why is someone called a "smart a s s"?
371567
I think it is meant to be a paradox.. you are putting two descriptions together that are contradictory...by saying "smart" and then saying "a-s-s," you are saying they are not smart at all..
619880
I agree with Abercrombzie (or something like that): stereotypes! People like to think that someone is more stupid than they are so they blame a whole group as if it proved a point. \nAlso, they assume that people who have been educated do not have a heavy accent. It's true that a lot of people who went to university tend to lose their regional accent if they go to another state. However, it doesn't make you smarter!
512817
because they are smart !
451233
I've noticed that intelligent people can make extremely difficult concepts and questions easy, short, and to the point. Whereas folks lacking in cognative power can turn something very easy into a confusing, long-winded mess.
297754
A person regarded as silly, foolish, or stupid.
761739
Actually, the term meant "stupid" before it meant "mute".  In ancient times, Aristotle (or maybe it was Socrates, I can't remember) said that the deaf were incapable of cognition (yes I know you are referring to people who are mute not people who are deaf, and yes I know that there are more hearing-mutes than deaf-mutes.  I'm getting there).  Of course, back they didn't have the therapies or technology that we have, so someone who was deaf probably was mute for lack of someone to teach them oral language.  Any attempts to speak wouldn't have been understood and so even without being mute in the sense of lacking the capability for speech, they lacked an intelligable language, which Aristotle (or Socrates) said was the foundation for mental thought, so therefore the deaf were incabable of thinking.\n\nOf course as time went on, people realized that this wasn't true, and sign languages started to develop (although not til fairly late in history).  Once it was seen that deaf and mute people had the capacity for language, the term dumb transformed to mean "mute".  Unfortunately the original meaning of "stupid" did not disappear with the evolution of the word.\n\nNow the terms "deaf and dumb" and "deaf mute" are clearly offensive to the deaf community because a vast majority are not mute, and because of the derrogatory nature of that word.  As far as those who are truly mute, they don't see the use of the word "dumb" meaning "stupid" to be insulting, but the use of the word "dumb" to mean "mute" is insulting.  Mute people are not stupid, but they refer to themselves as mute, not dumb, because the true definition of dumb IS "stupid".\n\nI hope that makes sense.
206342
A graduate school wants "smart" people.\n\nHow do they judge this? By grades.\n\nA "C" grade is not a good indicator as to whether or not a person is "smart". This has to do with: aptitude; diligence; distraction; home life; etc.\n\nHowever a grad school can noto judge these things as they are not AS apparent.\n\nIs this a horrible thing? Maybe someone should take a year (or three) off, do some travelling, and experience the world a little bit. \n\nThen, if necessary, upgrade some courses and reapply.
663336
yeah you are right....besides if stupid people stop to exist how will you recognise a smart person....infact i think stupid people are doing a huge favour by giving smart people their identity....
497448
The same reason why Genius like urself are called Idiots
561150
I never think of people as "stupid".  I sometimes think that they are lacking intelligence or that they are lacking good judgment, but not "stupid".  I guess that perhaps people who are lacking intelligence do fall under the definition of "stupid", but I find that such a negative word, that I just refuse to use it.
191574
A shy or reserved person.  One who does not like crowds, and usually is slow to make friends.  In other words, a smart person!
361845
A lot of time people speak and give advice about thing that they did make mistake before and ussually their advice is somethings that they can not accomplish. Well it make them feel better when they think they are smart and wise than you. Just ignore them or change the subject when they start giving you advice. I have tried it and it works( at least for me)
416282
Before I answer, I'd like to say that I think both "intelligent" and "clever" are subjective terms. \n\nIntelligent usually refers to a person who's "book smart," who has the straight As in school, who knows all the answers on Jeopardy.\n\nClever usually refers to a person who has a knack for coming up with great ideas/solutions out of problems. Different ways of coming up with a solution.\n\nThat's just my interpretation, I've meet many clever people who weren't very intelligent, and vice versa.
882251
Because on the internet, the stupid person is king. The concept of personal opinion, context, and connotation lose all meaning and if you say the word "gay" people instantly assume you're homophobic. If there were an IQ limit on the people that logged on the internet would be a happier place and a lot more grammatically correct.
1127623
Many people are rude to cover up their own insecurity and lack of knowledge of the outside world. They feel that by being mean, they can balance the inequality to their side of the equation. Still, a wise person knows that there is no merit in arguing with a fool. A stupid person doesn't know when they have been beaten and are embarrasing themselves. The pursuit of knowledge and understanding is an ongoing process, and seeing things and exploring the world are fundamental to extending your grasp of knowledge.
894287
because nobody likes to be the wrong one.\n\nits kind of like winning in a way\n\nand in your head you also sound smarter even though your the same.
400489
It's what a person does with their knowledge that makes them wise (or unwise). <*)))><