Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site ttidcc.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!genrad!mit-eddie!think!harvard!seismo!cmcl2!philabs!ttidca!ttidcc!hollombe From: hollombe@ttidcc.UUCP (The Polymath) Newsgroups: net.singles Subject: Re: XSO IQ Message-ID: <521@ttidcc.UUCP> Date: Tue, 2-Jul-85 16:40:38 EDT Article-I.D.: ttidcc.521 Posted: Tue Jul 2 16:40:38 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 16-Jul-85 00:21:29 EDT References: <1476@utah-gr.UUCP> <1560108@acf4.UUCP> Reply-To: hollombe@ttidcc.UUCP (The Polymath) Organization: The Cat Factory Lines: 36 In article <1560108@acf4.UUCP> mms1646@acf4.UUCP (Michael M. Sykora) writes: >I suspect that people watch what a performer does for its entertainment >value and don't mind a little showing off - I suppose it comes with >the territory. Personally, I find it distasteful in substantial quantities >but with performers it is much more tolerable than in personal relations. >After all, the performer is there to perform. I'd like to think this >isn't the case with personal relations. What about quiz show contestants and Trivial Persuit players? Apparently showing off is acceptable in a context where it's expected. In personal relations whether one is showing off or not is a matter of perception and interpretation. One person's show off is another's knowledgeable authority. When asked a question, how is one supposed to know where to draw the line between answering and showing off? Some people may be insulted by a simple words-of-one syllable explanation ("... thinks I'm stupid") while others will have a similar reaction to a longer, detailed answer ("... thinks I don't know anything"). The question I raised was "Why be insulted at all?". If someone offers me too simple or too complex an explanation I can always interrupt them and say so. I see no reason to be hostile towards someone who is trying to be helpful or, at worst, offering more information than I want to know. Yet this is the common reaction in our society. Part of the problem may be the need to feel good about ourselves. When someone demonstrates superior knowledge it creates a need to demonstrate superiority in some other area. A School yard example: "You may be smarter, but I'm stronger and I'll prove it by beating you up.". As we get older beating people up becomes a less viable alternative (though some of us never do get out of the school yard stage), so we resort to name-calling and turning what a person is into an insult ("Wise guy!"). I think I'll stop here before I ramble off into the socio-psychological ramifications of turning a positive attribute into an insult, etc., etc.. This should help keep the discussion going for a while.