Stupid contemporary sayings and memes

catsndogs · Post by **catsndogs** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 4:35 pm

catsndogs wrote:"The wisest man is he who does not believe he is wise."

I particularly like that one, but that clashes with the forum's title, no?

DavidQuinn000 wrote:Are nominating that as a stupid saying, or a wise one?

Obviously, if a wise man thinks he isn't a wise man, then he is in denial and would have to be classed as a fool.

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I think it is a wise saying. Although the word "believe" does weaken the message. Maybe "acknowledge" is a better word.

Taking it a step forward, why is the wisest man, rather than wise man?

Leyla Shen · Post by **Leyla Shen** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 4:46 pm

Taking it a step forward, why is the wisest man, rather than wise man?

Because if it were "the wise man" then the claim would have to be substantiated by stating that he is wise. Phrasing it as "the wisest man is he who believes (or even acknowledges) he is not wise" means any ignorant sod can make a claim to the title by denying a belief in his own wisdom in the face of challenge.

Pretty straightforward, really, isn't it?

catsndogs · Post by **catsndogs** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 5:02 pm

The phrase "I'm a modest person" can be viewed as an oxymoron because claiming to be a modest person is a form of bragging.

Saying "I'm a shy person" can be viewed as an oxymoron because the acknowledgement of being shy means one may not be as shy as they think they are. A truly shy person would be too shy to say it.

Believing in one's own wisdom only works to a point, and perhaps works better if it is not believed to be an absolute attribute, but an intermittent one.

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 5:58 pm

Most "humans" are animals.

David Quinn · Post by **David Quinn** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 7:10 pm

catsndogs wrote:

CnD: "The wisest man is he who does not believe he is wise."

I particularly like that one, but that clashes with the forum's title, no?

DQ: Are nominating that as a stupid saying, or a wise one?

Obviously, if a wise man thinks he isn't a wise man, then he is in denial and would have to be classed as a fool.

CnD: I think it is a wise saying. Although the word "believe" does weaken the message. Maybe "acknowledge" is a better word.

It's a very strange conception of wisdom. It is like saying, "The greatest artist is he who does not believe he is an artist".

Taking it a step forward, why is the wisest man, rather than wise man?

The only way the saying could begin to make sense is if the "wisest man" in question really was a wise man - that is, if he fully comprehended the nature of Reality and successfully aligned his life with this understanding. But such a person would automatically know that he comprehended Realiity and that he was a wise man.

Conversely, if this "wisest man" wasn't actually a wise man, then his acknowledgement of his lack of wisdom, while honest, doesn't amount to much. It is like a person without artistic talent acknowledging that he has no artistic talent. It's an insignificant admission.

So at root, the saying is fundamentally incoherent and has no bearing on matters of wisdom.

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DHodges · Post by **DHodges** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 10:11 pm

DavidQuinn000 wrote:It's a very strange conception of wisdom. It is like saying, "The greatest artist is he who does not believe he is an artist".

That would be the Dadaists and Neoists.

Maybe.

Kevin Solway · Post by **Kevin Solway** » Sun Dec 04, 2005 1:05 am

DavidQuinn000 wrote:It's a very strange conception of wisdom. It is like saying, "The greatest artist is he who does not believe he is an artist".

Or, "A plumber is someone who does not believe he is a plumber."

catsndogs · Post by **catsndogs** » Sun Dec 04, 2005 2:01 am

But would a great plumber not limit the amount of time spent believing they are a great plumber and at a certain point simply get the job done?

David Quinn · Post by **David Quinn** » Sun Dec 04, 2005 7:56 am

That is indeed what a wise man does. Acknowledging the existence of his wisdom is but the work of a moment, leaving the rest of his time free to perform other tasks. It is like acknowledging it is a fine and sunny day - a reality, but of no special importance.

He doesn't do the standard guru thing and make elaborate shows of false modesty about how humble and "unwise" he is. He isn't interested in deceiving people with duplicitious tricks.

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Blair · Post by **Blair** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 12:23 pm

"Happy New Year!"

I can't imagine a more delusional popular utterance.

LooF · Post by **LooF** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 6:14 pm

ksolway

i didnt know being a wisest man is a job !

La Verdad · Post by **La Verdad** » Mon May 01, 2006 2:25 am

"voilence never solved anything."

Notagenius · Post by **Notagenius** » Wed May 03, 2006 1:15 am

What goes around comes around

No good deed goes left unpunished

It's the thought that counts

The road to hell is paved with good intentions

Angel Ramirez · Post by **Angel Ramirez** » Thu May 04, 2006 12:07 am

"The glass is half full."

Many hipsters in the East Village still like to use that one. Makes Hulk want to smash.

oborden · Post by **oborden** » Thu May 04, 2006 7:29 am

Rear Naked Choke wrote:"The glass is half full."

What's stupid about this?

La Verdad · Post by **La Verdad** » Thu May 04, 2006 8:21 am

Rear Naked Choke wrote:
"The glass is half full."
What's stupid about this?

lol It's subjectivity of perspective. if you're getting raped in prison then your glass is probably not half full.

oborden · Post by **oborden** » Thu May 04, 2006 11:02 am

It is if you learn from your experience.

MKFaizi · Post by **MKFaizi** » Thu May 04, 2006 12:57 pm

You don't have to call me darlin, darlin
You never even call me by my name.

I love the smell of enlightenment in the mornin.

This is the enlightenment forum, ain't it, darlin?

Could be.

I went to pick her up in the rain
But before I could get to the station in my pick up truck
She got run over by a damn ol train.

I'll hang around as long as you will let me

ETC.

Faizi Allen Coe

MKFaizi · Post by **MKFaizi** » Thu May 04, 2006 1:09 pm

Hey, Coe?

Nigga what?

Did this thread get dumbed up or something? Smells a little on the worldly side to me.

Don't know, Coe. Are you hung up? Who needs the Peace Corp? What's there to live for? Cops kill a freak -- pow pow pow.

I got a skeeter...

Don't go there, Coe. Wack it off.

Faizi

MKFaizi · Post by **MKFaizi** » Thu May 04, 2006 1:14 pm

Crawdad wrote:

if you're getting raped in prison then your glass is probably not half full.

If you are getting raped in prison, then your glass is probably up your ass.

Faizi

La Verdad · Post by **La Verdad** » Thu May 04, 2006 1:23 pm

It is if you learn from your experience.

lol what if you just get AIDs instead?

MKFaizi · Post by **MKFaizi** » Thu May 04, 2006 1:55 pm

I take it ya'll are gay. No problem. Just a language snafu on my part.

Sorry for butting in -- get it? -- butting in?

Wonder how long this post will stay upstairs.

Hard to say -- get it? -- hard?

Ya'll have a good ol time. I jus be settin heah on th poach.

Faizi

suergaz · Post by **suergaz** » Thu May 04, 2006 4:11 pm

Ain't nuttn doin' wid stoop settin' when th'poach needs a sweepn'

oborden · Post by **oborden** » Thu May 04, 2006 10:29 pm

La Verdad wrote:
It is if you learn from your experience.
lol what if you just get AIDs instead?

Doesn't mean you still can't learn something. At least they didn't kill you. Point is, every cloud has silver lining if you look. I think that it is a rather good saying to remember myself.

MKFaizi · Post by **MKFaizi** » Sat May 06, 2006 12:54 pm

Here's one that's popular in Botetourt County and elsewhere -- kind of have to have this redneck accent I can't produce in print:

I TELL YOU WHAT --

I really like that one.

The feminine version is and everything.

Faizi

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Stupid contemporary sayings and memes

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