Please ... a serious question for serious people to answer...?

Question

What is the difference between an idiot and a moron ..... or someone who is subnormal or ...... insane?


I am having difficulties because I don't quite know what to make of people sometimes, and I am wondering about people who look normal but sport a distinctly abnormal behaviour pattern...... not that they throw around dust bin lids .... but that they seem --for example -- to love getting into trouble ....or that they sit there and wait for a chance to jump into a situation that they sense will annoy someone ... or to stir up trouble somehow ...

The problem, to my mind is that they know perfecly well what to do and how to behave but they have a quiet way of going against the grain and making life awful for others...

Ex: elderly man not senile goes over to newly-hung wall calendar and flips up the pages month by month ... same person goes over to shelf with new plant cuttings and leaves his scrumpled-up candy wrappers right next to the new cuttings...not all there is to do

Answer 1

they are my sweets and your not having any lol

Answer 2

I read once that an idiot was someone with a mental age below three, while a moron was 3 - 12 (this may not be correct, as I don't remember too well, I was six when I read about it). There were other categories including imbecile, borderline and normal.

These words were just a reflection as to what a person's mental age (the age at which their brains were functioning) was. As far as I know, this system is no longer used for some reason (maybe the same reason why the spastic society had to change its name).

Insane is a word that is still used today, which refers to somebody who has virtually no connection with the world around them. Instead they live in a world of their own, which results in them saying things that do not make any sense to anyone else. They may make decisions that have no rational merit, and do seemingly absurd things.

If I am wrong, please do correct me, and I hope my insight will be helpful to you.

Answer 3

Here's a serious answer: Technically an idiot is graded above a moron.

Idiot comes from a Latin word meaning "layman" or person lacking professional skill". Moron is a psychology-related term for a person with a genetically determined mental age between 8 and 12.

Also in regard to your question, I believe that there is an additional factor to consider besides brain capacity or ability: We are all a product of our experiences in life.
I've found that some people had a lot of turmoil in their life growing up and seem to not be happy unless they have a cloud of drama and trouble around them. In fact they will, consciously or not, cause disturbance just because they will be "content" without it. No proof here but I think I've seen it too many times.

Answer 4

Hmm

Idiot - from the term Microcephalus Idiot I think - somone born with an abnormally small brain

Moron - someone with a low IQ (I can't remember the limit - but I think its about 60...whereas as the norm is 100 of course)

Subnormal - someone who appears to operate below the accepted normal standard or interaction and behaviour

Insane - someone who is clinically mad.

The examples you cite seem to relate to none of these.

This is just irritating bahaviour.

It is also the sort of behaviour than could be undertaken by someone who is simply absent minded, or possibly knows how to wind up someone who is a bit 'pernickety' (or possibly somewhat anally retentive)

If this person in the example exists, and is someone that can be communicated with easily and fully, the issues should be quite starightforward to resolve.

Answer 5

There is a difference between being an idiot and being an as*hole. An idiot simply doesnt know any better and ends up doing/saying stupid things. An as*hole does things to frustrate/annoy others knowing full well that is whats gonna happen. They do it to entertain themselves, thinking its funny. What I think they dont realize is that this behavior creates animosity, then they dont understand why they are not liked.

As far as your ex is concerned, it sounds like that elerly man just figured that those plant cuttings (trash?) were gonna get tossed anyway so he included his own trash. Perfectly reasonable to him. Yet to others, he is only adding to the mess. But just because it made perfect sense to him and no sense to you doesnt make him an idiot nor an as*hole. Just maybe a little thoughtless.

Answer 6

You sound like an intelligent person. A person can be smart but people are not. Society can be disappointing but let's not give up hope. What you see as an idiot or moron may be just another guy with a lamp shade on his head repeatin "approval...approval." Don't be harsh. Everyone has a good quality. You just need to look a little harder sometimes. And for Gods sake...be nice.

Answer 7

I'd consult 'Aunt M' professionally any day (another answerer here). She has it all down pat.

For a relatively 'simple answer' to a very complex question ~ there are some people who have their wires crossed and will likely always need help from society in order to function, or to be left alone to do so, safely.

Others, they likely see themselves as martyrs or Robin Hood's who are hell bent on obtaining retribution (by degrees) from other members of society ...for whatever has gone on in their past.

Generally, they do not feel the effects on others of their behaviour; they have likely had 'turned off' that capacity to feel for others and lack the capacity for empathy.

Their ability to relate to others and to integrate is often a fragile link with what we term 'the real world.'

I've heard people like this describe as (sort of, 'Vampires' and) 'junkies to the adrenaline and emotional turmoil they stir up' ~ where they get a kick out of it - and often followed by a very 'low.'

I don't know if this helps you any.
sash.

Answer 8

Technically an idiot is/was person of profound mental retardation having a mental age below three years and generally being unable to learn connected speech or guard against common dangers. The term belongs to a classification system no longer in use and is now considered offensive.

A moron is a person having the mental age of 8 to 12 years *who is capable of doing routine work under supervision."

So, I believe your example is neither in fact.

Answer 9

An idiot is someone who makes mistakes when they are trying to do good.
A moron is someone who intentionally tries to do things wrong just to aggravate.
Someone who is subnormal probably doesn't understand what "normal" means.
Insane people have no idea their mind is playing tricks on them, and don't know when to stop.

Answer 10

Probably a low IQ. These People, although not crazy, don't have consideration for others. If they did they wouldn't behave in this manner. Not to say all people with low IQ's are like this, but some just don't care what anyone thinks, and they like the attention they get when they can annoy someone.

Answer 11

Well the dictionary could help on the distinction between the similies. But you are insane if you think you are not crazy. And you are sane if you accept the fact that you have problems emotionally and physically. It is simply our unconcious imcompantancy and the only way to change our behaviors is to change ourselves. No one is perfect and people need to experience wrongful things as well as good in order to make the right decisions.