You don't agree with me; you must be stupid
By maildumpster
@maildumpster (3815)
United States
June 18, 2007 1:41am CST
I am not directing this at anyone; nor am I being serious - before anyone tries to execute me for this LOL.
Seriously though, I have seen many times when people don't agree with someone they insult their intelligence. Since when does intelligence or education have to do with opinions. You could have a high school drop out or a doctor both having the same opinion on a matter.
Yes opinions CAN be based on facts known but that doesn't change that they are opinions.
I have come across a few people on here that have had some different positions. I have had a few times when I wanted to scream "are you stupid, how can you believe that?". Then I remember that they are entitled to their own opinion even if it doesn't match mine. It is not a reflection of their intelligence only how they view things.
So in closing; I ask that people try to refrain from insulting people's intelligence or educational background because of differing opinions.
What do you all think? Is it right to insult a person's intelligence or make comments relating to that because they don't agree with you? Do you do this? Do you tell people they are stupid or need to go back to school or whatever because they don't agree with you?
Let me know. Be honest now!!
5 people like this
13 responses
@inked4life (4224)
• United States
18 Jun 07
I think it shows a downright lack of intelligence when the only thing you can say is "You're stupid". Can these people not even take the time to logically and clearly state their own viewpoints with resulting to name-calling. If someone came on here and called me stupid I would just drop to their level and respond with "I know you are, but what am I?"
1 person likes this
@maildumpster (3815)
• United States
18 Jun 07
LOL but they might reply "I am rubber and you are glue. Whatever you say bounces off of me and sticks to you" (silly I know)
I don't know for sure if I have seen people come out an say you are stupid but I have seen things like:
"you wouldn't say that if you had more than a 10th grade education" OR "go back and finish high school" (paraphrasing of course). Those are just as insulting as saying you're stupid.
What gets me is that people are saying this to people they don't know. The person they are speaking to might be a college grad or whatever.
It seems to happen a lot when people don't agree with someone's opinion.
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
18 Jun 07
I have come across some people who use their "opinion" strictly to call attention to themselves or their cause and to be purposely hurtful, annoying and disruptive. I don't know what their IQ might be but their attitude and people skills royally suck!
For the most part I have no problem whatsoever with people's personal opinions and I prefer to live and let live. I honestly have never called anyone on myLot stupid. But I will cop to thinking it a few times.... a day... LOL.
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
18 Jun 07
I am with you on the crime of thinking someone is stupid.!Even some well educated people.
@sardine372000 (42)
• China
19 Jun 07
I will feel a little bit angry if others can't agree with my opinion. But ,I still respect their own opinions . And the situations are different base on the different cases.The resson why we can't have consistent idea depend on the growth background ,i think.And the position we took in the society or family or company and so on. Having different opinions is good ,it can widen our minds and activate our thoughts.So ,i respect the different opinion though sometimes i felt not so comfortable about that!LOL
@squaretile (3778)
• Singapore
21 Jun 07
well, some posts are one liners that show that no thought has been put into the response whatsoever. So sometimes the response comes across as really dumb, and one that I don't agree with.
but if it's the other way around, and I disagree with an answer, no way it can be immediately classified as a dumb answer. folks who immediately think that are just being unfair, or close-minded.
if someone has an opinion based on a wrong fact, then we could enlighten the person on that fact. some might choose to stoutly defend their erroneous opinion still, for face-saving reasons. if it comes to that there is nothing we can say.
there are many uneducated people with very good well-thought through opinions. You don't need an education to have an informed opinion.
@amaleigh73 (499)
• United States
19 Jun 07
I am a rather conservative person and tend to let that be known in my posts by the position I take on many controversial issues. I usually put at the end that "it is just my opinion", but still tend to be criticized for that opinion. . .harshly, sometimes. When the comments come back to me, I just shake my head and think well, they asked for my opinion so I gave it to them. I would never tell people I think they are stupid or uneducated (although, like you, I'm thinking it). There are also a ton of people here on MyLot that are from other cultures and countries, who am I to judge them.
