Well, I got drunk and high the other day with 3 friends of mine. They're all underachiever gaming types, but I've started questioning their actual worth. Their 'contemplative' discussion seems to bring out their true ego, nothing more than bits of knowledge plastered on a paltry attempt to color themselves intellectual. I get blank stares when bringing up a secondary perspective or extra information about the topic. Is this behavior common for the people with labels of "cool", "smart", and "easygoing" attached to them?
Another thing: I'm very, VERY antisocial/personable, and just thought I'd ask the internet about this since my chances of finding out personally are slim to none. Thanks.
(Sorry for the truncated description , I'mma typing on a PDA)
I suppose the whole reason they're doing that is to satisfy their need to be accepted. It's the whole, you're smart so I'm "smart" so that I don't die a lonely horrible death.
People who are labeled that way probably...aren't. They might still be interesting people, but they probably put on the guise of intelligence to make a good impression.
But hey, what do I know.
Just because they obviously lack knowledge doesn't mean they aren't smart. Perhaps they realise that they've neglected their intellect too much and are now attempting to fix that... I have no clue, there isn't really enough information in your post to judge. Of course, a lot of people try to seem intellectual when they aren't, and those people are annoying.
I say test them some more!
Bring up a new, thought provoking topic, which doesn't really require extensive knowldge to discuss, but which would probably spark a lot of interest from actual intellectual types. Maybe a nice controversial ethical issue or something. I think from people's reactions to things like that, you should be able to work out if they're smart people who've neglected intellectual matters for a while, or if they're idiots trying to seem smart to save their self esteem.
Protip: "Actual intellectual types" discuss theorists, their theories, and the application thereof.
"Controversial ethical issues" are for TV talk shows and "community events" intended to make people feel like their opinion matters.
>>4 Disagree. Abortion and Suicide (Personhood/Animal rights, Right to life, Right to death), Eugenics, Media ethics, Cultural dynamics, and Religious dynamics are all subjects of very serious interdisciplinary study. One needn't bring up Marx, Derrida, or Skinner to have an intellectual conversation. That's more "Are you an esoteric/initiated intellectual?", rather than "Are you an intellectual?".
I meet a lot of those 'underachievers' working blue collar jobs during the summer. They're very opinionated people and for that reason I do think they're easy going guys to hang out with. Maybe they're a little ill informed, but I can absolutely see potential if they applied in a Uni.
Having said that, I guess its true to say "Those who speak the loudest usually have the littlest to say."
Oh, I also hope your not becoming elitist. I mean, they are your friends. Accept them as is. :)
If you do wanna have interesting talks instead of blank stares, then your gonna have to be anti anti social. Join the sociology club. I love the stupid auguments. Or, email some profs, even if you havent taken their course before. I've only tried this with religion profs, other I dunno about. Probably philosphy teacher got something to say as well.
Anywho, toodles!
Discussing only theorists and formal theories is intellectually limiting: why should intellectuality be confined within such a framework?
Because without a formal theory in which to ground your arguments, you're just spewing hot air.
Doesn't necessarily have to come out of the Frankfurt school (or any other) -- it can even be your own. But it should still be a proper, formal theory grounded in sound logical principles.
>>6 Oh, I also hope your not becoming elitist.
JOIN US! JOIN THE DORK SIDE!
No, I'm past elitism. Just curious about a trend in teenage behavior.
I wasn't? Makes sense, I guess. Maybe I shouldn't have been able to even half-assuredly discriminate my friends' intelligence if I was very much intoxicated.