Idiot

[OCD]

In the way that a weed is a plant in a place that it doesn't belong, an idiot is a person in a place (or position) that he/she doesn't belong...

Mal.

Right on, and the sooner they (the noxious ones at least) go and get themselves plucked, the better.

Ps merry xmas.

[Dimal]

In the way that a weed is a plant in a place that it doesn't belong, an idiot is a person in a place (or position) that he/she doesn't belong...

Mal.

[EZCFlair]

If Trump is not an idiot, why does he need a revolving door for his staff?

And not just any staff, key talented people (with years of military and/or diplomatic experience) who have resigned one after the other and are mostly irreplaceable.

[beensean]

beensean, ... I now see where you've been coming from.

No problem.

cheers
b.

[LeroyC]

If anyone thinks Trump must be a genius they need to read ‘The Fifth Risk: Undoing Democracy’ by Michael Lewis.

[OCD]

OCD, you are the first and only person to use the word “harmless” so with your straw man this discussion ends for me.

beensean, you've got me there. I now see where you've been coming from.

Ps feel free to get the last word in. I know you want to.

[beensean]

OCD, you are the first and only person to use the word “harmless” so with your straw man this discussion ends for me.

[OCD]

One needs to consider how to outlast or curtail their power.

Calling them out for what they are, instead of dismissing them as harmless idiots, would be a good start.

Ps focusing on their obsession with hair - the weirder the better (a common trait amongst dictators) only fuels their contempt for us.

[beensean]

I agree entirely that merely labelling people is unhelpful although it can be a convenient shorthand so long as one does not lose sight of what actions are needed.

I think opportunism, aggression, and a habit of sociopathic manipulation can be confused with high planning. If one might consider it intelligent to avoid massive war and defeat, then old Adolf was not the shining light. A few other people suffered along the way.

Calling someone an idiot assumes a framework or expectations which that person does not match, and that their behaviours will have poor outcomes longer term, obvious to the majority of people. If, purely hypothetically, I were to call some president of some country an idiot, that might be a handy summary of their efforts to manage affairs, having nothing to do with whether I consider them dangerous or the problem manageable. One needs to consider how to outlast or curtail their power.

[OCD]

Although not with a majority of votes. He led a coalition until he could legislate his own power.

Got a foot in the door. Orchestrated, or took advantage of, a crisis. Cowered all opposition. Enacted extraordinary powers (for the people's safety). Declared himself 'Le Grand Fromage'. Rest is history.

Ps that was one smart idiot.

Ps 2 Worked then, should work now. After all, we're still calling them idiots.

[beensean]

Ps 2 Hitler was democratically elected.

Although not with a majority of votes. He led a coalition until he could legislate his own power.

[OCD]

Like many others, I am guilty of characterising people whose views I disagree with as "idiots".
I have to remind myself that they are not 'idiots' but people with a different viewpoint from my own.

With you there Rocky,
Whatever character flaws Mr. Trump possesses, being an idiot is not one of them. You don't get to be the most powerful person in the world by being an idiot. He might even be smart enough to pretend he is. Worked for Hitler and our own "never you mind about that" Joh Bjelke-Petersen et al. People tend to get traits like idiocy mixed up with megalomania and psychopathy - until it's too late.

Ps history repeating itself?

Ps 2 Hitler was democratically elected.

[Rocky]

Like many others, I am guilty of characterising people whose views I disagree with as "idiots".
I have to remind myself that they are not 'idiots' but people with a different viewpoint from my own.
In the case of people who are democratically elected, I think it is very counterproductive for the segment of the population who didn't vote for them to spend the next 3/4 years trying to character-assassinate them.
3/4 years will generally be enough for them to show what they are/aren't capable of.
Just an observation.

[OCD]

Saw a sign on a mirror once which read 'wanna see an idiot?' I had a look, and you know what, he looked just like me.

[noidle22]

I like this "

Donald Trump has Topped the Google Image Search Result For 'Idiot' "

https://www.google.com/search?tbm=is...d0r3q5OXkujBM:

Um, wasn't that the purpose of this thread to begin with?