Mutable

VIRII · 31 Jan 2007 at 12:04

Solari said:
I do think that everyone should have some form of interest in expressing themselves adequately, but each to their own. I do resent people that believe that grunts and other odd noises count as a valid response, however.

Again I agree. I'm no fan of grunts and at the other end of the spectrum I am no fan of people who use overly "highbrow" language to try and hide their inadequate arguments.

VIRII · 31 Jan 2007 at 12:05

dirtydog said:
Was it?

If two people are equal in all ways, yet one is uneducated and has no interest in changing it, and the other is educated and strives to learn and better themselves, isn't the latter person superior to the former? If not, why?

Yes.

Why are they superior?

Rich_L · 31 Jan 2007 at 12:06

Some might say that focusing on the vocabulary utilised in an argument to the extent of creating a thread to prove one's argument that a word used is not in common usage is the epitome of grasping at straws

Besides, if people aren't supposed to be made to feel inferior, where will the impetus to better oneself come from?

aardvark · 31 Jan 2007 at 12:09

VIRII said:
It does seems that some people do like to use words with the intention of confusing others. It seems that they derive some sort of superiority over others by doing so. Perhaps they were bullied at school or have some self worth issues, or maybe they have tiny manhoods. Is your boss just being an idiot towards you or is he jovially pulling your leg?

he is just pulling my leg - we get on very well.

he is a professor of the old school so went to a grammer school etc, whereas i went to a comprehensive - he likes pulling my leg every so often - but i insult him just as much if not more to his face

VIRII · 31 Jan 2007 at 12:09

Rich_L said:
Some might say that focusing on the vocabulary utilised in an argument to the extent of creating a thread to prove one's argument that a word used is not in common usage is the epitome of grasping at straws

Besides, if people aren't supposed to be made to feel inferior, where will the impetus to better oneself come from?

Some might say that, but they'd be idiots

Are you in favour of belittling people then? Who decides what is better? I think Islam is inferior, canI now pick on muslims until they feel the need to abandon Islam and turn to western values?

The thread was to establish if the words are in common use or not.
In a different forum to the thread you refer to.
Is getting a range of opinions wrong?

Rich_L · 31 Jan 2007 at 12:10

I think Islam is inferior, canI now pick on muslims until they feel the need to abandon Islam and turn to western values?

Ahahahahaha

dirtydog · 31 Jan 2007 at 12:10

VIRII said:
Yes.

You know this because...?

Why are they superior?

It should be self-evident to most people, I would have thought

phykell · 31 Jan 2007 at 12:11

VIRII said:
Rob uses "highbrow" words when his arguments start falling down. Read the thread. The sudden use of such a convoluted and sublimely ridiculous set of words was a last ditch attempt to regain a little ground by him.

That's never been my impression of Rob TBH.[/QUOTE]

VIRII said:
There is a lot of demonstrated snobbery in SC. A superiority complex with some people genuinely believing that being educated makes you superior to others and reflects you as a person and your worth amongst humanity.

Being educated *does* make you superior to someone who isn't, certainly in the context of being educated anyway. I know I prefer a CORGI registered engineer to fix my boiler rather than some odd plumber.

VIRII said:
I think that simply shows conceit, a trait that is reviled generally and is indicitive of undesireable apsects of human nature, hardly superior, if anything inferior.

If education is an attempt to better one's self and it is IMO, then how can it be interpreted any other way than an improvement generally, and relative to those around you? It all depends on what you mean by superior and inferior. The absolute meanings require some sort of qualification (no pun intended).

VIRII · 31 Jan 2007 at 13:22

dirtydog said:
You know this because...?

It should be self-evident to most people, I would have thought

dirtydog said:
It should be self-evident to most people, I would have thought

You know this because...?

Easy isn't it

VIRII · 31 Jan 2007 at 13:23

Rich_L said:
Ahahahahaha

And your answer is "yes you can and I will not harrass you over it or complain about it" ?

trojan698 · 31 Jan 2007 at 13:24

Having a large vocabulary is hardly a genuine reflection of intelligence, although it's certainly the easiest way into fooling someone that you are.

VIRII · 31 Jan 2007 at 13:27

phykell said:
Being educated *does* make you superior to someone who isn't, certainly in the context of being educated anyway. I know I prefer a CORGI registered engineer to fix my boiler rather than some odd plumber.

