This isnt intellectualism.

[Grandiagod]

Re: This isnt intellectualism.

Okay, this thread might be the most spectacular display of dumb ever. Why are we even argueing/debating this guy. Its like the special olympics people. If he wants an intellectual discussion and starts off by insulting everyone, it turns out he probably is not that smart. If he just wants to prove to everyone his intelligence, that reeks of insecurity. Who makes their first post on a forum that just insults the members? That would be immaturity. Who trys to outsmart all the members? That would be a lack of self-esttem and insecurity. This guy is a less blatant troll, and all of us (including me) fell for it.

[stretchypanda]

Re: This isnt intellectualism.

Nobody's "falling" for anything. The kid made a big stand, and people called him out.

And, Tass, I know they were wrong, but Jewpin's and Omega's posts made me laugh until I cried.

[NaOTa4231]

Re: This isnt intellectualism.

And, Tass, I know they were wrong, but Jewpin's and Omega's posts made me laugh until I cried.

QFE


Jewpin, that has to be the funniest thing I've seen since I've been here!
I also laughed until I cried = )

[Benny1]

Re: This isnt intellectualism.

Hey, just because this is critical thinking doesn't mean you need to use words to make yourself look smarter.

If I get your post right, you basically came in here and said why aren't you discussing what I want to. Critical thinking goes a lot beyond what you considered, and while there are many stupid, chit-chat topics in here, not all are those, you just need to look.

I haven't read any of these authors you are talking about. I read what I want to. And you know, my life doesn't feel any more empty. I can think critical thoughts, and I don't need reference books. Reading and understanding what the person wrote is the simplest form of critical thinking you can find. These people wrote and people read it. Are you doing the critical thinking, or is the writer? Maybe if you were the critical thinker you claim to be, you would write those books, not other people.

I didn't come to this point by trying to be different, or trying to critically think and look smarter than I am. I'm not trying to say I am not a freshman in high school (which I am). I'm just trying to get my points out, and this is what I thought right when I read your post. I didn't spend time thinking how to word it, or looking for fancier words, I'm not a good writer, I use basic language.

All in all, I disagree with you, and although you aren't one of the idiots you come around sometimes in these forums, I feel you tried to blow up your intelligence. I can understand using fany language, and writing with more complex words, but you overdid it to the extreme. I read your first sentence, and thought, oh god, I know too many people like this. Also, if you want to discuss kafka, all you have to do is a make a topic about it ;/.

[Reach]

Re: This isnt intellectualism.

Define critical thinking? When was it ever so confined?

If you were a real critical thinker you would have thought critically about your narrow minded viewpoint before making that post.

However, I do agree with some points you've made. That doesn't change the fact your view on what should be in this forum is flawed. Also, don't overdo a post. If you want to deliver a message, make it clear. There is a fine line between a post that is both magnificent in sound and deep in thought and one that is ambiguous with a clouded message.

[Benny1]

Re: This isnt intellectualism.

This topic reminds me of my lit tests.

They are 100% interpretation multiple choice.

People interpret things differently, but this test gets rid of that. I'm given four choices of what this symbolizes, and none of them are what I think.

You make me feel that you are trying to get us to discuss this "right" interpretation, when interpretation is just that. It's an individual thing, and cannot be tested. Saying there is a right interpretation is saying interpretation is useless. You make it sound like you want us to make a topic about one of those authors and discuss exactly what you do, because you have these "right" interpretations, and are trying to make us all think the same thing. Even a metaphor, which you were talking about, can be taken in different ways. And maybe, if you take it in a different way, it won't be as amazing as you think it is.

[Grandiagod]

Re: This isnt intellectualism.

My official definition of critical thinking: Anything that can be seriously discussed.

End of definition.

[regnier]

Re: This isnt intellectualism.

Allright, this has all degenerated into the same, and I only have three things to say:

1. Read my second post. It's on page two. I clearly stated the books do not matter. They were merely a hook: something other people in like mindsets may have read. Alot more people have Vonnegut in common than have FFR in common, and better people too. Many of you chose to pounce on that point, and ignore everything else. Just because you omit an accusation, it does not render it effete.

2. Tasselfoot, I apologize. I did not reply to you because you made sense. I agreed with you, and instead of singling you out, which would make you a target too, I just did not comment. I'm sorry, that really wasn't a way to treat someone who attempted to defend me.

