Anti-intellectualism inhibits learning

[Buffy]

I was recently discussing Robert Penn Warrens book 'All the Kings Men' and was responded to in the following way:-

No kidding! Kings have been taking advantage of the Proletariat since society began. So your main error here is in flogging "America" rather than "greedy politicians" (hey, and *everywhere* not just here!), which not only diminishes your argument, but makes you look uneducated, or at the very least partisan (i.e. that you're just another politician, probably making the point for your own personal gain).

So, could I ask all of the people who have actually read the book (because it isn't about Kings and the proletariat, but political corruption in the deep south and its inevitable consequences) to provide feedback in the context of the topic at hand (not the (more important) underlying theme of the book, do the ends justify the means).

Well, aside from the unbelievably rude behavior of publishing a PRIVATE MESSAGE in public--which I'll ignore, I'll have to say that your interpretation of All The Kings Men is quite narrow, and hardly provides any legitimate reason to call this an example of "anti-intellectualism."

 

The only part of my PRIVATE note to you that directly referenced All The King's Men was the first sentence, and it was entirely oblique at that, simply using a transition from "power"--which is inarguably what the book is about--and turning it to the wielding of that power to the detriment and more importantly against the wishes of those who put the "Kings" in power. The use of the word "Proletariat" is an ironic commentary on the technique used both by those in power and those who wish to smear entire populations for the acts of a few, which is based on the notion that the "Proletariat" by definition agrees with the leadership in a Communist dictatorship.

 

To use this as some sort of justification that I have not read the book or am some how incompetently interpreting it is such a stretch that it is laughable, indeed, it might be evidence of a distinct inability to identify the use of irony, but I realize that you're much more intelligent than that and are simply "overstating"--as ALL Australians do, to make a point. So I won't take it personally!

 

As to the rest of my PRIVATE QUOTE, I think it has become unbelievably tiresome to hear that "ALL AMERICANS ARE AS EVIL AS GEORGE BUSH." Its not really going to get you anywhere to keep finding different ways to say it, and its more than a little bit curious as to why you do say it. You're obviously quite intelligent, but this is a remarkably strange quirk of character to be charitable, and at worst it is remarkably troll-like and will indeed continue to be responded to in kind.

 

There is only one thing a philosopher can be relied upon to do, and that is to contradict other philosophers, :clock:

Buffy

[LaurieAG]

As to the rest of my PRIVATE QUOTE, I think it has become unbelievably tiresome to hear that "ALL AMERICANS ARE AS EVIL AS GEORGE BUSH." Its not really going to get you anywhere to keep finding different ways to say it, and its more than a little bit curious as to why you do say it. You're obviously quite intelligent, but this is a remarkably strange quirk of character to be charitable, and at worst it is remarkably troll-like and will indeed continue to be responded to in kind.

 

Buffy,

 

You chose to nominate yourself as the author of a private message.

 

Please do not continue to attribute to me things that are not true!

 

I HAVE NEVER SAID WHAT YOU SAY and anybody can look through my posts to verify this FACT.

[DFINITLYDISTRUBD]

"Luckily I had a maternal Grandfather who indoctrinated my mum on the value of education. she gave up an enormous amount, surmounting huge difficulties,(she left school at 14) to give me an "education" strangely my father who had more education and a trade did not see the value of education." -Michaelangelica

 

Ah support of my firm belief that one rarely appreciates good fortune without first suffering to achieve it!

 

Personally I dumbed myself down as much as possible in school...(being different can be hazardous to ones health in school you know!)...The exception was at lunch where we 12geeks played chess and discussed politics, science, theology and philosophy.

 

Only problem is when you play dumb for too long it gets rather hard to convince yourself that you aren't...Especially when you've spent your life trying to figure out which parts of your existance are real and which aren't...ever spend an hour or so literally terrified that your shadow is out to get you?!?

[DFINITLYDISTRUBD]

No, I wasn't stoned!! It's just my perpetual state of mind.(depression followed by paranoia folowed by more depression occasionaly mixed with halucinations, anxiety, giddiness, and or laughing fits for no real reason whatsoever. It all depends on the particular minute.) ..I've gotten better though. I used to think that THEY were plotting against me and I must protect myself. Now I know THEY are out to get me and I'm pretty much scrwd.

[freeztar]

No, I wasn't stoned!! It's just my perpetual state of mind.(depression followed by paranoia folowed by more depression occasionaly mixed with halucinations, anxiety, giddiness, and or laughing fits for no real reason whatsoever. It all depends on the particular minute.) ..I've gotten better though. I used to think that THEY were plotting against me and I must protect myself. Now I know THEY are out to get me and I'm pretty much scrwd.

 

Who are "they" and what does this have to do with the topic?

[DFINITLYDISTRUBD]

Who are "they" and what does this have to do with the topic?

Wish I knew! THEY are Them, those that wish me harm, those that are far too interested in my dailly existance and wish too keep it as complicated and frustrating as possible!

 

As far as the thread: read post #20 the tail end of it... #21 merely provides a glimps into

a barrier I have faced in my attempts to return from the IQ abys of deliberate stupidity inflicted upon myself to avoid abuse from those that like to clobber those that prefer intelectual conversation over lesser fare (ie conversation about football, drinking, who got stoned over the weekend, who got laid, etc.). Anti-intellectualism -according to this thread from what I gather is exactly that Disdain for those that wish to focus on more enlightening conversation or activities.

 

Also I feared drug consumption might have been percieved to be the cause.