"Never argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level, and then beat you with experience."

Question

True?

Answer 1

Stupidity can be beaten with the stick of knowledge

Answer 2

I have found that to be very true with Trolls.

Once they piss you off enough, you are indeed dragged down to their level.

The definitive book in my mind on the subject is "When I say no, I Feel Guilty". It isn't stupid people that are the problem, it is manipulative ones.

And honest stupid person will listen to as much of what you are saying as they can handle.

A manipulative one tries to turn your words, and the argument.

It doesn't matter smart, stupid whatever, it is what they do. They work at shaming you to accept their position.

You don't argue in that case, you tell. "This is what I am willing to do, this is what I am not"

I have to thank my ex-wife for getting me to understand all that. One of the few things I have to thank her for.

Socreties said: "Every man should have a wife. If she is good, he will be happy. If she is bad, he will become a philosopher"

Shortly after the divorce, I was in a bar.

Guy comes up to me, and says "I am waiting for my wife, I don't have any cash, can you buy me a beer?"

I shrugged, two bucks, whatever. Bought him a second 15 minutes later.

Then he goes "She still is not here, can you give me a ride home"

I replied "No, I have had a couple of beers, and don't want to drive anywhere I have not been before"

He goes "Well which way are you driving?"

I told him. He replied "Well it is not far out of your way".

I replied "No, I am not driving you anywhere. Period. Don't ask again"

He walked off in a huff. Good riddance.

Never could have done that before Emily. She was a master at that crap.

I don't think is is stupidity, I think it is manipulation you need to worry about.

-Dio

Answer 3

Absolutely. To get through to stuipd people you end up saying / doing stupid stuff, which DOES drag you down to their level. Once you are down there, where you aren't used to being, they have the advantage because they are there all the time.

This is aslo true: "Never argue with stupid people.....even when you win, they don't know it."

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
"Never argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level, and then beat you with experience."
True?

Answer 5

True.

But it's not experience they beat you with.

They use a much more powerful thing, which is called dialectics.

Answer 6

I find this quote interesting only because of my "experience" with arguing with other people.

Often when you argue with facts, logic reasoning, other will argue using anecdotes or personal experiences to reach their conclusions. Hence the phrase "not in my experience". While these anecdotal experiences might provide incite into reality, they are not substituted for facts and logic. Experiences often involve a confluence of factors that seeming contradict a claim. Its only upon further examination that the various factors are separated and examined separately and logically that an anecdotal experience can be understood properly. Similarly, if you argue that statistically something is true 90% of the time; then comically people proceed to tell you why that is not true in their case- good that means that you are a part of that 10%.

A more common experience is when you argue with elders and they say when you get older-and have more experience- you'll understand. This does not mean that these elders are wrong but that as a "youngster" you simple cannot argue their experiences. Anecdotal evidence that people have experience something in the first person cannot be argued. They have experienced it and their is no contradicting a first hand account. Many "stupid people" will argue this way -you are wrong since you have not have had my personal experiences and "were not there" or my personal experiences disprove your facts and claims.You can only argue logic, facts, reasoning not personal experiences. Never argue with these people it is a waste of your time period. Hence Mark Twain's statement, "Never argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level, and then beat you with [their personal] experience."

Answer 7

It depends on what you mean to argue. I think it is good to present a solid and reasonable case, continuing to argue after they refuse to listen to reason usually ends up being pointless.

Answer 8

False. If you are smart enough then you can't let fools drag you down along with them to their underworld of ignorance.

Answer 9

True, and the wise ones left standing above you are looking down and can't tell the difference between you and the fool. Its a double shame.

Answer 10

um, not all 'stupid' ppl are stupid, they may seem that way, but a lot of times they can come out and something u'd never expect them too and beat u at ur own game

Answer 11

True:

1. Who is the greater fool - the fool or those who follow him?
2. Dont wrestle with a pig - you end up covered in sh*t and the pig enjoys it.
3. Don't argue with a dragon - they are bigger than you and you taste like chocolate to them.