Now, the most big-hearted, nicest, wonderful person can be an idiot...it just means they are uneducated or uninformed...
Main Entry: id·i·ot
Pronunciation: 'i-dE-&t
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French ydiote, from Latin idiota ignorant person, from Greek idiOtEs one in a private station, layman, ignorant person, from idios one's own, private; akin to Latin suus one's own -- more at SUICIDE
1 usually offensive : a person affected with idiocy
2 : a foolish or stupid person
and "Ignorant":
Main Entry: ig·no·rant
Pronunciation: 'ig-n(&-)r&nt
Function: adjective
1 a : destitute of knowledge or education
Defs by Merriam Webster Online
2007-06-11 08:36:28 · 16 answers · asked by vehement_chemical 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I think one can be an "idiot" and not be a "bad" person.
But I think it would be best not to call anyone an idiot unless you have some really good reason.....not just because they are uninformed. Even if they ARE an idiot, it's usually best not to call them one.
2007-06-11 09:08:29 · answer #1 · answered by steervase 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Seeing as that the word "idiot" is not looked upon as a favorable or exceptable word, I would probably refrain from calling 'anyone' this name because it is considered offensive. It would not matter if it just means that someone is 'ignorant', or is 'without knowledge", we have learned in our society that some words are hurtful and even though there is a denotative definition which would explain it all - I wouldn't stand around trying to read the definition to someone who was knocking me upside the head for calling them that name. Personally, I try to avoid using names like that and others. I believe in promoting peace and tranquility among people - not killing them with my words. I try to be considerate of others in spite of how they might 'act'. As a teacher, I have to make sure those kinds of words are not in my vocabulary. No matter how many times I have to explain something to a student - I could never call them that word.
2007-06-11 08:45:06 · answer #2 · answered by THE SINGER 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The real question is whether you can call someone an idiot without looking like a dolt.
2007-06-11 08:41:40 · answer #3 · answered by PaulCyp 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hard dodge. I've yet to meet an idiot who wasn't also a total abject.
2007-06-11 08:38:47 · answer #4 · answered by vanamont7 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only the idiots who think they are smart are bad people. I can tolerate an idiot who knows he's dumb, but the others....
2007-06-11 08:39:51 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
some idiots are bad people and some aren't. I can think of one idiot in particular that never learns her lesson.
2007-06-11 08:38:46 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes....everyone does "idiotic" things at times. It is not a reflection on their worth as a human being.
2007-06-11 08:54:16 · answer #7 · answered by pixel_da_cat 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is it ever necessary to call someone an idiot? Is it ever constructive?
2007-06-11 08:43:44 · answer #8 · answered by Quantrill 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hey, some of my best friends are idiots. lol
2007-06-11 08:39:02 · answer #9 · answered by A 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. But it doesn't mean "idiot" is not still an insult.
2007-06-11 08:38:59 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