General Discussion

KurtNYC

(14,549 posts) Wed Jul 11, 2012, 07:31 AM Jul 2012

Calling people you disagree with "stupid" is stupid. [View all]

It usually means that one is too lazy or too myopic to find the real reasons for the disagreement which in turn dooms any progress or productive engagement.

There are real reasons why the MSM and politicians do and say what they do -- could be money, could be strategy, could be lots of things but seldom is it because "they are stupid." I cringe when I hear someone say that to win a political goal "we need to educate the public" because it embodies this flawed idea that anyone who disagrees with you knows less than you do about what THEIR self interests are.

People didn't organize and steal the election in Ohio in 2004 by being stupid. Scott Walker didn't play people against each other in Wisconsin by being stupid. Fox News doesn't frame issues, pump the propaganda and steer political discourse by being stupid. The MSM doesn't say stupid stuff because THEY are stupid. They say it to make US stupid.

The first rule of battle is "Know your enemy" -- know what their strengths are and know what their weaknesses are. To do otherwise is just stupid.

79 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Calling people you disagree with "stupid" is stupid. [View all] KurtNYC Jul 2012 OP

Nice rant. randome Jul 2012 #1

what a stupid post! unblock Jul 2012 #2

This post is Ichingcarpenter Jul 2012 #4

yeah and so's your mother unblock Jul 2012 #8

LOL... Actually she been dead thus brain dead for years Ichingcarpenter Jul 2012 #10

Derp is as Derp does. Warren Stupidity Jul 2012 #3

I think that no matter how cleverly you gut and destroy the country lunatica Jul 2012 #5

so just to clarify, "foxnews is stupid" is not ok, but "foxnews viewers are stupid" IS ok? unblock Jul 2012 #6

See post#4 Ichingcarpenter Jul 2012 #7

There is no productive engagement with the stupid. bowens43 Jul 2012 #9

You are conflating stupidity and ignorance.. Fumesucker Jul 2012 #11

Except there is a lot of current research that logic and reason don't faze "conservatives" Cary Jul 2012 #12

"I call them stupid...because I care and because I am such a great guy" You hit that on the head. HereSince1628 Jul 2012 #13

That is the point Cary Jul 2012 #19

It may be selfish to want your taxes reduced but it isn't stupid. KurtNYC Jul 2012 #14

Except it is stupid when the reality is that... Cary Jul 2012 #21

But WANTING to pay less is not stupid, especially if services are cut. KurtNYC Jul 2012 #29

50% of Americans Cary Jul 2012 #37

BINGO !!! THIS THREAD IS OVER ! RagAss Jul 2012 #41

The stupid part is they aren't getting their taxes reduced jeff47 Jul 2012 #28

What if they're stupid? Gman Jul 2012 #15

Calling stupid people stupid is a-okay, though. Iggo Jul 2012 #16

Find out what is *really* driving their vote, and discuss that instead. reformist2 Jul 2012 #17

It's certainly not an effective tactic for persuading people to change their minds slackmaster Jul 2012 #18

Unless they are stupid and fall for the propganda and lies... we can do it Jul 2012 #20

Some people ARE stupid Mutiny In Heaven Jul 2012 #22

I started giving a long retort to someone downthread who disagrees with you AngryAmish Jul 2012 #23

Cause we're stupid... bluedigger Jul 2012 #24

Well done. Naw, it is because we are human. AngryAmish Jul 2012 #25

Pretty much. bluedigger Jul 2012 #31

Yes Dinsdale was a nice man Cary Jul 2012 #26

Forrest Gump is stupid KurtNYC Jul 2012 #33

Is Forrest Gump a Birther or a Tenther? Cary Jul 2012 #40

If you don't think you're capable of converting them to your ideals, A Simple Game Jul 2012 #60

Crooks and Liars would be more accurate. Overseas Jul 2012 #27

Sometimes it really is because they are stoopid. ananda Jul 2012 #30

70% of Americans believe that angels coalition_unwilling Jul 2012 #32

An aside: that percentage drops with age KurtNYC Jul 2012 #34

it dropped with age 24 years ago; maybe not now muriel_volestrangler Jul 2012 #36

It may be that the pop definition of "angel" has gotten less strict. More spiritual and less KurtNYC Jul 2012 #44

'Pop' definition? muriel_volestrangler Jul 2012 #47

There is a religious definition and what might be called a spiritual definition. KurtNYC Jul 2012 #54

Angels DO exist! FrodosPet Jul 2012 #38

Bravo! You got me! :) --n/t coalition_unwilling Jul 2012 #39

"The MSM doesn't say stupid stuff because THEY are stupid. They say it to make US stupid" muriel_volestrangler Jul 2012 #35

Spot on RZM Jul 2012 #43

Exhibit F: the internal Fox News memos KurtNYC Jul 2012 #46

Your OP specifically separated Fox News from the MSM muriel_volestrangler Jul 2012 #48

My OP does not separate FNC from the MSM KurtNYC Jul 2012 #51

Pretty much. So is calling them 'crazy' RZM Jul 2012 #42

I find it truly odd that posters at DU are so worried about "conservatives" being called stupid ... Cary Jul 2012 #45

In sales, they teach you to discover the true objection to the sale KurtNYC Jul 2012 #49

In sales you have three possible answers: Cary Jul 2012 #50

Other answers: 4. too expensive 5. I don't need one right now 6. not my size KurtNYC Jul 2012 #61

I don't know where you got your sales training from but I don't really have a whole lot of respect Cary Jul 2012 #63

I agree loyalsister Jul 2012 #77

When people are willfully ignorant and spiteful toward those who disagree Warpy Jul 2012 #52

Thanks, Hitler. Ian David Jul 2012 #53

well then, does calling people you AGREE with "stupid" sound smarter to you? unblock Jul 2012 #55

So, Kurt, what do you make of Dwight D. Eisenhower when he said: Cary Jul 2012 #56

Ike was talking ABOUT those people, not TO them and KurtNYC Jul 2012 #62

He was a Republican Cary Jul 2012 #64

Was he talking TO the Texas millionaires at the time he made that statement? No. KurtNYC Jul 2012 #66

But a lot of teabagger types ARE stupid Hugabear Jul 2012 #57

Birthers are morons period nt maryellen99 Jul 2012 #58

The force has a strong influence on the weak minded. Spitfire of ATJ Jul 2012 #59

*snicker* freshwest Jul 2012 #72

calling them stupid and telling them to "fuck off" garners 55 recs here on DU taught_me_patience Jul 2012 #65

if we are talking about the same thread -- the poster lists a good set of reasons KurtNYC Jul 2012 #70

Huh? JimGinPA Jul 2012 #67

Apparently you don't know the definitions of STUPID. GeorgeGist Jul 2012 #68

I see what you did there KurtNYC Jul 2012 #71

See what you did???? Spitfire of ATJ Jul 2012 #73

I often disagree with sincerely stupid people. Marr Jul 2012 #69

is anyone saying we should say it to their face ? we are saying it among ourselves JI7 Jul 2012 #74

I gave some left vs right examples but I think it applies in general and right here KurtNYC Jul 2012 #78

Yes I know my enemy and those that vote for them and keep them in power KatChatter Jul 2012 #75

I think this "be nice to Republicans" thing migrated from another thread KurtNYC Jul 2012 #79

drive every time bicelaw Jul 2012 #76