Anti-intellectualism

[Whaleboy]

Thats not arrogant, thats matter of fact.

Of all the intellectuals I know, all of them are liberal.

Look at the prominent British intellectuals. Most of them are liberal!

You are not going to get very far in this debate if you are attempting to show me as being arrogant, for (a) I am not, and (b) my disposition is irrelevant to what I am saying, mostly because I am not representative of the nations and worlds intellectuals!

[Shi Huangdi]

"You are not going to get very far in this debate"

This isn't a debate. You came here with a problem, and people are trying to give suggestions as to what is wrong.

If you would look again at my post, you would see that I did not make a refutation of your statement as to whether it is true or not. And then you go on with that codescending post with the idiot smiley and all.

Perhaps an obession about being right and debating is part of the problem?

Regardless of what you said is true or not, positing a correlation between intellectualism and ideology reeks of arrogance and is likely to annoy people.

Read over your posts in this thread. It shouldn't be too hard to see why you provoke hostility in people.

[Ben Kenobi]

Of all the intellectuals I know, all of them are liberal.

Whaleboy:

Small sample size?

I've worked a variety of jobs, I tend to do a different one every summer. I've worked as a treeplanter, a delivery driver, an office assistant, and an inventory clerk. I have been very fortunate to meet an incredible number of very different people in all of these occupations.

In my delivery job, I went from being one of many students, to being on my lonesome. I had my favorite summer ever, in just sitting and talking to my coworkers and their very different lives, with kids, and families.

I suggest you try something like this. Don't take a traditional student job, just go work. It will change your life.

[Whaleboy]

This isn't a debate. You came here with a problem, and people are trying to give suggestions as to what is wrong.

Nope, my personal situation is merely an example. This thread was the intention of presenting a general issue so we can discuss it. What is wrong with me is a combination of peoples lack of acceptance of what I do, my unwillingness to stop reading and working in the canteen, for example, and social ineptness in that I avoid people that I dont naturally associate with.

If you would look again at my post, you would see that I did not make a refutation of your statement as to whether it is true or not.

A general comment

And then you go on with that codescending post with the idiot smiley and all.

Condescending? Dude lighten up!

Perhaps an obession about being right and debating is part of the problem?

Not true. If someone presents me with a better argument, I would happily abandon my own and adopt the new one, as has happened many times in my life. A debate is not an example of penis envy.

Regardless of what you said is true or not, positing a correlation between intellectualism and ideology reeks of arrogance and is likely to annoy people.

Oh I'm sure it does, but you would be better off by looking at my argument and giving it a critical analysis, state what is wrong and right about it, not offer my axioms and regurgitated political correctness about certain groups of people and ideas.

Be aware that I do not communicate those views anywhere other than the internet thus far. The two issues are entirely separate.

Read over your posts in this thread. It shouldn't be too hard to see why you provoke hostility in people.

Yet most people are seemingly able to read and be logical with my posts, and get involved in a good constructive, non hostile debate.

[Whaleboy]

Small sample size?

Intellectual by my definition? Easily over 50 that I am in contact with. I can think of two conservatives in that group.

And don't patronise me. I don't live in a cave.

[monkspider]

Most people that think of themselves as intellectuals are generally not very smart from my experience.

[Whaleboy]

You use your intellect for recreation or career, ergo, you are an intellectual. Thats a pretty lame generalisation MS.

[Odin]

Creationists and bible thumpers are the worst anti-intellectuals.

[Whaleboy]

Odin:

[monkspider]

Originally posted by Whaleboy
You use your intellect for recreation or career, ergo, you are an intellectual. Thats a pretty lame generalisation MS.

A bit touchy on the subject, aren't we?

[Whaleboy]

It's late, I'm on a comedown from major stoning earlier.

[Ben Kenobi]

Intellectual by my definition?

Then perhaps your problem lies here. How do you define an intellectual?

[Whaleboy]

The perhaps your problem lies here. How do you define an intellectual?

As I said before, one who uses their intellect for pleasure or money.

[Ben Kenobi]

one who uses their intellect for pleasure or money.

No other motivations? What about in service to God, as a priest or a theologian? What about in service to family, as in a homemaker? What about in service to society, as in a lawyer? How about for the sole reason to share or increase knowledge, as in a scientist, or a teacher?

[Whaleboy]

Yes yes yes...

If you want to be all consequentialist about it, an intellectual is one who uses his intellect for welfare.

Either way, you know what I mean