Regarding the word "idiot"

[Cole]

I'm curious about it, does the word "idiot" in English also mean being ignorant/lacking knowledge, or is it just about being "below regular intellectual standards"?
If it's just the latter, well, that would mean I've been wrong regarding the sense (and use) of this word for a long while. (due to my own language's senses of the word "idiot")

[Changed forum acc]

[Noobert]

Personally, I wouldn't care what the word or any labeling word means. It's the label you are bestowing upon somebody. It can mean anything. It's the definition that comes with it that is important. Otherwise idiot could be a reference to a new form of corn. It wouldn't surprise me in this day's intelligence to bestow that upon some form of corn, either.

People make up words, and they somehow find their way into our dictionary.

Idiot could mean anything, but logically, it means the person is being ignorant or lacking knowledge. It can also mean below intellectual standards as well.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/idiot

Just take a look for yourself at the amount of ways it can be used.

[Kit-Fox]

Removed

[Empy]

I'm curious about it, does the word "idiot" in English also mean being ignorant/lacking knowledge, or is it just about being "below regular intellectual standards"?

Both.

[Adnihilo]

in typical english usage it generally refers to either of the following

- someone lacking in intelligence

- someone who should have known better than to say/do whatever it is they did.

this. ignorance doesnt really constitute an idiot unless they really should know the information, otherwise whether someone is an idiot would be relative to both the person and the information in the context its being used. since everyone has some lack of knowledge it would be universally applicable.

eg, if you dont know your WW2 history, your not an idiot. if you brag you do, then say something very very wrong on the subject (like... the nazies won) then yeah, your an idiot.

and i think it does apply to lack of intelligence, but i think the term moron has that covered.

[Zeratul]

it can also, at least in some circumstances, mean those that lack knowledge about something yet speaks of it (while not expected to know it)... But that would be a fairly mild use of the word...

[semper]

I'm curious about it, does the word "idiot" in English also mean being ignorant/lacking knowledge, or is it just about being "below regular intellectual standards"?
If it's just the latter, well, that would mean I've been wrong regarding the sense (and use) of this word for a long while. (due to my own language's senses of the word "idiot")

If I cared enough i'd write up a list of forum users for you to get a general picture of the word idiot.. it wouldn't be hard as one is fairly spoilt for choice in this and the 'incompetent air wasting malcontent' categories as far as forum users go.

[Juliette]

So you're asking whether someone is an idiot because they are stupid (biologically) or because they are stupid (behaviour).
Just follow this guideline.

If Semper or I calk you an idiot, that's because you're acting like one. Probably wouldn't make one bit of difference whether you are biologically impaired, or just neurologically challenged. Fix that. And if you can't, learn to live with your 'badge'.
If random people call you idiot, write their names down, search them in the phone book, and go smash.

[Cole]

So you're asking whether someone is an idiot because they are stupid (biologically) or because they are stupid (behaviour).
Just follow this guideline.

If Semper or I calk you an idiot, that's because you're acting like one. Probably wouldn't make one bit of difference whether you are biologically impaired, or just neurologically challenged. Fix that. And if you can't, learn to live with your 'badge'.
If random people call you idiot, write their names down, search them in the phone book, and go smash.

That was me asking for the use of word "idiot" in general when used in english, not only about me, because the two different senses are rather...different. That wasn't either about me being or thinking whether I was "biologically impaired, or just neurologically challenged"...

As for the latter advice erm I prefer not to. I prefer to insult back, well at least that's what I did back in high school lol.

[Juliette]

So you're asking whether someone is an idiot because they are stupid (biologically) or because they are stupid (behaviour).
Just follow this guideline.

If Semper or I calk you an idiot, that's because you're acting like one. Probably wouldn't make one bit of difference whether you are biologically impaired, or just neurologically challenged. Fix that. And if you can't, learn to live with your 'badge'.
If random people call you idiot, write their names down, search them in the phone book, and go smash.

That was me asking for the use of word "idiot" in general when used in english, not only about me, because the two different senses are rather...different. That wasn't either about me being or thinking whether I was "biologically impaired, or just neurologically challenged"...

As for the latter advice erm I prefer not to. I prefer to insult back, well at least that's what I did back in high school lol.

@Red; see.. the underlined is the problem. It created an odd modus operandi.

[jedi~tank]

in typical english usage it generally refers to either of the following

- someone lacking in intelligence

- someone who should have known better than to say/do whatever it is they did.

[Bullseye]

I think everyone has been an idiot at some point. The amount of times ive done something that i normally wouldnt do, mainly due to being tired or lack on concentration. And im sure 100% of people can say they did the same.

[Juliette]

So you do not know whether an idiot is in fact a retard, or just acts like one.

Special inquiry.

[ƒëmmë ƒatalë]

I know you do not agree with an admin when they call themselves an idiot, results in a formal warning