# Intellectual arrogance **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 31, 2010, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intellectual-arrogance/565907 "2010-12-31T03:49:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![InterestedObserver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@InterestedObserver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InterestedObserver)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intellectual-arrogance/565907/61 "2011-01-01T00:46:20Z")
> [@iamnotbatman](#): > > As others have commented, grad school _will_ solve this problem (in the hard sciences at least). All it takes is a few instances of your arrogance biting you in the ass; being completely humbled and embarrassed by people far brighter than you. He’s in college now (at the same University I attend) and I was halfway expecting (even HOPING to some small degree :o) that his first term might humble him a bit. No such luck. He slacked off (same way he did through highschool, taking AP courses) and made straight A’s. Of course, he IS a Freshman, and the courses will get increasingly more demanding. It’s not that I HOPE he will fail, but just that he perhaps will get a slight knock-back before too long to help break through his “intellectual arrogance”. I’m proud of him doing well, of course, but I think he’d really benefit from the experience of encountering something that WASN’T so damn easy for him. It may very well take until graduate school for this to happen. Or maybe it never will and maybe doesn’t even have to for him to come to be a bit more humble. ETA, his current major is English with minors in music and philosophy…not much hope of him hitting a wall anytime soon. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![iamnotbatman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/858c86/32.png) [@iamnotbatman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamnotbatman)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intellectual-arrogance/565907/62 "2011-01-01T01:13:26Z")
> [@InterestedObserver](#): > > It may very well take until graduate school for this to happen Yeah… college can be pretty easy for some people. There is a lot of pressure on professors to not flunk students; the grade curve only rises to the level of one’s classmates, who typically (depending on where you live and what college you go to) represent nothing more than the ‘upper half’ of high-school-graduates. So college _difficulty_ typically does not represent a big ‘step up’ from high-school, unfortunately. It used to be much different, back when a far smaller percentage of high school students attended college. Graduate school, on the other hand, represents a much bigger ‘step up’. Far fewer attend, and the programs are more selective. Furthermore, thesis work typically requires working closely with actual researchers in the field, who if faculty represent something around or above the top 10% of graduate students. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intellectual-arrogance/565907/63 "2011-01-01T02:07:24Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > The thing is, they already think I’m arrogant before they ask anything. And they know I’ll have the answer they need, or I know where to get it. A lot of people equate arrogance with being knowledgeable, so the only way not to appear arrogant is not to have the answers. If you appear to be stupid and ignorant they will leave you alone . . . but they’ll like you more. There is no great difficulty in being knowledgeable, confident, but reasonably humble. People will still quickly realise you know shit, and they’ll still ask you stuff, they will ALSO like you. ---
**Author:** ![Ibanez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a4c791/32.png) [@Ibanez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibanez)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intellectual-arrogance/565907/64 "2011-01-01T02:37:25Z")
I have a friend who has a tell when he thinks someones a dumbass. He frowns. He’s admitted it’s an automatic reaction and can do nothing about it. When he frowns me. I frown him right back. Hillarity sometimes ensues. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intellectual-arrogance/565907/65 "2011-01-01T04:44:49Z")
That look on their face isn’t because they’ve realized you think they are stupid. It’s not because you’ve made them feel foolish. In fact it’s not because you’ve revealed anything about them, at all. It’s because of what you’ve revealed about yourself. When you understand the difference you’ll be even smarter then you are now. And a little more mature, too. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intellectual-arrogance/565907/66 "2011-01-01T05:19:32Z")
I believe it was during the Tiananmen Square Massacre that I remarked to a co-worker how odd it was that China was all for a capitalistic economy, yet the government never overcame the communistic style of oppression that it got from Chairman Mao. Blank look from co-worker. “Mao Zedong? He used to be Mao Tse-Tung?” I asked. “Who was he?” asks the co-worker. “A communist dictator. You know, like Josef Stalin,” I explained. Another blank look. Here I made the mistake. “You don’t know about Josef Stalin neither?” I asked. Angry look. “You think everybody knows what you know?” Co-worker snaps and flounces away. Sigh. I really didn’t mean to be arrogant. I was just surprised she didn’t know about Stalin. ---
