Ignorance vs Stupidity vs Immaturity

[The Singularity]

In an imperfect society in an imperfect world ... I have always wondered what it is about being ignorant/stupid/immature that people tend to show these behavioral patterns on a daily basis.

When I say ignorant, I mean people not knowing the simple facts of life ... like the Earth revolves around the sun and not vise versa.
When I say stupidity, I mean people drinking several glasses of beer and getting behind the wheel.
When I say immaturity, I mean grown adults laughing at over-weight people or making fun of other people who seem "odd"

There are many more examples then I have listed.

Now let me make something clear about this. I'm not taking about people who are mentally handicaped or have a mental disability due to genetics which renders them as automatically stupid/ignorant/immature. I'm talking about normal, everyday people who choose to be one of the three ... or even all three.

As for the exact definition I'm using, it is as follows:
Ignorance - The condition of being uneducated, unaware, or uninformed.
Stupidity - The quality or condition of being stupid whereas stupid is defined as being marked by a lack of intelligence or care; foolish or careless
Immaturity - Marked by or suggesting a lack of normal maturity

Now each of these definitions are different enough that they shouldn't be related

Now my main question is, why do people behave like this by choice? What advantages are there to being ignorant/stupid/immature that they are willing to remain like that by choice?

 

[Alpha]

People are often ignorant because they don't care, stupid because they're conditioned not to think, or let others think for them, and immaure because it seems easier to not accept responsibility for your actions.

There are many varied psychological reasons, but each case depends on the person, their environment/upbringing, etc.

 

[Athelwulf]

Ignorance is bliss. If yer ignorant, yer happy. I guess .

Stupid people . . . have nothin' to say 'bout them.

Immature people, sometimes they can make ya mad. But ya know what I believe? I believe it's not a big problem when someone's the kind of immature that doesn't hurt anyone. Laughing at a weight-challenged person is wrong. Just acting like an oddball is alright. Sometimes ya just hafta be immature just so ya can release stress. Life gets boring if yer mature ALL the time. Course, don't overdo it.

Well, I'm all burnt out on this subject. On to others. And I hope I made people think.

"Snausages!" - Âðelwulf

 

[cosmictraveler]

Ignorance comes from lack of education and many countries don't have any education for their citizens today.

 

[The Singularity]

Ok ... I should have exempt people living in third world countries because there is no solid educational system. But people living in the industrialized world shouldn't have an excuse for being ignorant. I mean, not even common knowledge seems to be registered by people who are ignorant. Is it that difficult to know things that we, as a human race, should know?

 

[The Singularity]

Originally posted by Athelwulf

Immature people, sometimes they can make ya mad. But ya know what I believe? I believe it's not a big problem when someone's the kind of immature that doesn't hurt anyone

Can there really be immaturity where no one's feeling get hurt? When I think of immature people, they're always trying to put someone down ... whether it's their classmates/co-workers or just people the see on the street.

 

[§outh§tar]

In an imperfect society in an imperfect world ... I have always wondered what it is about being ignorant/stupid/immature that people tend to show these behavioral patterns on a daily basis.

Stupidity - The quality or condition of being stupid whereas stupid id defined

I'd say speak for yourself and stop pointing fingers.

 

[The Singularity]

Southstar,
If you are refering to that spelling mistake ... I would hardly think that it signifies stupidity by any means. Anyone could easily make that mistake and miss seeing it, considering it was only one word. It's a stupid mistake ... but it doesn't signify general stupidity

Refering to Alpha's post

People are often ignorant because they don't care

But if you take students at the college level (who do care) ... some of them don't even seem to know some of the basic facts of life (I'm not sure on an example but I remember seeing this on a news report when random, simple questions were asked and some couldn't even give a reasonable answer)

... stupid because they're conditioned not to think, or let others think for them

Even if it means serious injury to themselves or to others?

... and immaure because it seems easier to not accept responsibility for your actions.

I would think people are immature because they don't care about how others see them. Though what I don't understand is why stoop to a level where you would insult or impersonate someone who isn't as fortunate as you are or laugh at people just because they act differently then you would.

 

[Athelwulf]

Originally Posted by The Singularity
Can there really be immaturity where no one's feeling get hurt? When I think of immature people, they're always trying to put someone down ... whether it's their classmates/co-workers or just people the see on the street.

Ditzy girls are immature. Ask me for a definition if ya don't know what I'm talking about. I know there's a better word, just my brain's off right now. Ditzy girls don't hurt anyone, but they're still immature.

People sticking straws up their noses is immature. Are they hurting anyone? No.

I hope that elaborated enough.

 

[§outh§tar]

Southstar,
If you are refering to that spelling mistake ... I would hardly think that it signifies stupidity by any means. Anyone could easily make that mistake and miss seeing it, considering it was only one word. It's a stupid mistake ... but it doesn't signify general stupidity

And you are to say what does "signify general stupidity" and what doesn't? What authority do you have?

