Please explain: what's the difference between being dumb, and not knowing anything?

[npincus]

I'm thinking that Palin can't be dumb, but then she doesn't seem to know a damned thing, so does that make her dumb?

[SoonerPride]

1. Lack of knowledge versus inability to think

She has the best of both!

[jakem]

2. well... if you have to ask....

':hi:

[npincus]

3. then

I'm dumb? :rofl:

[jakem]

20. NO! you just don't know!

[TheKentuckian]

4. Why can't she be dumb?

Stupid=inability to learn

ignorant=lacking knowledge

I suspect both are the case with Palin with a willful emphasis on the latter.

[npincus]

7. I suppose I view her success in part to having some brain-power,

but after 8 years of B*sh, I should know better.

[SurfingAtWork]

5. I'd say she is both ignorant and dumb. The dumbness probably contributes to the ignorance a little

Although I'm betting an off the charts level of narcissism is the bigger contributor.

[ismnotwasm]

6. I don't think she's stupid or dumb

I think she's intellectually lazy, without true curiosity, and no interest in examining facts or points of view that don't follow an ego-driven agenda. No matter what the topic-- religion, politics, ethics or law, her mind seems not only closed, but what she supports is intended to support her image. Not uncommon in a politician, I suppose, but repulsive nonetheless.

[dbmk]

15. Yes

I like that term - intellectually lazy. It covers her very well.
But closed mindedness is probably more apt. Because even presented with facts to the contrary, she will still hold to beliefs.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

8. Spunk.

[mwb970]

10. I hate spunk. /nt

[dbonds]

11. I hate spunk - Lou Grant

[AlCzervik]

14. I hate Spunk!

[dbonds]

9. There are 2 things, Knowledge and ability to process knowledge.

When someone is labeled dumb they can be lacking in either or both of those. I have seen people that had lots of facts at the tip of their tongue but could not do anything with them. They were like words in a dictionary and they could not form a sentence with them. These people usually think they are smart because they know facts, but the rest of the world see them as dumb.
Usually someone that just doesn't have the knowledge but can process knowledge well can figure things out given the a starting point. Most times these people will surprise you with wisdom from nowhere.

[dbmk]

12. It sort of goes hand in hand - to a point

Dumb is not being able to utilise what you know. Not being able to put two and two together on your own.
And to a degree, not realising and admitting that you do not know something.

But its really hard to seperate the two. Not knowing something and being ignorant is basically the same thing. But we have a limit where we stop considering those two things the same. Its a matter of perceptions, really...

Stop asking hard questions dammit. :)

[seabeyond]

13. i think she could learn and doesnt learn = stupid. dumb..... not there to do it. n/t

[dbmk]

18. Yeah

Dumb is mentally stunted. Stupid is never having bothered.

[seabeyond]

19. ya. oooops. yes, lol wink

i have been saying ya way too much and now sarah pops up in head

yes yes yes.... no more ya's

[justiceischeap]

16. She's not dumb, she's susceptible, big difference

I think she's easily led, which doesn't make her dumb.

[BklynChick]

17. I think she lacks knowledge, isn't smart, and is incurious. All together a bad combination. And on

top of that, she can't even bullshit. I don't think she has enough worldly experience to bullshit.