How to tell the difference between these two?

Question

Where is the line drawn between bravery and studpidity? When is an action considered brave and when is an action considered stupid?

Answer 1

Any action is considered brave if it is knowingly done at personal risk. A combination of brave and stupid would be taking an action which has a certainty of failure or a potential benefit that does not outweight the risk.

The combo of brave and smart pairs up risk with high potential benefits.

The combo of cowardly and stupid is not taking action when there is no risk but there is potential benefit.

Cowardly and smart is not taking action when there is risk, and there is no potential benefit.

Answer 2

For example, if a woman stands up to a man with words, that is bravery, but a woman hitting a man that they know will hit back and seriously hurt them mif they do so, then this is stupidity. Brave is taking a stand for something even without knowing the consequenses. Stupid is knowing better to do so and not taking all scenarios into consideration. If there is nothing good to come of something. then it would be stupidity. If there is a possibility something good will come out of it, then it is bravery. There are many ways to look at it as well. This is just one way that I look at it. Even though something negative could result from you being brave enough to do something, it is still considered bravery. Like if there was a group of thugs starting a fight with you, it would be stupid to try to jump on all of them at once. If they were doing the same to a helpless person, and you try to do the same with not at least calling for help first, then that would be stupidity.

Answer 3

The difference is really in the intention of the action - Was the action self sacrificing, of noble purpose - or was it an unthinking or irrational action with no thought for the consequences of the action? - also the two terms are not necessarily mutually exclusive - someone could be brave and stupid at the same time - a futile and seemingly irrational action could still have come from a wellspring of heroic inspiration - we often react without thinking things through when danger presents itself.

Answer 4

It really depends on the circumstances.

Lets say one man walks into a building on fire to save another person, that is considered an act of bravery as opposed to another man walking into a building on fire to get his keys to his house, a glass of water, or something else not really important then getting out of a building on fire.

But if a person who thinks the act of risking them self for another person is not brave but stupid it would be another story.

So lets say it really depends on the persons way of thinking.

Answer 5

I think it depends on the purpose of the doer. If a risk is taken for a noble purpose, it's bravery. A risk taken for the sake of it is, of course, stupidity.

Answer 6

sometimes brevity looks pretty stupid...take the example of boy king david going after goliath with a slingshot and a stone....doesn't appear he thought that one out, except we know how it turned out...and i'm sure goliath just couldn't believe it either, and he lost his head over it...
bravery...courage, coupled with faith isn't so stupid, but it may certainly look ill concieved.

Answer 7

Depends on the bravery of the observer.....

Answer 8

well it is in the eye of the beholder i guess
there is no definite meaning of words
just what we all choose to use them to mean.

Answer 9

it depends on how much alcohol the accuser has consumed :)