@MJLami (1173)
• United States
18 Jun 07
Maildumpster - you done well getting your point across and I so agree with you. Unfortuntely I'm willing to gamble the only people you are reaching are those who agree with your post. We can only try...
@maildumpster (3815)
• United States
18 Jun 07
Even if they don't reply doesn't necessarily mean that they haven't read. I can only try.
It just upsets me so to see people being attacked for not agreeing with insults to their intelligence or education.
1 person likes this
@addysmum (1225)
• Canada
18 Jun 07
You are right, your opinion has nothing to do with your intelligence and your education level doesn't either. I have known some very smart people over the years with little education. My father is a high school drop out but he is one of the best people at his job in North America. Pulp and Paper mills send people from all over North America to study under him and learn what he knows. The only thing that I ask of others is that they learn about what they are talking about. It is really frustrating when people voice an opinion about something without any knowledge about what they are talking about. Or they give an opinion based on a very biased learning system without learning from the other side also.
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
18 Jun 07
I try to be measured and fair in my response to differing opinions. Most of the time I succeed, but if I cannot do that I try to walk away. I have run across some of those discussions lately, and have seen you try to be a prevailing voice of reason, but people are shouting so loud that they cannot hear. I have entered into one recently where the responder belittled the choice a stay at home mom was making, because, supposedly her child would be behind and retarded in school from staying home. When I countered with my experiences of being a home based mom, with kids who did not go to daycare, I was told that I was stupid, and lying. Up to that point I had answered some of Ms. Sarcasm's discussions, but now I will not touch them with a ten foot pole. She was rude to the poster, and to me. But she feels picked on. LOL. I hate when people who do not even know you respond in such extreme and negative ways. I guess I am saying basically that I agree with you, and we need to discuss, not put down, yell, insult, scream, and argue.
@whyaskq (7523)
• Singapore
18 Jun 07
A fool who knows he is a fool is wise to that extent. A fool who doesn't know he is a fool is indeed a fool. By the same token, the person who can make the stupid remark is stupid to that extent. He is indeed stupid if he does not know he is stupid. Who does he think he is that everyone has to agree with him. All of us are entitled to our own opinions because we all lead our own lives, have our own exposures and experiences. All these views and perceptions will not necessarily and are not necessarily same as his. If you do not agree, it only means we can see more light from another angle. We will indeed be wiser.
@CoffeeAnyone (3210)
• Canada
19 Jun 07
Excellent point that opinions have nothing to do with intelligents. Although I must admits it is hard to seperate the two at times.
@Lvdeckape (320)
• United States
19 Jun 07
OMG yes and it is truly sad. I have had people on here that correct my grammar and its like ok, we are discussing something MUCH more important and your going to reply back at me to tell me on how to spell something that has nothing to do with the topic, I mean I can understand if you can not understand me at all, but a few little letters here and there? oh please, there are much more important things in life to be stopping people to correct them and not only that but to find the meaning to the letter and tell me the definition of it? It is like get real!
Also, there are many other ways to not be rude or offend others, such as asking them politely or saying it in a different way, which btw makes such a difference and just being mature about it and not teasing and picking on others, I mean seriously we're not in freaken high school and yes there are people out there that are very uneducated but to make fun or correct them constantly is just insulting and ignorant.
-Lora
@Ta2Angel (51)
• Canada
18 Jun 07
Well i beleive every one has a voice a free will and the right to have their own opinions on what they chose to. i dont get angry if they dont match mine but i will admit it does get frustrating at times, making you wonder if their brians even work in there. but i resist the urget to attack and simply shrug it off and move on to the next post.
@mjsg2468 (44)
• Philippines
18 Jun 07
Differences of opinions whether on a face to face discussion or online interactions, like we have here, is inevitable. There are a lot of reasons why this occur. We have different kind of personalities, cultures, and beliefs. Sometimes it also has to do with our particular mood the moment we make posts and/or reply to posts, or is a particular topic has to do with something we are struggling with. But rather than criticizing someone or promoting bigotry in the discussion forums, i think it is best that we express ourselves in a manner that we would want to be treated as well.
