Perhaps you need a complete idiot’s guide to dictionaries. “Idiot” does not mean (and to the best of my knowledge, has never meant) “someone who is significantly ignorant about a subject.” According to the first source I grabbed,
It does not refer to ignorance at all, especially ignorance of a specific subject. It refers to stupidity. An ignorant person can be educated. An idiot cannot. Adding “complete” in front of it exacerbates the point. “Complete idiot” is an insult of the highest order, and goes much deeper than “inherently stupid.”
I would give a friend a guide book “for ignorant people.” We’re all ignorant about something, after all. Giving someone a “complete idiot’s guide” would be a serious slap in the face.
Meh. I know perfectly well that the author of the book isn’t trying to insult me. He or she doesn’t even know me. But if someone purchased that book for me, or suggested the book to me, I would take it as an insult. I would never even consider recommending one to somebody. I do stock a couple of them in my bookstore (only two), but I would never tell a customer that he or she should read a complete idiot book.
And you would be helped by a guide to slang, hyperbole, and context?
In everyday use, “idiot” is commonly used in a lighthearted manner to refer to someone having done something stupid or silly. It is also used, usually reflexive upon oneself, to refer to being ignorant and/or not grasping something, e.g. “I felt like a complete idiot when …” This is not the dictionary definition. This is the meaning referred to in the titles under discussion.
wait a minute…I’m confused…
you’re insulted at buying a book for idiots,…yet you intentionally choose to stand in the stupid line?
Why not stand in the line for smart people?
What redtail23 said. That old Volkswagen repair manual was one of the best-written manuals of all time. It definitely set of waves: advertise your manual as so well-written, so accessible, that not only do you not have to be technically proficient in that field, you can be a “compleat idiot”!
I think the flyleaf illustration showed an optimistic would-be mechanic approaching the front of the VW beetle with a thought-bubble showing the expected engine compartment. 'Nuff said.
I’ve never opened one of the Dummy or Idiot books.
Yes, they are insulting, rather than just self deprecating.
And I presume they mean what they say on the cover.
I always look for the expert guides, and especially those written by people with sound resumes, surgeons, lawyers, CEO’s…
IMO the title is designed to inform the buyer that it is presupposing that the buyer has absoloutly no useful prior knowledge of the subject(unlike many other guides and manuals) or related knowledge.
Personally I think that this is a bloody good idea and would have no qualms about buying one if I needed the info.
If you have a healthy level of self esteem I cant see why anyone should be insulted by the books name,you cant be a complete idiot if you have the money to buy the book,the literacy to read the book,believe that your bright enough to understand the book and put its knowledge to use.
I don’t think anyone thinks the book titles are personally insulting them (at least I, the OP don’t), but why name your product in an insulting way? How about “Fatass Ice Cream” or “Lardboy Snack Cakes”? Is that something you would want to purchase?
First, there’s the question of whether it’s construed as being named in an insulting way or as being named in a way that evokes people sometimes thinking “I felt like a complete idiot,” which is usually lighthearted self-deprecation but not actually insulting. I maintain their intent was the latter, though it appears others view it differently.
Then, we have products like Fat Bastard Wine, Fat Bastard Ale, and Arrogant Bastard Ale. Some people might take offense at the names, but apparently a significant number appreciate them as tongue-in-cheek irreverent humor. Schoolboy humor, perhaps, but still humor.
“Fatass Ice Cream” and “Lardboy Snack Cakes” probably hit a little too close to home for many of their purchasers. Actual idiots don’t buy guide books and one needn’t be a bastard to buy booze, and using those products isn’t associated with becoming an idiot or a bastard. It’s rather different with food - especially rich “junk” food - and terms relating to one’s size.
There’s a line that can be crossed from tweaking convention to being nasty. Where the line is differs among individuals. Products with provocative names can repel some customers, but sometimes attract others. Companies think about whom they’re marketing to and the name’s effect on market share. Some take the safe road, some take the playful one. The ones that cross the line for too many people no doubt learn from the marketplace that they went too far.
I have lots of For Dummies books, but I think only one of the Complete Idiots books (camping and hiking, I think.) Just this week I started on ASP.NET 2.0 Everyday Apps for Dummies.
I still cannot get over anyone not buying one of these books (if they needed or wanted a broad overview of something) because of the title. I think it’s one of the more pretentious things I’ve ever heard of. I was going to come in to mention Fat Bastard and Old Fart wine but someone already did. I’ve also seen hamburgers at greasy spoon type places reference heart attacks, artery clogs, and angioplasty in the menu description. Most of us probably aren’t as smart as we think we are.
I don’t think the target audience would purchase it, but it sounds like a great idea. Maybe they could start a new line. Getting Over Yourself for Geniuses?
Pretentious? I can see your point regarding buying one of these for yourself (although I don’t agree with it), but do you see my point about buying one for someone else?
If someone gave you a book (or recommended a book to you) called “Something or other for complete idiots,” how could you not feel that they were insulting you?
I actually got a “For Dummies” title on that very topic. Not that I was ever about to roll up my sleeves and get down and dirty in the trading pit, rather I had some editing to do for a publication and had to be a little bit more familiar with the topic because it was tangentally related to the article I was proofing. I didn’t need to be an expert, but I did have to understand the basics.
