Why is questioning someone's intellectual capacities an insult?

[Martinus]

I have seen this many times before (and not talking about using offensive words like "cretin" or "retard") - someone whose intellectual capacities are questioned treats this as a huge insult/libel, whereas talking (using polite, non-offensive words) about someone else being emotional, or ugly, or not fit, or having a lot of other deficiencies is usually not treated as that offensive.

Is this because we are unable to separate our intellect from the sense of self?

[Siege]

I don't know.
I never get insulted when you question my intellectual capacity.
I am the first to recognize I am not very intelligent.
As a matter of fact, I am breathing and posting this today because I am not very smart.
If I were I would have been feeding the worms for a long time already.

[The Brain]

Many people have a bizarre idea that their opinions and statements automatically carry some weight. Many people have average intellects but still think that what they say are relevant or that their understanding of the world is the least bit interesting to extremely intelligent persons.

Why? Well... For whatever reason they are uncomfortable with accepting their lot of quietly doing their lifting and fetching and not bothering their betters with their inane drivel.

My guess is that accepting intellectual irrelevance carries too high a price to be advantageous to the individual. Many other deficiencies probably differ in this respect.

Slight tangent: my impression is that many people have no personal relationship with greatness. Ie they don't really see that there are people who have abilities that make their own uninteresting. They are themselves average and hang out with average people and therefore think that the world of mediocrity is all there is.

[Razgovory]

I have seen this many times before (and not talking about using offensive words like "cretin" or "retard") - someone whose intellectual capacities are questioned treats this as a huge insult/libel, whereas talking (using polite, non-offensive words) about someone else being emotional, or ugly, or not fit, or having a lot of other deficiencies is usually not treated as that offensive.

Is this because we are unable to separate our intellect from the sense of self?

Give us an example of what you are talking about.

[Eddie Teach]

Uh, calling somebody fat or ugly or overly emotional is also an insult...

[Siege]

I think all people are limited by whatever intelligence level they posses.
Meaning they cannot percieve, understand, or accept, that other people are smarter than they are.
They can accept that brilliance of a mathematical genious, for example, but are quick to point out how little "street smarts" and "common sense" he have.
However they got no problem recognizing people less intelligent than they are.

I don't know. It is a complex issue.
I think we are all victims of our own physical bodies.
Our brains can only go so far.
Maybe it is more important to be a good man, obey your people's laws, love your woman, raise your children right, and serve your country.

Maybe is not so bad to be a simple kind of man.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifEXPuluL9U

[Richard Hakluyt]

I think you are pretty close to the truth there Siege 

It kind of blows your cover though, better have a few Coors lites and post some gibberish if you want us to think you are thick 

[Siege]

I think you are pretty close to the truth there Siege 

It kind of blows your cover though, better have a few Coors lites and post some gibberish if you want us to think you are thick 

I'm drinking Miller Lite and vodka with orange juice.
And the baby is crying upstairs, but my wife gave me off today.
I haven't drank since Baby Siege was born on 3rd July.

[MadBurgerMaker]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paUGhVQfBpw

Fixed that link for you.

[Siege]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paUGhVQfBpw

Fixed that link for you.

Blows.
I ussually prefer covers over originals.
Unless we are talking of Sweet Home Alabama and Free Bird.

[MadBurgerMaker]

Yeah, blows.  We're talking about Shinedown, right?

(they're not really that bad, but I can't stand that cover for some reason...fucking grating)

E:  Then again, I'll have to say it's better than the Deftones cover. 

[Siege]

Yeah, blows.  We're talking about Shinedown, right?

(they're not really that bad, but I can't stand that cover for some reason...fucking grating)

Fuck no. The Shinedown version is the better version.

[MadBurgerMaker]

Fuck no. The Shinedown version is the better version.

Sure!   If you're deaf and can't hear it anyway.  "That one!"

Shit, the version with Johnny singing is better.  Fake Ronnie > Shinebox   

[Siege]

Fuck no. The Shinedown version is the better version.

Sure!   If you're deaf and can't hear it anyway.  "That one!"

Shit, even the version with Johnny singing is better.

Are you going to seriously compare the vocals of Brent Smith to Johnny Van Zant? Plz.

[MadBurgerMaker]

Are you going to seriously compare the vocals of Brent Smith to Johnny Van Zant? Plz.

Psh.  Johnny van Zant has done an admirable job of impersonating his brother for the last....what....30 years now?  Skynyrd has been with Johnny longer than Ronnie, but w/e.