Have all the intelligent people left this board?

Question

I posted a few questions for which I sought polite and intelligent advice. However, all responses to those questions seem to be merely emotional judgment. What's wrong with the people here? There doesn't seem to be one person here who can respond intelligently to my questions - they all seem to only pass judgment.

Answer 1

I like the way you said that: "There doesn't SEEM to be one person here who can respond intelligently..." (emphasis mine, of course). This is EXACTLY about seeming. NOT actuality.

I could cite this or that authority about whether there are actually intelligent people around here, but I'll use the best one: you. If you didn't think they were here once, you wouldn't have asked if they had 'left'. And since there are more people here now then there were in the past, it stands to reason that there are probably MORE intelligent people than before, not less. At least, unless something is specficially driving them off (I'd be surprised if idiocy could do that - the more intelligent you are the more you have to be accustomed to dealing with idiots).

But that also may give us a hint about why your questions didn't seem to net any of them. Not only are there a more intelligent people, but more people of every kind. Which also means more questions, more answers, and more noise in general. With all this noise, is it really surprising if you can't get a clear signal? Those intelligent people - who were always a minority - now have an even larger array of questions upon which to sharpen their expertise. The way I see it, they are almost certain to miss quite a few.

So don't feel bad about not attracting the intelligentsia... perhaps they would tell you that asking the question can be more valuable than knowing the answer anyway!

Peace.

Answer 2

No, not all of the intelligent people have left, particularly the philosophy section. I've found that theres many very intelligent and very funny people that haunt this place!

After looking at some of your questions, much of what I saw wasn't worth the time or effort of any answer, let alone an intelligent one. A little common sense goes a very long way!

Other than that, if you don't like the answers you get here maybe you shouldn't ask? Or at least ask differently.

Answer 3

Whenever I ask what is a seemingly intellegent question, lets say for example I get 20 answers. I expect 2-4 people to be a two-piont seeking wise azz. Another 4-7 that fail to read completely and either get offended, emotionally attached or answer one-sided. The rest for the most part put all of thought and intellegence into it.

Answer 4

I will not criticize the people in Y!A or you. I will say that when all the light has left a room, go to another one. For your benefit, I wouldn't stereotype people who's replies are emotionally motivated as unintelligent. I think this question is a perfect example of the judgment in which you wished not to encounter.

Answer 5

You don't ask intelligent questions.

Take a look at your questions. Many of them ask directly for opinions. The topics are too wide, are often loaded or make broad unjustified generalizations. Intelligent people cannot answer poorly formed questions.

Do you understand? There's no answer to "When did you stop beating your wife?" Don't take reticence to indicate lack of intelligence.

Answer 6

There, I've just answered two of your questions without passing any political or religious judgment ('How does one become a free thinker?' and 'Are you a free thinker?')

I hope for my sake that you read them, or else I'll feel like I've wasted my time :(

Answer 7

Understandable. That is typically people no? But, you may find people that actually focus and use their logic to answer questions. Unfortunately, you'll be rumaging through a lot to find these.

Best of Luck and don't let it get to you.

Answer 8

im sorry, i didn't know you were looking for a response from a robot! We're human beings. We bleed, we cry, we have EMOTIONS! And yes, we're judgmental. I'm sure you know what that's like, having judged the people on this board as "unintelligent."

Answer 9

There are people who don't understand that there are questons that require a intellectual as oppose to an emotional response.

Answer 10

i know what you mean. Y!A has the WORST philosophers. there answers are usualy incoherent very wrong and driven by emotions and not intellectual thought. and if you ask a question pertaining to real academic philosophy you will get little to no answers. and the answers you do get will be misinterpreted and wrong themselves.