Only in the context of being educated. However rob stated it was the pinnacle of humanity, the most important thing that you could be, the defining area of superiority.
I'd think more of an unregistered plumber who did a good job than a corgi registered plumber who was also a thief.......
I'd think more of a poorly educated person who dedicated his life to helping others than someone who simply spent his time reading books and considering himself "superior".......

phykell said:
If education is an attempt to better one's self and it is IMO, then how can it be interpreted any other way than an improvement generally, and relative to those around you? It all depends on what you mean by superior and inferior. The absolute meanings require some sort of qualification (no pun intended).

See above

Anyway that topic is being discussed in the other thread.
This thread is to establish the how commonly used the two words in question are, feel free to join the other thread and leave this one on topic....

VIRII · 31 Jan 2007 at 13:27

trojan698 said:
Having a large vocabulary is hardly a genuine reflection of intelligence, although it's certainly the easiest way into fooling someone that you are.

Absolutely

dirtydog · 31 Jan 2007 at 13:42

VIRII said:
Easy isn't it

To be an arse?

Seriously: how do you know Rob was being that way? You clearly infer it, but unless he has admitted such behaviour then you cannot know for sure, can you.

dirtydog · 31 Jan 2007 at 13:43

trojan698 said:
Having a large vocabulary is hardly a genuine reflection of intelligence, although it's certainly the easiest way into fooling someone that you are.

Although, using a large vocabulary is not proof that someone is merely doing so in order to appear superior. Unless you live in VIRII's world it seems

Is it indicative of an inferiority complex, to go on the attack when someone uses long words which you perhaps have to look up in the dictionary?

Arcade Fire · 31 Jan 2007 at 13:50

VIRII said:
Hehehe, my point exactly. Although Rich L and arcadefire disagree, but then they always appear to back the poster who posted the phrase.....

I had no idea who it was you were talking about until I read the rest of this thread, due to your attempt at obfuscating the issue by disguising his identity, so it's nothing to do with any anti-VIRII clique, if that's what you're implying.

I have no idea why you have a contention with it, though. If it's worth anything to you, I have completely unpretentious conversations using a similar vocabulary on a regular basis - usually to discuss something technical it must be said. Something like philosophy, ethics or, I don't know, cognitive science, naturally demands that you use words which don't typically enter into day-to-day language. If you use such language enough, it's bound to creep into your day-to-day conversations. I've lost count of the number of times that I've explained a perfectly plain concept using language that I'd normally employ to talk about mathematics.

Using such language does not make you pretentious though, nor does it mean that you're trying to disguise a failing argument. It tells me that you're someone who is used to having conversations with people for whom a wide vocabulary is taken for granted. If you don't fit into that category that's fine, but I'm not going to deliberately dumb down my language because of it. I'll continue to use the words and phrases that I feel give the closest approximation to the meaning that I want to get across.

Arcade Fire · 31 Jan 2007 at 13:52

Rich_L said:
Nah, I think it's just because we're better educated than most, so talk like that all the time..

^5

pinkegobox · 31 Jan 2007 at 13:52

I use obsfuscate regularily. mutable - never.

(i use it because I like the way it sounds!)

VIRII · 31 Jan 2007 at 14:07

dirtydog said:
To be an arse?

Seriously: how do you know Rob was being that way? You clearly infer it, but unless he has admitted such behaviour then you cannot know for sure, can you.

I would have thought it was quite obvious to most people

VIRII · 31 Jan 2007 at 14:10

dirtydog said:
Although, using a large vocabulary is not proof that someone is merely doing so in order to appear superior. Unless you live in VIRII's world it seems Is it indicative of an inferiority complex, to go on the attack when someone uses long words which you perhaps have to look up in the dictionary?

Several other people have stated that they are aware of people who use big words to try and appear superior. Now in my world people aren't "superior" to other people and actions and intentions count for far more than education.
So perhaps it is only in the world of the "dirtydog" that not "long" but "obscure" words are used with that intention

I have a larger than average vocabulary because I enjoy language and reading.
I don't think that makes me superior. Yet you do...... Isthat indicative of your own inferiority complex......