2005-10-13
playing with words
We were discussing words, Milan and I. It's always a challenge having conversations about concepts behind the words with someone whose native [and first ~ the language one thinks in] language is not American English. And we were talking about people and the doltishness of many. We came up with four words that seem to cover a lot of ground.
• STUPID: "lacking or marked by lack of intellectual acuity." A person who can't be blamed for his or her limited understanding. Others can be more forgiving of mistakes made by a stupid person.
• IGNORANT: "lacking general education or knowledge." In contrast, anyone with a modicum of intelligence can learn what they do not know. When one who is ignorant takes extra effort to refrain from learning, particularly from learning the truth, they can and should be held accountable for any difficulties they cause or create as a result of willful ignorance.
• IDIOT: "something notably stupid or foolish." We digressed on the purer definition here, looking at the foolish element of the word. We concluded that one could be both ignorant and idiotic, resulting in decisions being made that boggle the senses and even raise questions as to whether or not an ignorant idiot is actually...
• INSANE: "afflicted with or characteristic of mental derangement." At this point in the conversation we considered the actions of someone who might be not only ignorant and idiotic, but also of a disposition that they concern themselves not one bit about the consequences of their actions. We speculated whether or not this potent trio of, um, qualities [of one could call them such] results in the outcomes of actins taken by some [if not actually many] people in power who forfiet their responsibilities of being leaders and elect to be ignorant, idiotic and insane, yet nevertheless, holding firmly to being at the helm, the ship of state.
• We decided that this was, indeed, not only possible, but plausible and [yes] utterly senseless.
• Scary, that! ¶ 02:35
• STUPID: "lacking or marked by lack of intellectual acuity." A person who can't be blamed for his or her limited understanding. Others can be more forgiving of mistakes made by a stupid person.
• IGNORANT: "lacking general education or knowledge." In contrast, anyone with a modicum of intelligence can learn what they do not know. When one who is ignorant takes extra effort to refrain from learning, particularly from learning the truth, they can and should be held accountable for any difficulties they cause or create as a result of willful ignorance.
• IDIOT: "something notably stupid or foolish." We digressed on the purer definition here, looking at the foolish element of the word. We concluded that one could be both ignorant and idiotic, resulting in decisions being made that boggle the senses and even raise questions as to whether or not an ignorant idiot is actually...
• INSANE: "afflicted with or characteristic of mental derangement." At this point in the conversation we considered the actions of someone who might be not only ignorant and idiotic, but also of a disposition that they concern themselves not one bit about the consequences of their actions. We speculated whether or not this potent trio of, um, qualities [of one could call them such] results in the outcomes of actins taken by some [if not actually many] people in power who forfiet their responsibilities of being leaders and elect to be ignorant, idiotic and insane, yet nevertheless, holding firmly to being at the helm, the ship of state.
• We decided that this was, indeed, not only possible, but plausible and [yes] utterly senseless.
• Scary, that! ¶ 02:35
