Do you think there's necessarily anything wrong with being naive?

Question

I wonder this because I have known people to take offense to being called naive. They feel that in some way they are being called stupid, dumb, or ignorant. I realize that you have to live in order to learn......and I'm quite sure that everybody's naive to something. Even the most knowledgeable and experienced people in the world haven't been exposed to EVERYTHING.

Answer 1

When stated, it's not usually meant to say that's there's anything wrong WITH a person, but that that simply they are wrong ABOUT something (usually involving the motives of others)

Like you said, no one has life experience to begin with- we are all born naive, and have to gain wisdom through experience.

There are some people who refuse to acknowledge the less-than-noble side of human nature, even when there's evidence to the contrary. On the other hand, some people are overly cynical and always assume the worst about others. Of those two extremes, the naive optimist is better company :)

Answer 2

naive can imply a lack of experience - but it can also imply a lack of understanding - some people have been exposed to things yet still dont really understand how those things work - most people in their twenties are good examples of that - theyve been in the work place for a few years but are still naive about the big picture
- so , yes , it can be something of an insult - in a way you are saying... youve had an oppurtunity to come to an understanding of something but youre still not there .... you still dont get it - when a person has had no chance to understand you could say their innocent - when theyve had lots of chances and they seem to refuse to get it - then theyre ignorant (they are ignoring it) - so some people see naive as akin to ignorant - theyre not completely wrong - as for them feeling insulted .... that almost always is a result of the delivery - personally i think people in general feel insulted more easily than they used to - alot of people seem more defensive than they were 20 years ago - its like all criticism comes across differently now - everyones skin has gotten thin and you always have to clarify with something like ..... you dont mean this in an insulting way but....

Answer 3

I have been called naive on many many occasions, and the only times I have ever taken offense isn't because I've been called dumb, that doesn't bother me because it's not true...

However these people are probably taking offense because they feel they are being patronised. People hate that, and so being called naive could make them feel that a person is looking down on them and making out they are Superior.

Answer 4

Right you are. It does not mean dumb, just not exposed to certain things. No, there is nothing wrong with it; it is natural. But it can hurt the naive person in question if their expectations are not in with the reality of the situation.

Answer 5

I think that most people get offended when being referred to as naive because they see it as them being inferior. Inferior to whomever has called them naive because they lack the knowledge that the person calling them naive has at that point. Also, people tend to hook naive and gullable together so when someone is called naive they may take it as "you're easy to get over on because you don't know anything." and that's insulting.

Answer 6

I agree with you, no one knows everything. But I think some people live more of a sheltered life than others, so as a result end up not learning as much from experience. This shouldn't have a negative connotation to it but unfortunately often does.

Answer 7

Depends in what context & tone you called someone "naive". It may mean innocent or dumb depending on the context, you see.