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Smart people don't think others are stupid

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Re: Smart people don't think others are stupid

#21
post #7
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

:-)

Was thinking that the smiley face was not much of an addition, but then clocked that you are probably the author of the piece, in which case the smiley face was probably fairly tactful.

We certainly know he doesn't think adviceonly is stupid :)

Re: Smart people don't think others are stupid

#22

There are no smart people or stupid people, just people being smart or being stupid. The same could be said about almost all behaviors, such as courage, promiscuity, or whathaveyou. However, over time people tend to display consistent patterns of behavior. As a consistent picture emerges, we tend to switch from thinking of people as acting a certain way, to thinking of people as being a certain way. Whether you want…

But people tend to fixate on their first impression of others. It's very common to see someone do something stupid once, and then assume they're stupid forever-or the opposite. It's definitely worth recognizing the first impression bias, and doing your best to fight it.

Actually there's interesting research on this.. I wish I could remember where I read it - I think a Malcolm Gladwell book.

In general, we only need to see someone being smart once and then we will forever label them as smart. It's as if being smart is an achievement and they've proven they're capable.

However, in general we only need to see someone being evil once, and we will forever label them as evil. It's as if that's their true self, and all the other instances of them being good are a ruse.

Re: Smart people don't think others are stupid

#24
In my experience, I think smart people often think others are smart. And that's sometimes a problem-- because they believe that others are smart as well, they should think everything through the way they do (Also, I'd really like to say we here, but pride is never good karma :-))

Then you start wondering why they are doing something so obviously unwise, and then tend to rationalize it with some enormously complicated theory. Perhaps, this is the reason why Hanlon's razor is useful and recognized-- without it smart people are kinda lost.

Re: Smart people don't think others are stupid

#25

Smart people don't think others are stupid merely because of the beliefs they hold . That is, being a [Southerner, Northerner, Republican, Democrat, Indian, American, Christian, Muslim, Atheist, Tauist, Piist, vi user, emacs user, ...] does not mean a person is stupid. There are smart people who really have thought things through and ended up at each of those positions for good reasons. But smart people might conclud…

Right on, couldn't have said it better. Thanks.

Re: Smart people don't think others are stupid

#26

There are no smart people or stupid people, just people being smart or being stupid. The same could be said about almost all behaviors, such as courage, promiscuity, or whathaveyou. However, over time people tend to display consistent patterns of behavior. As a consistent picture emerges, we tend to switch from thinking of people as acting a certain way, to thinking of people as being a certain way. Whether you want…

But people tend to fixate on their first impression of others. It's very common to see someone do something stupid once, and then assume they're stupid forever-or the opposite. It's definitely worth recognizing the first impression bias, and doing your best to fight it.

Fundamental attribution error from social psychology - you tend to attribute errors by others to their intrinsic flaws (stupidity, poor judgment, clumsiness) but your own errors to circumstances (I was tired, they tricked me, it was slippery).

Re: Smart people don't think others are stupid

#27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But people tend to fixate on their first impression of others. It's very common to see someone do something stupid once, and then assume they're stupid forever-or the opposite. It's definitely worth recognizing the first impression bias, and doing your best to fight it.

Actually there's interesting research on this.. I wish I could remember where I read it - I think a Malcolm Gladwell book. In general, we only need to see someone being smart once and then we will forever label them as smart. It's as if being smart is an achievement and they've proven they're capable. However, in general we only need to see someone being evil once, and we will forever label them as evil. It's as if t…

I think the term for that is Diagnosis Bias.

http://psychcentral.com/lib/2008/sway-the-irresistible-pull-...

Re: Smart people don't think others are stupid

#28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Actually there's interesting research on this.. I wish I could remember where I read it - I think a Malcolm Gladwell book. In general, we only need to see someone being smart once and then we will forever label them as smart. It's as if being smart is an achievement and they've proven they're capable. However, in general we only need to see someone being evil once, and we will forever label them as evil. It's as if t…

I think the term for that is Diagnosis Bias. http://psychcentral.com/lib/2008/sway-the-irresistible-pull-...

[deleted]

Re: Smart people don't think others are stupid

#30
Isn't this the crux of infamous "ad hominem" argument: attacking the person instead of their reasoning?

Even smart people sometimes make stupid arguments.

And good arguments can be made by anyone.

It's very difficult to be right 100% of the time.

It's also quite unusual to be wrong 100% of the time.

Evaluate the reasoning, not the author.

Stupid argument, not stupid person.

Look at what Alsup said to Boies.

Still, this is easier said than done.

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