We Americans aren't good at recognizing American idiots either. It's been nearly four years, and a shocking number of us still haven't caught on to one idiot in particular.
I think D^2's post expresses a touching confidence in a unity of virtues hypothesis (or at least, a unity of idiocies). Whether or not we want to follow Aristotle, however, I would suggest that the one master virtue clearly *isn't* identical to the poeprty of being good at school. And he;s right that this marks a big difference between the US and Europe -- we don't sort people by book learning so aggressively at early ages. This means that "dumb" guys and gals who are aggressive, have good people skills, or manifest mysterious "it" qualities do much better here. It's the Charlie Croker effect. And, although I personally would do much better if we worked it like France and let top university graduates run everything, I judge the American system to be both more just and more efficient.
Also, the superficial polish of school "smartness" (wit, irony, articulateness, working within the structures of academic debate) provides one hell of a cloak for nitwittery. I have always found European idiots much harder to spot. for this reason.
We Americans aren't good at recognizing American idiots either. It's been nearly four years, and a shocking number of us still haven't caught on to one idiot in particular.
Posted by synykyl | Link to this comment | 09-28-04 11:29 PM
This seems to be a more general phenomenon, but of course there are mitigating circumstances.
Posted by Felix Deutsch | Link to this comment | 09-29-04 6:31 AM
I think D^2's post expresses a touching confidence in a unity of virtues hypothesis (or at least, a unity of idiocies). Whether or not we want to follow Aristotle, however, I would suggest that the one master virtue clearly *isn't* identical to the poeprty of being good at school. And he;s right that this marks a big difference between the US and Europe -- we don't sort people by book learning so aggressively at early ages. This means that "dumb" guys and gals who are aggressive, have good people skills, or manifest mysterious "it" qualities do much better here. It's the Charlie Croker effect. And, although I personally would do much better if we worked it like France and let top university graduates run everything, I judge the American system to be both more just and more efficient.
Also, the superficial polish of school "smartness" (wit, irony, articulateness, working within the structures of academic debate) provides one hell of a cloak for nitwittery. I have always found European idiots much harder to spot. for this reason.
Posted by baa | Link to this comment | 09-29-04 8:33 AM
that link? does not go to whatever it is that you are quoting.
Posted by cm | Link to this comment | 09-29-04 9:05 AM
cm, dsquared's post is in the comments to that post.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 09-29-04 9:09 AM