 

[water]

Funny, this topic is just what I was thinking about lately.

I think that the answer to all three -- ignorance, immaturity and stupidity -- is the lack of emotional intelligence.

In the Western world, a lot of attention is payed to intellectual intelligence, but very little to emotional intelligence.

(For example, I am amazed to see college graduates, women, all dolled up -- and they say about a teacher that she is a "fu*king cu*t".)


However, I see one more kind of situation where one acts silly. It is when you know you're being silly, but you "just can't help yourself" -- when in love. We do so many things to impress the other person. Some of these things do show a lack of emotional intelligence, but some other are a result of "romantic despair and longing". I wouldn't classify them as lack of emotional intelligence though.

 

[Athelwulf]

Please elaborate on the subject of emotional intelligence . . . it's kinda making my brain hurt . . . not yer fault, just my brain is on the verge of short-circuting.

 

[§outh§tar]

If a 3 year old was throwing rocks at a tiger and laughing hysterically because they thought it was funny, would that be:

a) Immaturity
b) Ignorance
c) Stupidity

Now apply that to a college-educated adult from say, Stanford.

 

[§outh§tar]

Please elaborate on the subject of emotional intelligence . . . it's kinda making my brain hurt . . . not yer fault, just my brain is on the verge of short-circuting.

Woman are creatures who cry to get their way in life. Howzat?

 

[water]

As for emotional intelligence -- try the book "Emotional Intelligence" by Daniel Goleman.

A short excerpt:

For EI, Goleman postulates that a person has these abilities well-developed (I'm translating, the original may be a tad different):

a) to encourage oneself,
b) to defy frustrations,
c) to have control over one's instincts,
d) to postpone satisfying of needs,
e) to control one's moods,
f) to release pressures that inhibit the ability of thinking,
g) empathy,
h) hope.

 

[Alpha]

Refering to Alpha's post

But if you take students at the college level (who do care) ... some of them don't even seem to know some of the basic facts of life (I'm not sure on an example but I remember seeing this on a news report when random, simple questions were asked and some couldn't even give a reasonable answer)

It's wrong to assume that they care about everything they could know about. Sometimes ignorance is due to lack of intelligence. Even college students can't really be expected to know more than the average person on subjects other than what they're taking.

Even if it means serious injury to themselves or to others?

Unfortunately, at times, yes. There are many psychological reasons for this kind of behaviour as well.

I would think people are immature because they don't care about how others see them. Though what I don't understand is why stoop to a level where you would insult or impersonate someone who isn't as fortunate as you are or laugh at people just because they act differently then you would.

That's a difficult one. Different people have different reasons. Some people are just idiots/jerks. Some people are simply ignorant of how to behave maturely. Some people may be afraid of responsibility (or any number of other psychological reasons which may not even be relevant but have such behaviour as a side effect). Who knows. It's really a complicated subject. You have to assess each person idividually.

 

[joemamaa]

a) Immaturity
b) Ignorance
c) Stupidity

I'm all 3 I love it it's a trip . Some of you got your thinkig caps on to much.Try breaking the law for a living , Punching some in the face that you hate, Laugh at death . Move out of your mothers house .I'm on my way to jail 1-3 years hope this site is still up ,I like you people,triping just triping.

 

[antifreeze]

ignorance is not possessing knowledge, whereas stupidity is misapprehension of knowledge, and immaturity is disregard for the rules of society.

there are advantages to being ignorant of certain things, like freudian psychology, for example. but i see nothing positive about the other two.

and what exactly should we, the human race, know per se?

and goleman sounds like it only applies to immaturity, but i don't know if i buy in to that emo intelligence in general.

 

[water]

and goleman sounds like it only applies to immaturity, but i don't know if i buy in to that emo intelligence in general.

I think that a certain emotional intelligence is basic.

I know some "simple people", farmers, who didn't have much education at schools.
They may be ignorant -- but what I found surprising is the way they handle this ignorance: some are aware of it and know their limitations, are cautious when making decisions. While some other are just, well, ignorant, jump to conclusions etc.
Similar goes for stupidity.

Apparently, once one has a healthy emotional basis, one is less prone to do stupid, immature, ignorant things.

 

[Alpha]

ignorance is not possessing knowledge,

True...

... whereas stupidity is misapprehension of knowledge,

I would disagree with that. Stupidity is a lack of understanding or perception. Knowledge requires some intelligence.

and immaturity is disregard for the rules of society.

I disagree here too. Immaturity is more closely related to emotional intelligence than any cultural rules.
If someone wants to punch someone in the face because they anger them, you might say "grow up". That's a lack of maturity.
If someone wanted to do something that they felt was right, but was against the law, you wouldn't tell them to grow up would you? The law is not always right, and such behaviour is not a matter of maturity.