Ignorant?

Post Reply New Topic

I have noticed that allot of people are using the word ignorant. It seems that people think it is o.k to use this word any time they disagree with someone's point of view. I do not see this word as any different then the word stupid or dumb. Just because someone does not view something in the same way does not mean they lack in knowledge. They may interrupt information differently and it just means they see things from a different perspective. ( I prefer to say that " I do not see from the same perspective as you." that individual shares a different perspective) I have been taking classes at work on "Sensitivity in the workplace" and have had this pointed out to me. I was using the word ignorant and was told that it was not appropriate to use it because many people view it as being called dumb /stupid or as being insulted"

For example: Someone may not spell well due to a learning disability but when someone read there email and the word college was spelled colege people called them ignorant. From the perspective and view point of the person who spelled the word colege, this is how they see that the word should be spelled.

This is a good example of what I would say if I disagree with someone: "I think that people who use the word ignorant all the time are not seeing the world from the same perspective as I am. I would like to share my perspective in hopes that others will see from my vantage point."


Words related to IGNORANT

benighted, dark, illiterate, nonliterate, rude, simple, uneducated, uninstructed, unlearned, unlettered, unread, unschooled, untaught, untutored

Definition of the word Perspective: a way of looking at or thinking about something

From my point of view it does not mean stupid or dumb, but many people seem to use it that way.

I have also noticed that it has been used a lot (not necessarily on this forum alone) in recent times. I'm not too sure why, but I would assume it is in defense of one's intellectual ego.

I thought autistic people had a hard time understanding others had different perspectives. Ignorant just means lack of knowledge. I think there is a difference between stupidity and ignorance. Not knowing of The Beatles is ignorance, not stupidity because not ever hearing of a 1960's band has nothing to do with intelligence.

I do I have problems seeing from others perspective. But I now recognize that others share a different perspective then I do. It took me 40 yrs to understand this. I also see things in black and white. I lump certain words and objects in the same category. I see mainly in pictures. I see the word ignorant, stupid and dumb all under the same imagery category.

Last edited by Deb1970 on 23 Aug 2014, 12:12 am, edited 1 time in total.

People on here like to label NTs that all the time. I personally have a problem with that.

As do I.

Every person has a unique life comprised of background/heritage/culture, personality traits and differing neurology. It should not be expected that those who are not part of a particular culture/neurology learn (in detail) about those things.

While the above is ignorance by the actual definition of the term, the majority of those that use the word do so for what are actually improper reasons, some of which are highlighted in the original post.

I also find it quite hypocritical, that it is often the same people that completely misjudge (and are thus ignorant themselves) NTs.

The word ignorant means more then just lack of knowledge to some people. From your perspective it means lack of knowledge but from someone else's it may mean - uneducated in general; lacking knowledge or sophistication.

I don't see how it's black and white, if you look the word up in a dictionary, it says lack of knowledge. I doesn't say anything about stupidity. I am ignorant about fixing cars. I don't know how to do it and know nothing about it. I also think calling someone naive is a nice way of calling them ignorant because naive sounds so much nicer than ignorant. But according to the dictionary it just means lack of experience and judgment. But the way people use the word all sounds like another word for ignorance like my parents were naive about how the school system worked so they let my school stick me in a class with other special ed kids full day but that also sounds like ignorance to me because they lacked knowledge about it.

But people do often misuse the word ignorant.

Being uneducated is lack of knowledge isn't it? Ignorance is not a bad thing, we can't know everything. It's willful ignorance we have a problem with.

Its a matter of perspective.

Ignorant and ignorance have different meanings. If you go to the link below you will see there is a difference:

http://www.webster-dictionary.org/definition/Ignorant

This definition of ignorant below can be very offensive if being told to someone that has a very educated background in lets say physic's and someone says " You seem to be ignorant when it comes to matters of physics"

ignorant - lacking basic knowledge; "how can someone that age be so ignorant?"; "inexperienced and new to the real world"

But it also showed the same definition of lacking knowledge. Yes I looked at the link and I also googled ignorant and it said it too.

Ignorant is just a word, like many in the language has many meanings. My thesaurus lists: Ignorant: unknowing, uncomprehending, unwitting, unaware, unconscious, oblivious,.; insensitive; unfamiliar with, not au fait with, unacquainted, a stranger to, not at home with, in the dark, mystified.; uncertain; clueless, with nothing to go on, blindfolded, blind, groping, experimental, amateurish, inexpert, ham.; unskilful, unversed, inexperienced, uninitiated, green raw, wet behind the ears, innocent of, guiltless, innocent; naïve, simple, unworldly, . artless; unenlightened, benighted, savage, uncivilised, pagan, heathenish, backward, dull, dense, dumb, unintelligent, empty headed, foolish, unwise, half baked, out of touch, not in the loop, behind the times, retrospective; wilfully ignorant, indifferent and incurious.

So like many words it can have an offensive use and a non-offensive use depending on the context. But saying that, the usual use in conversation is to be offensive (unless you are talking about yourself).

It's also interesting to note that the word 'ignorant' is the adjective of the verb 'to ignore' which comes from the Latin 'ignoro' which simply means 'not know'

I often wish that people would use words correctly. I think perhaps the most correct way of using the word is when describing yourself - ie., I am ignorant on the use of the dative case in Latin Verbs!!

I just looked up word lied and it's not the same as lie and OMG we have all been misusing the term lied. It's a type of German song.

The answer to this one lies in the answer to a lot of Internet conversations. Ambiguous words should be clarified, unless the intent is obvious from context. And it's very easy to make the mistake, as the one writing, to think everyone will understand the context. Many times I've learned this lesson.

A bit like using the word 'gay' these days. It now has at least 3 meanings.

I learned online using a word can change the whole meaning of a sentence. So choose words wisely when speaking.