**Author:** ![aesop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f8ce5/32.png) [@aesop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aesop)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intellectual-arrogance/565907/67 "2011-01-01T17:30:54Z")
Mary Chase had it right when she put these immortal words in the mouth of Elwood P. Dowd: > [@](#): > > Years ago my mother used to say to me, she’d say, “In this world, Elwood, you must be” - she always called me Elwood - “In this world, Elwood, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant.” Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. You may quote me. Words to live by… ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intellectual-arrogance/565907/68 "2011-01-01T18:06:13Z")
> [@DummyGladHands](#): > > No fresh blood in the water here, folks, just a _legititimate_ ?. To those who got the question, and tried to answer, thanks, and to the rest of you proving how smart you are-_You’ll are so cute_. (emphasis mine)I do believe you’ve made a point. Maybe not _your_ point, but still… ---
**Author:** ![InterestedObserver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@InterestedObserver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InterestedObserver)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intellectual-arrogance/565907/69 "2011-01-01T20:20:47Z")
> [@iamnotbatman](#): > > Yeah… college can be pretty easy for some people. There is a lot of pressure on professors to not flunk students; the grade curve only rises to the level of one’s classmates, who typically (depending on where you live and what college you go to) represent nothing more than the ‘upper half’ of high-school-graduates. So college _difficulty_ typically does not represent a big ‘step up’ from high-school, unfortunately. It used to be much different, back when a far smaller percentage of high school students attended college. > > Graduate school, on the other hand, represents a much bigger ‘step up’. Far fewer attend, and the programs are more selective. Furthermore, thesis work typically requires working closely with actual researchers in the field, who if faculty represent something around or above the top 10% of graduate students. From what I can tell, based on my time at this University, is that it is fairly rigorous overall. Professors differ, of course, as does material depending upon the course/major, but it certainly isn’t “easy”, ime. I’ve made almost straight A’s thus far, but I’ve worked for them (and I’m pretty “intelligent” and skilled at writing, test-taking, etc..) Only ever had one class in which a curve was employed in grading (this last term, with a Prof. I’ve had before who is TOUGH, both wrt her content and her grading…from feedback I’ve gotten from others in the class, I suspect my grades were among the highest in the class, but I also suspect at least someone else did better, else I calculate I should have gotten a B, not the A I did…her use of a curve is new, as far as I know, and I wonder if it is because too many of her students were doing poorly with straight grading?). I’m a film major and I frequently encounter the assumption that it’s an “easy major”. I have had people majoring in something else ask me which film/theater arts courses are “easiest”, wanting to take one as an elective. I tell them, honestly, “this is college..NONE of them are easy. There may be some you find easier or more enjoyable, depending on your personal interests and abilities, but all of them require you to put in about the same level of work any other class of the same level would.” They think we JUST watch movies or something. :rolleyes: They find out differently when they take a course they expect to be an easy A and find it to be among the most challenging they’ve taken. 😉 I’m sure the courses my son is taking are about the same as far as difficulty goes (I can’t really speak to Freshman level, since I was allowed to enter as a Sophmore, but what I mean is, if there is a similar rate of difficulty between the levels as I’ve seen between the ones I’ve taken, Freshman level is “bright Highschool”, a sort of easing in, and while more challenging than even the AP courses he’s taken, not anything he can’t easily handle, regardless of the subject.) ---
**Author:** ![Nadir](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nadir/32/7302_2.png) [@Nadir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nadir)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intellectual-arrogance/565907/70 "2011-01-01T21:01:54Z")
> [@Just\_Ed](#): > > The Alt keystroke is Alt + 0176. I knew that 15 years ago, haven’t used it since and forgot. I’ve probably forgotten more than most people will ever know. I don’t think that makes me smart or intelligent - just forgetful. Two things I’ve learned from this thread: 1) There’s more than one way to make the ° sign, and 2) There’s alot of people who don’t have very good social skills. ---
**Author:** ![iamnotbatman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/858c86/32.png) [@iamnotbatman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamnotbatman)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intellectual-arrogance/565907/71 "2011-01-01T21:24:27Z")
Interesting that you say you’ve only encountered one employment of a curve. All of my classes were on the curve, as well as the classes I taught in grad school as a TA. I can’t tell you how frustrating it is when you think only 10% should pass based on the tests and homework, and yet you have to end up passing nearly all of them. Makes for a very different competitive situation. The _material_ in college was always rigorous and a challenge. Getting good grades was not. But as your example illustrates, everyone’s experience is different. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intellectual-arrogance/565907/72 "2011-01-01T22:18:41Z")