3. This was not a typical "first post". It was an attack that I would have made, inured to the forums or not. I am not trying to become part of your community, I am not trying to join in to the burlesque I see here. I was making a statement, and looking for an intelligent response. This, I only got from a few. Tasselfoot, for one, who I neglected before. And a few others just dropped names, which mean nothing. This is the internet: Wikipedia can conjure up thousands of names to drop.

Edit: To Benny1:

Let the vocabulary lie. I read perhaps a book every two days. This sort of language comes naturally to me: I don't know if it was you who said it, but I remember I used to agree with that quote about using simple words. However, long words are often used because they mean the same as a simple one, just with added connotations. I love the flow of words.

Now... if I had used simpler words for the forums, that would be making an effort to impress you guys, something akin to baby-talking to a toddler. Do you really want that?

Last, but not least, I never said there was any "right" way to take a metaphor. The most "right" way, I suppose, would be the way the author meant it, but within the boundaries of language, who are we to judge? I merely said the metaphors, no definition involved, were beautiful. The same basis as listening to a song, and loving it, but hating the lyrics. Or a song without lyrics that can evoke any feeling at all.

I can see where you are coming from, Benny, but it seems you've had too many encounters with pseudo-intellectuals before, which I admit, it's hard to tell me apart from after two posts on a forum. What comes naturally to me, others choke out, yes? Just don't imbue me with their properties, with attributes I have not exhibited, yet. Ok?

[talisman]

Re: This isnt intellectualism.

So, uh, yes, this forum isn't for intellectualism or for intellectuals. It's for intelligence and discussing intelligent topics intelligently.

You're right... but I don't see why your point matters, since the point of the forum is to be intelligent, not intellectual.

[Tasuke]

Re: This isnt intellectualism.

What does "solipsistic" mean? I understand that saying that can make me seem less intelligent by others standards, but I don't know what it means exactaly.

And one of the first things he says is that in CT we discuss unimportant problems and misunderstood puzzles. What I don't understand is how discussing world problems and current events makes us seem less intelligent than we really are. And besdes, would'nt it be how we respond to the topic not the actual topic itself?

[Afrobean]

Re: This isnt intellectualism.

This guy is funny.

He continues to go out of his way to show off his vocabulary. Please, regnier, continue posting here and even start posting other places in the forum. Your overuse of nonstandard words is hilarious.

Really though, you need to learn to play to your audience. You'd be a terrible writer if you keep that up.

Then again, if you were to write, it'd probably intellectual penis battler books like those mentioned before.

[erwilzei]

Re: This isnt intellectualism.

Who and what you've read show nothing of true intellect, regnier. If it hadn't been for that list, I might have believed that you weren't just pretentious.

[Benny1]

Re: This isnt intellectualism.

I can understand exactly where you do come from, and I do know way too many pseudo-intelluctuals, I don't want to come across as think you are on eof them, because the phoneys I know are just horrible. Also, the only post of yours I minded the writing in was the first one. I understand exactly what you are going for, but you went overboard, as reach said.

Afrobean, contribute to the thread or stop complaing because the word degenerate is too complex for you.

[regnier]

Re: This isnt intellectualism.

Afrobean: www.dictionary.com/www.wikipedia.org . And the only e-penis here is that tiny one you're swinging about, missing me as well as everyone else.

Tasuke: Asking what a word means does not make you less intelligent. The average person knows 20 000 word groups, and there are something like 70 000 in all. Don't quote me on that. In a way, asking for answers makes you more intelligent.

It just makes you lazy, since you're on the internet, and a million sites could identify it for you. Anyway: Solipsism, to simplify things, is the belief that you are the only real person/thing existant.

To all: My real problem with this "Critical Thinking" forum is the critical thinking. It reminds me of goths dressing "to be different." When really, it's just the other side of mainstream, parroting the thoughts you've been taught to think. See what I mean, anybody?

[talisman]

Re: This isnt intellectualism.

No, not at all... it's a place for the discussion of intelligent topics intelligently. It doesn't matter who is posting in the forum or how they act in other forums or how intellectual they are as long as they can intelligently support their points.

Plus it's a largely dead forum. Hasn't been a lively debate in here in ages.