Ignorant or Stupid?

**Red_Lizard2** · 10-31-08, 05:49 PM

no this is a video or talking about Consultant

(just kidding). but i've debated this with a friend despite we both agreed but it was more on the why we debated. Anyways the thing i've always noticed and wonder is:

why do people find being called ignorant more insulting then being called stupid?

**Steggy_1** · 10-31-08, 06:28 PM

Excellent question...at the risk of sounding stupid or ignorant :1 ... I will put forward this hypothesis....being ignorant is seen by most people as a lack of knowledge..that they should have know...thus embarassment....Being stupid is seen more like doing something without thinking and it is just a simple mistake

**Adretheon** · 10-31-08, 07:05 PM

Your on the right track there.

Ignorant is lack of knowledge.

"Jim is ignorant of the fact today was Friday."

Stupid is that you know and yet you still get it wrong.

"Jim is stupid for not remembering it was Halloween."

So my understanding would be that being called ignorant is like saying, "You weren't properly taught" in a harsh fashion. For instance its most commonly used as "You ignorant piece of shit." So my guess is that people take it as such. Or maybe people are ignorant of what ignorant really means...hmmmm

**Mudstalker** · 11-01-08, 02:17 AM

Ignorant- Lacking knowledge or information as to a particular subject or fact.

Stupid- Tediously dull, especially due to lack of meaning or sense; inane; pointless.

In other words, someone who hasn't looked at all sides of an issue but yet still claims they are right in every sense of the word would be ignorant. So when someone is being called ignorant, it's like saying they are wrong. And for some reason, people go crazy when others think they're wrong. Which is stupid, which makes them stupid. So in my opinion, being ignorant and stupid are often times one in the same :P

**Lemon Squeeze** · 11-01-08, 11:27 PM

The definition of Ignorant is lacking in knowledge or training. while the definition of stupid is lacking ordinary quickness and keenness of mind. I would find it more offensive to be called ignorant becouse ignorant is a lack of knowledge while stupid is just being slow. if your stupid u at least know the information. Most of the time when someone calls u stupid it is normally just to rag/ mess with u.

**rock_lobster** · 11-02-08, 10:07 AM

Ignorant comes from being lazy and uninformed. Stupid happens when you try inform and educate yourself and you can't understand (I guess)....

**Kelderos** · 11-02-08, 10:39 AM

Without all the technical mumble jumble. I'm going to go with the theory that Ignorant sounds worse. As a slight example, I would use darn to damn. Its also a bit more wordy than stupid and sounds complex which most also find frustrating.

No one right off hand in a conversation is going to Jot up the definition and compare and contrast in their head while your talking to them. So it would make more sense for someone to compare their ammount of discomfort to how the word itself sounds, the general meaning, and your tone of voice.

I doubt most people knew/know the definition right off hand too, I personally before reading the definition related Ignorant to stupid as one in the same. Not as in they have the same meaning but as in a insult to your intellegence.

**~~hawgballs~~** · 11-02-08, 10:50 AM

Ignorance can be controlled. Stupidity cannot.

And some people don't like to be told that they don't know all that should be known in order to be well informed.