Reptile & Amphibian Forums

If you are calling someone a name to try to hurt their feelings, that is totally wrong. But when is using a "name" valid?

If someone says many ridiculous things that can easily be disproven and is never heard to say anything that is valid, is calling him an idiot really an insult to him or just a description? Saying someone is tall or short is a description. Saying someone is intelligent is an accepted description, but saying someone is an idiot, also a description, isn't accepted. I never hear children say, "He's calling me names, he said I was smart!" Just because a description has a negetave connotation doesn't necessarily mean it is calling names.

If someone can back up a statement with facts, he can never be legitimately called an idiot. Doing that is name calling.

If someone can never or almost never back up a statement with facts, he can legitimately be called an idiot. Then it is really just a way to describe him.

Try to attack peoples false ideas/concepts and don't attack them personally, but if a description fits....

Rodney

Calling some one an idiot is mean. Its not really an attempt to clarify something, or describe someone. Even if it really does describe someone, whats the point of using the word? Unless your an idiot, you can find a kinder way to express your self. If you don't care, than your mean. And a mean person is a scared person.

Joe

if you say something that is correct factually, you are considered rude due to political correctness. I'd rather be correct than politically correct anyday.

Rodney

To have no knowledge is ignorance...we all start out that way. I have no problem being called ignorant if the person saying so has knowledge to back it up. To avoid or ignore knowledge and yet expound on a subject you are ignorant of that is dumb, or stupid. Perhaps it's a fault but I have no tollerance for stupid. My experience in the military taught me that people get killed by stupid things. To make a personal statement "You are stupid" can be offensive...but also a proper discription of that person. To say "You are being stupid for not even looking at the facts before you speak." is also an accurate statement. To ridicule one who has knowledge, or some one who is ignorant...That is mean. There is a differance.

Since the above posts involve my statements, I figured clarification was in order.
Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

See Frank,

We can agree on something!

Eric

That's what makes it interesting!
Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

Intersting to who? What is the point to identify who is stupid, dump or ignorant? You can be all three and still be elected in this country.

Multiple thread deletions are how this seemingly unintelligable mess occured....Wish I could blame it on hanging chads but...that excuse has allready been taken.....Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."