

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            livelongerposted 16 years agoin reply to this

            Basically the reactionary, populist Southerners, comprising all the stereotypes that non-Americans like to paint us all with when they're not feeling all that friendly towards us.

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               sooner than laterposted 16 years agoin reply to this

               I feel you take offense to the intellectual name tag?

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                  livelongerposted 16 years agoin reply to this

                  Not at all. I gather you do.

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                     sooner than laterposted 16 years agoin reply to this

                     Then you are a well rounded individual? excessively literate?

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                        livelongerposted 16 years agoin reply to this

                        "excessively literate". I feel you take offense to the Dixiecrat name tag?

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                           sooner than laterposted 16 years agoin reply to this

                           not at all.

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    sooner than laterposted 16 years ago

    then sometimes they come to me and I don't have to use my discernment at all.

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    Arthur Fontesposted 16 years ago

    What's an intellectual?

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       livelongerposted 16 years agoin reply to this

       Someone worthy of loathing because they think too much, but only when they do so in a coffee shop.

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          sooner than laterposted 16 years agoin reply to this

          well they are seen there more. they are actually everywhere. But if I were to start slapping cold trout, thats where I would start.

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             Arthur Fontesposted 16 years agoin reply to this

             Now your slapping intellectuals with trout right your not slapping trout randomly in coffee shops?

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                sooner than laterposted 16 years agoin reply to this

                you got it.

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                livelongerposted 16 years agoin reply to this

                Right. S/he has a magical ability to "sense" intellectuals.

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                   sooner than laterposted 16 years agoin reply to this

                   discernment. please... keep it proper.

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             Ralph Deedsposted 16 years agoin reply to this

             I hope your cold trout aren't frozen and aren't longer than 12 inches. That could be painful.

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                sooner than laterposted 16 years agoin reply to this

                No, you are right. I don't want to hurt anyone outside of pride. I think chambersgirl has got it, a nice cold pan fry trout.

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          DogSiDaedposted 16 years agoin reply to this

          Is Subway ok then?
          
          I often philosophise over a cool beverage and a Meatball Marinara

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             livelongerposted 16 years agoin reply to this

             I dunno....you'll have to ask OP. Apparently intellectual musings online are absolutely not intellectual at all.

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                sooner than laterposted 16 years agoin reply to this

                intellectual and educated conversations are two different things. I can't explain when I see it. I will make public note when I see some. Maybe I can have a picture of a trout to slap here and there.

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                   livelongerposted 16 years agoin reply to this

                   I think you just don't want to end up slapping yourself.

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                      sooner than laterposted 16 years agoin reply to this

                      did you know that there are titles for every form of insult? How interesting. I think it would make a great coffee shop conversation. latte anyone.

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                         DogSiDaedposted 16 years agoin reply to this

                         It's 2:40am, no thanks
                         I'll see y'all in the coffee shop tomorrow, I'm off for now, ta ta

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                            sooner than laterposted 16 years agoin reply to this

                            night. you've been a good sport.

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    tantrumposted 16 years ago

    This thread is so funny !!!
    

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    sooner than laterposted 16 years ago

    what is that delectible coffee bean that is pooped by another animal?

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       DogSiDaedposted 16 years agoin reply to this

       Kopi Luwak?

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          sooner than laterposted 16 years agoin reply to this

          you'd get slapped. I'm going to tell you that up front.

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    tantrumposted 16 years ago

    

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    Arthur Fontesposted 16 years ago

    There is not one starbucks in my city.  You walk into a coffee shop around here your probably going to be slapping homeless and mentally handicapped.  Maybe if you hung ouside at the D&D drive through you might see one.

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    Arthur Fontesposted 16 years ago

    Possibly some seniors. One warning if your outside in the parking lot after dark well just be careful.

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    tantrumposted 16 years ago

    

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    sooner than laterposted 16 years ago

    wine and cheese joints are my second stop.

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       Arthur Fontesposted 16 years agoin reply to this

       We have beer and pizza?

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          sooner than laterposted 16 years agoin reply to this

          ahh, well thats another kind of conversation. I think some of 'yual' <---did I get that right--- should get slapped with my impotence wand. not you in particular but I can discern white trash as well.

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    Christeneposted 16 years ago

    Y'all.

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    sneakorocksolidposted 16 years ago

    The only thing intellectual I've ever heard is to put the toilet seat down when you're done it will save you alot of problems.

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       sooner than laterposted 16 years agoin reply to this

       Like the cat won't fall in?

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    chambersgirl21posted 16 years ago

    they should be pan fry size and chilled in ice water.

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    chambersgirl21posted 16 years ago

    this thread is funny

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