Stunning academic arrogance of students

I accept that its not just the left. It just so happens that I find Marxism inherently arrogant (revealed preferences and all). But also most of the people who I've met who argue that the working classes need their guidance , tend to be on the left.

Perhaps I just don't know enough Conservatives, but even my BNP buddies would have more respect than that!

That's because being left-wing lets you take the moral high ground. But to answer the last question, if, for example, you have an above average IQ then yes you are superior to the average person.

O RLY?


Interesting, tell you what i'm going to determine superiority by using another specific measurement.

If you have above average shoe size then you are superior to the average person.

You only have to read through a few threads to realise how amazingly arrogant students can be.

I meant superior in terms of intelligence not in terms of your worth as a human being.

You only have to read through a few threats to realise how amazingly arrogant students can be. Read through the media influence thread and you’ll see posters basically saying: ‘maybe stupid people are influence by the media, but as a member of the intelligent elite I’d never be so easily led’. This is just to give one example, but does this ridiculous arrogant not make anyone else cringe to read?

I find it most prevalent in left wingers, who want to ‘help’ the working classes understand their lives, or liberate them in some way. One might assume its mainly children who have these kind of views, but it seems to hold until later life in at least a few people.

I really wonder who these people are, and how they think there so special to judge other people’s lives. Particularly when these people who are judged are often decent, hard working folk.

Do you people in general find yourself superior to the average person?

I hold the opinion that "God" doesn't exist, and therefore I am an Atheist.
I hold the opinion that I think I need a shower... and a smoke and some breakfast.
I also hold the opinion that such and such band are *****.

How are ANY of those short sighted?!?

Social issues are so infinitely complex that you have to be extremely short-sighted to hold any definitive opinion on anything!

That's because being left-wing lets you take the moral high ground. But to answer the last question, if, for example, you have an above average IQ then yes you are superior to the average person.

I accept that its not just the left. It just so happens that I find Marxism inherently arrogant (revealed preferences and all). But also most of the people who I've met who argue that the working classes need their guidance , tend to be on the left.

Perhaps I just don't know enough Conservatives, but even my BNP buddies would have more respect than that!

When Marx wrote his books, we lived in a society where the rich really did consider themselves much better than the poor. In the 50s and 60s we were very much a class society. Even Attlee, by far the most radical reformer of his time, was into social divisions - he was quite concerned about his wife not having the employees at home that were needed by and befitted someone of his and her class.

The fact that you are making this topic illustrates how unbelievably far we have come in a very short space of time - I think we can forgive a little paternalism. Although most on the left are concerned with equality of opportunity rather than guidance.