Thread: Mans Intelligence

Ultimately we're talking about Group Dynamics here or Crowd Psychology. Basically, groups tend to respond differently than individuals and this difference should be taken into consideration. From my observations, it seems like the 'lowest common denominator' or dumbing down ideas are the ones which catch with the vast majority of people. I often make the mistake of believing that I am an average kind of person and that people are mostly just as I am, thoughtful, relatively intelligent and considerate, or at least reasonably sympathetic. I'm frequently proven wrong.

X

Originally Posted by xman

Ultimately we're talking about Group Dynamics here or Crowd Psychology. Basically, groups tend to respond differently than individuals and this difference should be taken into consideration. From my observations, it seems like the 'lowest common denominator' or dumbing down ideas are the ones which catch with the vast majority of people. I often make the mistake of believing that I am an average kind of person and that people are mostly just as I am, thoughtful, relatively intelligent and considerate, or at least reasonably sympathetic. I'm frequently proven wrong.

X

I think you're right X, but I think the average person is good --- whoever that average person is. It is difficult to find individuals that can seperate themselves from the Group Dynamic.

Mark, I agree with you .

"I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it" -- good old Thommy Jefferson.

Originally Posted by jaegerhund

I think you're right X, but I think the average person is good --- whoever that average person is. It is difficult to find individuals that can seperate themselves from the Group Dynamic.

Mark, I agree with you .

"I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it" -- good old Thommy Jefferson.

I think you got it Justin! My mother used to tell me "treat all as if they were gentlemen and gentlewomen until they prove otherwise".
Their is a malevolent spirit behind what I am complaining about. it seems that we as a society pander to the lowest common denominator and then wonder why we have so many societal problems! if we as a society would expect our members to be mature and be accountable for our actions we would be on a far better path than we are now. We are all men here. We all know right from wrong. Should we not treat each other as if we were mature and knew the difference between right and wrong until we prove otherwise?
In short I believe that all men and laws should allow for mans ability to think for himself and act according to what he knows is right in his heart! We as a society can punish one when he shows he is not capable of this instead of shackling him with laws before it even occurs to him to do anything wrong!

Bruno, I have three children as you know. Of course you protect your children this is what parents do! Did you really think I was talking about children?

Originally Posted by JMS

I think you got it Justin! My mother used to tell me "treat all as if they were gentlemen and gentlewomen until they prove otherwise".
Their is a malevolent spirit behind what I am complaining about. it seems that we as a society pander to the lowest common denominator and then wonder why we have so many societal problems! if we as a society would expect our members to be mature and be accountable for our actions we would be on a far better path than we are now. We are all men here. We all know right from wrong. Should we not treat each other as if we were mature and knew the difference between right and wrong until we prove otherwise?
In short I believe that all men and laws should allow for mans ability to think for himself and act according to what he knows is right in his heart! We as a society can punish one when he shows he is not capable of this instead of shackling with laws before it even occurs to him to do anything wrong!

Bruno, I have three children as you know. Of course you protect your children this is what parents do! Did you really think I was talking about children?

There's no substitute for true freedom ---I'd rather live in hell and be free than in a utopia and be regulated -----(just leave this long-haired country boy alone )

Justin

Edit: Alright X, is it "a utopia" or "an utopia" ?

Originally Posted by jaegerhund

There's no substitute for true freedom ---I'd rather live in hell and be free than in an utopia and be regulated -----(just leave this long-haired country boy alone )

Justin

You and me both!!

Originally Posted by jaegerhund

There's no substitute for true freedom ---I'd rather live in hell and be free than in a utopia and be regulated -----(just leave this long-haired country boy alone )

I'd rather live somewhere in between, where there are regulations to make sure that everybody has a minimum standard of living, but everybody has the right to improve that standard.
But then you'd expect me to say something like that

Originally Posted by jaegerhund

Edit: Alright X, is it "a utopia" or "an utopia" ?

It's 'a' because the u in utopia is pronounced 'you'.

Originally Posted by Bruno

I'd rather live somewhere in between, where there are regulations to make sure that everybody has a minimum standard of living, but everybody has the right to improve that standard.
But then you'd expect me to say something like that

That's not unreasonable, and most people (all) live somewhere in the middle. Just as long as you keep the "everybody has the right to improve that standard" part -- don't penalize people for wanting to seperate from the crowd. I just don't like the one size fits all , what's best for the collective mentality. I want to be a human (for better or worse) --- not a bee living only for the greater good of the hive --- maybe I'm not as evolved or something --- so be it--- I'll live and die as an American caveman happily .

Justin

Originally Posted by jaegerhund

That's not unreasonable, and most people (all) live somewhere in the middle. Just as long as you keep the "everybody has the right to improve that standard" part -- don't penalize people for wanting to seperate from the crowd. I just don't like the one size fits all , what's best for the collective mentality. I want to be a human (for better or worse) --- not a bee living only for the greater good of the hive --- maybe I'm not as evolved or something --- so be it--- I'll live and die an American caveman happily .

Justin

That sixth toe gives you away every time Justin!

Originally Posted by jaegerhund

Edit: Alright X, is it "a utopia" or "an utopia" ?

Either. It depends on where you live. If you pronounce it as yoo-TOE-pee-uh with a pronounced 'y' sound at the beginning like most of us North Americans, the indefinite article 'a' seems best. If, like many Brits, that vowel is softened to express oo-TOE-pee-ah 'an' seems better. The one that feels most unnatural to me is putting 'an' before and 'h' word like 'historical'. I just can't drop that 'h' sound sufficiently in my own mind to make it click.

X

Originally Posted by xman

Either. It depends on where you live. If you pronounce it as yoo-TOE-pee-uh with a pronounced 'y' sound at the beginning like most of us North Americans, the indefinite article 'a' seems best. If, like many Brits, that vowel is softened to express oo-TOE-pee-ah 'an' seems better. The one that feels most unnatural to me is putting 'an' before and 'h' word like 'historical'. I just can't drop that 'h' sound sufficiently in my own mind to make it click.

X

Thank you and Bruno also.

Justin