> [@DummyGladHands](#): > > But, in all honesty, it was simply the first example that came to mind. And the person who asked (who is not the first, (it’s common in our field), knows many many things that I don’t, and is a master of Excel, which I know next to nothing about), is a good guy, and not at all stupid, he is in fact, our co. webmaster. Parenthesis within parenthesis and overuse of commas. Just sayin’. ---
**Author:** ![InterestedObserver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@InterestedObserver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InterestedObserver)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intellectual-arrogance/565907/73 "2011-01-01T22:28:32Z")
> [@iamnotbatman](#): > > Interesting that you say you’ve only encountered one employment of a curve. All of my classes were on the curve, as well as the classes I taught in grad school as a TA. I can’t tell you how frustrating it is when you think only 10% should pass based on the tests and homework, and yet you have to end up passing nearly all of them. Makes for a very different competitive situation. The _material_ in college was always rigorous and a challenge. Getting good grades was not. But as your example illustrates, everyone’s experience is different. I really don’t like the idea of grading on a curve…dammit, I want to be graded on MY performance, period. I know it is seen as a “boon” to the class (hey, even if you do relatively poorly, you will get a bump from those who did better…win win) but it’s disengenuous bullshit, imo. If I deserved a B+, I want a fucking B+, not an A. And if my classmate who slacked off and didn’t put forth the effort I did earned a C, why the fuck should they ride on my or anyone else’s coattails and be awarded an A or a B? I can understand your frustration as a TA..I share it as a student. But yeah, this is my second time through college and this one class was my only encounter of the curve being employed. I am usually able to calculate my grade at any point based on my individual performance. That gives me a degree of feedback I find very useful and which encourages me to strive for excellence, not just count on achieving it via the “curve”. ---
**Author:** ![InterestedObserver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@InterestedObserver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InterestedObserver)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intellectual-arrogance/565907/74 "2011-01-01T23:33:19Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > Parenthesis within parenthesis and overuse of commas. Just sayin’. OUCH! 😛 Good burn, but I have to chime in and say that while I have my own biases related to grammatical and spelling errors (I admit it; if someone chronically errs in such things as “your” and “you’re”, “there” and “their”, I automatically judge them as an imbecile and tend to discount anything else they have to say, as fair or unfair as that may be…it is a gut reaction :o) I recognize that spelling and grammar are NOT reliable measures of intelligence or overall worth as a human being. And typos are completely neither here nor there, imo. So I restrain myself from resorting to attacks on such failings. Remembering that I myself am not the best speller, typer or grammatarian (is that even a word? Probably misspelled if it is ;)) helps me to avoid the temptation. IME, the moment you attack someone else for techincal errors, you will make one yourself in your post. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2011, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intellectual-arrogance/565907/75 "2011-01-02T01:01:04Z")
> [@InterestedObserver](#): > > OUCH! 😛 > > Good burn, but I have to chime in and say that while I have my own biases related to grammatical and spelling errors (I admit it; if someone chronically errs in such things as “your” and “you’re”, “there” and “their”, I automatically judge them as an imbecile and tend to discount anything else they have to say, as fair or unfair as that may be…it is a gut reaction :o) I recognize that spelling and grammar are NOT reliable measures of intelligence or overall worth as a human being. And typos are completely neither here nor there, imo. > > So I restrain myself from resorting to attacks on such failings. > > Remembering that I myself am not the best speller, typer or grammatarian (is that even a word? Probably misspelled if it is ;)) helps me to avoid the temptation. > > IME, the moment you attack someone else for techincal errors, you will make one yourself in your post. 😃 May I vote that \*\*Interested Observer \*\*receive the honorary posting title of “grammatarian”? C’mon, people, put your hands together & give it up; credit where credit is due. 😃 No, no, honored poster. Thank YOU!!! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![InterestedObserver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@InterestedObserver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InterestedObserver)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2011, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intellectual-arrogance/565907/76 "2011-01-02T01:07:49Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > May I vote that \*\*Interested Observer \*\*receive the honorary posting title of “grammatarian”? > > C’mon, people, put your hands together & give it up; credit where credit is due. 😃 > > No, no, honored poster. Thank YOU!!! 😉 Well, FINALLY, my genious is being recognized! :smack: Thank you, thank you, please, please, sit down…:o Grammarian is, in fact, the proper term (I was CLOSE! Admit it!:))…and it still sounds like a made-up, BS term to me. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intellectual-arrogance/565907.md?page=3)