Dumbing down speech

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I am learning how important it is to dumb things down.

Partly because it makes it easier for others to understand me if I do dumb it down, particularly clients. (A practical consideration)

Secondly because some people, clients, colleagues, business associates etc, are quite intimidated by intellect, which is tedious

It's a great way to cut down on the cost of one's food, whilst simultaneously becoming educated, and eating healthfully! There are lots of books - my favorites are those of Samuel Thayer "Nature's Garden" and "Forager's Harvest" -- He has continued in the same spirit as Euell Gibbons, confirming and sometimes even correcting Euell's teachings. Gibbons' 3 main books are a standard in the subject - and John Kallas "Edible Wild Plants: Wild Foods From Dirt To Plate" is also top-notch work.

The best guide for fungi wild identification purposes (and I have 7 re: the Northeast US specifically) is Roger Phillips "Mushrooms and Other Fungi of North America" - it has full color pictures of all the mushrooms as collected by the author in the wild. The most useful book one could hope for.

You're right. Jobs probably was not the greatest example to pick. I did say he could be abrasive. And yes, many people who knew him freely admit he wasn't very likable.

My point is that regardless of who he or anyone else dealt with during their climb to success, I don't believe it was abrasiveness, or calling others "stupid" that got them there. I'm sure that all of them chose to turn that side of themselves off if necessary, depending on the company of people they were with at the time. If they're with someone they NEED something from, and want it bad enough, I'm certain they aren't going to be an as*hole to them, unless they know the person is one who has the ability to see through that and find some value in the relationship that benefits them. If they are with a person who may not be able to get past it, and that person has something they want, they're NOT likely to act like as*holes and risk losing an opportunity.

Nobody gets to that level of success without understanding when they can get away with being a dick, and when they can't. In many cases, the ability is driven by a self centered motivation. In others, it's driven by a genuine love for people, and that translates to likability.

How a person measures success also has a lot to do with it. If it's in money and/or recognition, and nothing else, one can get away with a lot more of what many would call unacceptable behaviors, as long as one learns when to turn them off and on at the right times, with the right people. Most people I know call that manipulative.

Those who measure it in happiness and good positive relationships, learn not to be manipulative, and don't resort to generalizing entire groups of people as "stupid." (I'm referring to the point in this thread about calling NT's in general stupid at this point). I find that stupid in itself since it prejudges an entire group of people based solely on the fact that they don't have Autism. I find that pretty stupid whether one measures success with money, power and influence, or measures it in happiness and friendships.

Why?

Because by generalizing an entire group as stupid, you've just insulted the entire group, many of whom you could be dead wrong about, and all of whom will now most likely want nothing to do with you if they know what you're attitude is toward them. Some of them could be useful in your quest for success, no matter how you define it.

As for the comedy bits, I found them pretty funny, but what I'm seeing there are satires on specific attitudes and policies, not choosing an entire group of people and branding them as idiots or stupid. Unless you want to claim "politicians" but that to me is a completely different story. Some groups are acceptable to satire. Groups comprised entirely of people who have put themselves intentionally in the public arena should expect it. I also find it acceptable for members of a particular group to satirize themselves. I find it to be a fairly bad idea for members of one group comprised mainly of private individuals, to satirize or insult another group comprised mainly of private individuals in stereotypical fashion.

I found this sketch one of the funniest I've ever seen.

WARNING! Extreme racist speech! Please consider the context carefully!


How funny would this video be if it were done by David Duke in black face? (intentionally extreme example, but you get the point)

Many of the same people in the Autistic community who call NT's stupid, are also the same individuals who rant about Autistic stereotypes. Isn't that just a little hypocritical?

The fact that you responded only two posts after mine and put the word erudite, which only I had used, in sarcastic quotes makes it highly suspect that your snide comment was directed towards me.

And if your comment was not directed towards me, perhaps I misinterpreted your message due to the fact that I have Asperger's, not because I'm arrogant?

If Sheldon Cooper "won't kowtow to mediocre minds.", why should you?

The 'Sheldon' also said to his cohort "As I have explained repeatedly, unlike you, I don't need validation from lesser minds."

Follow the example of OUR DEAR LEADER the wondrous Sheldon Cooper and all will be well.

But then what do you do when you need to communicate an idea to people who initially don't understand you? Do you simply give up and accept that they don't understand you? That would be fine if it's not very important for them to understand but situations must come up where you need them to understand.

maybe it is due to paranoia. i promise you that i never read what you wrote. i have seen other posts where the word "erudite" was used (along with may other ornamental words) and i thought "yawn...another example of sesquipedalianism"

people who use esoteric words do so because they are trying to display their intelligence like peacocks who ruffle their tail feathers ti impress.

you are like an intellectual snob. i believe all minds (including animals minds) are beautiful, and you think that only minds that are intellectually advanced to be worthy of respect. i consider that idea to be conceited and i am glad i am not like you.

i would not value your life as more worthy than a little bird who sees it's own version of reality. innocence is the most valuable attribute of any mind i believe.

i consider that statement to be a joke. i will not comment further about that because i think there is some non serious aspect to what you say that does not warrant a considered reply.

words are merely vehicles that transport concepts to other minds.

i have no idea what the vocabulary of people that i speak to consists of, so i try to use the simplest words to convey my message.

a concept that is rich in imagination is not enhanced by the use of words understood by few people, and not diminished by the use of words that all can understand.

a concept is a concept and the method of it's delivery does not change the concept in any way.

many people like to sound "erudite" by their use of such words as "erudite".

a stupid idea can be conveyed with a set of words understood only by the most learned, and a brilliant idea can be conveyed with words that even the entirely uneducated can understand.

"Prevalent"...REALLY?!

Now I'm not one usually to judge or critique, but how in the world did they not low what that word means?- I mean, I don't even remember having to learn or be told it's meaning, besides in the context of almost any sentence one's common sense would be able to grasp it's meaning.

As I said, there are certainly times where it's beneficial to let stupid things pass, I do agree there, but I don't see why you should feel obligated to do so if you don't need anything from that person either. If someone acts like an idiot but isn't in fact an idiot then they'll correct their behaviour as a result of being called out on it, else they're simply idiots.

The definition of success thing is of course very subjective. In this specific context, success is doing well in whatever your chosen field is, and as such being manipulative is very helpful indeed. But hey, it's either that or upset people who would otherwise help you, so what ya gonna do?

Did anyone in this thread actually call all NT's idiots? I don't believe they did...

...but if so then they were wrong to do so. The "us vs. them" mentality is indeed not helpful to anyone.

Here's another KKK sketch (not at all actually racist, it basically just makes fun of their uniform and name):