A question about Elitism as a concept.
- Thread starter Crunchy English
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I'll tell you why elitism exists: Some people are simply superior to others. I say this regardless of affiliation, ethnicity or any of those preconceptions, I just mean some people are blatantly smarter, more athletic in every way, are interested in a wider array of subjects and in most cases, the being athletic part just makes the better looking than other slacker-types (no offense to all ye on whom the hat fits).
The reason they form groups is that they require company who can keep up with them, both intellectually and physically. There exists nothing better than a competent workout partner who can later sit down with you and have a smart conversation. It's not really their fault if the Vulgum Pecus can't keep up, thus forcing them to make tight-knit groups that *seem* like they have a superiority complex simply because everybody else has an inferiority complex and is trying to put the blame someone other than on themselves.
The true problem, you see, is that people are slothful and conceited, thus refuse to admit their own wrongs and in turn do not improve. People have to realize that they not only need to be better than whatever they are, they also have to accept the fact that some people are born with abilities and talents that surpass their own and that they will always form a kind of "pack" of people who are obviously elites.
I give you: The Sad Truth.
The reason they form groups is that they require company who can keep up with them, both intellectually and physically. There exists nothing better than a competent workout partner who can later sit down with you and have a smart conversation. It's not really their fault if the Vulgum Pecus can't keep up, thus forcing them to make tight-knit groups that *seem* like they have a superiority complex simply because everybody else has an inferiority complex and is trying to put the blame someone other than on themselves.
The true problem, you see, is that people are slothful and conceited, thus refuse to admit their own wrongs and in turn do not improve. People have to realize that they not only need to be better than whatever they are, they also have to accept the fact that some people are born with abilities and talents that surpass their own and that they will always form a kind of "pack" of people who are obviously elites.
I give you: The Sad Truth.
He wanted to study art because that was his passion, but his father strongly disapproved and wanted him to become a civil servant. hitler thus decided that the best way to ensure he never got a job as a civil servant was to fail his studies except for art. But when he applied to art school, he was rejected partially because of his academic background. So he had nowhere to turn except his politics, which was another passion of his, and he got to vent at the intellectual system for being inherently flawed and some bullshit like that. In essence, he was getting back at the system for his own failures.Sewblon said:
Simply having a skill or knowing things that others don't doesn't make you an elitist.
Its more along the lines of whether you think you are a superior person because of it.
Its more along the lines of whether you think you are a superior person because of it.
This topic interests me due to a thread I noticed on imdb yesterday. People who watch foreign language films were openly putting down those who didn't, claiming they lacked intellectual capacity or culture. This greatly annoyed me because to me, a movie is a movie, a form of entertainment and escape. I've watched many, many films, from summer blockbusters to indie short films to French art pieces. I don't consider myself to superior to anyone else simply for having different tastes.
Intellectuals themselves are not a problem, the arrogance that seems to follow them around like a bad smell, certainly is. The pursuit of knowledge doesn't seem to be enough for them, they seem to like to put others down at every oppertunity. They are probably in the minority, but they are the most vocal so get noticed more.
Look at Stephen Fry, an intellectual who can mingle with the rich or with the common man. He has an interest in the mundane aswell as more complex things. He is in no way elitist.
Don't forget arrogance/elitism can come up in any area you like to think of. For the most part it seems that beliefs or achievements of these individuals are not enough for them and they need to validate themselves even more by showing themselves to be better than others.
Intellectuals themselves are not a problem, the arrogance that seems to follow them around like a bad smell, certainly is. The pursuit of knowledge doesn't seem to be enough for them, they seem to like to put others down at every oppertunity. They are probably in the minority, but they are the most vocal so get noticed more.
Look at Stephen Fry, an intellectual who can mingle with the rich or with the common man. He has an interest in the mundane aswell as more complex things. He is in no way elitist.
Don't forget arrogance/elitism can come up in any area you like to think of. For the most part it seems that beliefs or achievements of these individuals are not enough for them and they need to validate themselves even more by showing themselves to be better than others.
I have to say I've noticed alot more elitism on here than on other boards.Sir Kemper said:
This post makes me love you, along with the one about the shit-flavored nachos.formless777 said:
There isn't that much of a difference between the blue-collar mouth breathers and the retarded collegiates who believe that buying special light bulbs will help to undo the catastrophic damage that we've done to the earth's ecosystem since the dawn of the industrial age. The two types of idiots are perfectly compartmentalized down here: the borderline-retard rednecks work all of the shit jobs and the people who believe themselves to be intelligent because they earned a Bachelor's in fisting work in offices or hold managerial positions, living in slightly better neighborhoods yet believe themselves to be worlds apart from those who spend their nights guffawing at Larry the Cable Guy.
Perhaps, although I couldn't speak for those particular boards. Most of the forums I frequent are very specific in their subject area, whereas the Escapist seems to house a larger demographic so of course there will be a larger amount of trolls and at the other end of the spectrum arrogant snobs. That isn't to say this is a bad place at all, these are the only forums I visit on a daily basis. I was simply pointing out that the reputation this site may have on others isn't completely false, especially regarding certain topics we tend to look down our noses at those who don't share the collective view. Then again, we're only human.SimuLord said:
Do you have any links for this? It would be very interesting.Sir Kemper said:
As far as intellectualism goes, there's a time and place for it but sometimes it makes sense to be stupid.
