I'm not an elitist and I'd hardly call myself arrogant.
I wouldn't try and argue that I'm smarter, better or more right than average, it just so happens that the vast majority of people are stupider, more wrong and worse than average (by a long way). That is to say that there are a LOT of people who are a lot stupider than me, but the group of fewer people who are smarter than me tend to be a LOT smarter than me, and thus bring up the average of the collective intelligence. I tend to disregard to opinions of people I see as being too stupid to compose their own.

I have seen my share of elitisim... Dirty normals thinking that they are on par with if not better than me bah.

Khell_Sennet:
My biggest elitism, not that I have many, but still biggest, is the knowledge that I would be a much better national leader than most people, definitely better than the fuquits in charge today. I could really fix up my nation, some people won't be happy, many won't be happy at first, but when crime drops, government spending is better controlled, and all the minor annoyances of daily life start to disappear, you'll thank me.

A dictator is often thought to be synonymous with an tyrant. It's not the same thing, and dictators (tyrant or benevolent) get shit done. I want to be your tyrant.

My exact thoughts, because people at large can't make up their mind.

kingofnothing:

Mray3460:

Earthbound:

jim_doki:
I'm the anti piracy advocate here. I yell extensively at anyone who justifies stealing shit from people

People that pirate things, such as games or music, annoy me. What really annoys me is when they justify it and berate me for being a "corporate pawn" and make me out to be the morally incorrect one.

Mray3460:
Anyway, People call me an elitist because I believe that people should have to take a test (similar to a citizenship test) before they can vote. Turning 18 and being born in the country doesn't make you competant, nor informed, and I don't want my leaders determined by some uninformed proletariat who's voting for a candidate because his family has been voting with the same party for over 100 years.

That may just be one of the single greatest ideas relating to the voting system that I've ever heard. I must remember it.

Finally, someone who agrees with me. (I'm in a rather conservative neighborhood, not many people like me as a political person)

Edit: Incidently, the idea has been tried in the States before, but the system was abused to keep people from voting for reasons other than knowledge (race). Thus, the idea has acquired a stigma.

I was going to say, the south did that. There's just no way you could make a test that would be completely fair. This also slants the power to the wealthy who have the leisure time to be educated. The problem is that right now the media anti-informs people by focusing everyone's attention elsewhere. It's also a problem that our system forces you to side with whichever of the 2 sides shares the most of your beliefs. You can't be for libertarian economics and gay marriage/abortion because you can only vote for one party's candidate.

I think it was Churchhill who said "Democracy doesn't work, it just works 5 times better than anything else we've tried"

The thing is, we already have a test to decide if people get to vote: citizinship tests. We already use it to decide if an imigrant has enough knowledge to be considered a viable constituant, I say that we just apply it to natural born citizens as well.

As for the wealthy-poor argument, there's a simple solution: Put the information e-v-e-r-y-where; on posters in malls, libraries, street courners, soup kitchens, construction sites, and all other matter of places so that a person has to make an -effort- to stay ignorant. The same goes for candidate policies. Have posters and flyers that have the candidate's policies and stances on issues (laid out by them well before the election) side by side on the same sheet of paper, and have the entire thing laid out in plain english (and/or spanish).

Additionally, get websites that have the same information, and give voters the ability to choose from third party and independant candidates as well.

Furthermore, have the information posted just outside the polls and testing facilities, so that all but the most dedicated ignorants could possible be able to fail the test.

Finally, Kingofnothing, I agree with your quote, democracy is the best system of government in the world, but, the only reason why that is so is that we haven't come up with anything better.

Mray3460:

As for the wealthy-poor argument, there's a simple solution: Put the information e-v-e-r-y-where; on posters in malls, libraries, street courners, soup kitchens, construction sites, and all other matter of places so that a person has to make an -effort- to stay ignorant. The same goes for candidate policies. Have posters and flyers that have the candidate's policies and stances on issues (laid out by them well before the election) side by side on the same sheet of paper, and have the entire thing laid out in plain english (and/or spanish).

I disagree. Heck no. WAY too idealistic. We'd need at least six new government agencies to do this plan. One for each party's posters and flyers, one that was putting the information out for people, one that would choose what actually goes on the general knowledge posters and flyers, one for translating to spanish, and another for actually printing up all the material. And i guarantee it they'll work in other agencies as well. The government fails at efficiency, i don't care how democratic or republican you are, the government is a failure at doing just about everything.

The FDA coms out with a new food pyramid poster, and everyone HATED it. Everyones going to hate everything your fantasy society attempts to do, as well, at least in terms of public indoctrination.

You take the citizenship test after public school. If you failed to learn the basic tennents of society by the time it was legal to vote, sorry, you fail at civic life. No voting. On the up side, you won't be called for jury duty. You may try your test again in 8 years.

theklng:
the greatest flaw of the average man is the consideration that he is better than everyone else, especially when only exercising it through bureaucratic measures; e.g. smart asses who correct spelling and grammar errors as if it was the end of the world if someone misspelled the term YOU'RE. people like that like to create a reason for themselves, and usually the outcome is just as bad as their own mind is.

the real elite is actually keeping quiet and working for more meaningful causes than a world society to end all spelling errors. if you think you're an elitist, you've got to prove it.

i might add that while IQ certainly has its say in this, there are different forms of intelligence.

This is all too true. Many people outside of the US feel nowadays that they are much, much smarter than the average American. Honestly, In no way am I an elitist, for i believe that speaking out isn't going to do much because really, the elitist people will always continue an argument even though they know they are wrong for the sake of personal pride. A wise person once said "You can say a sentence to make a man hate his neighbor, but you can't say anything in the world to make him love his neighbor", or something close to that.

I'm an elitist when it comes to music. I shudder when people say their favorite band is Disturbed, or Linkin park.

Other than that, I'm generally an asshole. If I get into an argument and someone points out a flaw in my argument, I will admit fault. Argument isn't who wins and who loses, its who has the most rock solid points. I see it as just a test of mental athleticism.

I rather dislike people who can't admit fault in their argument by resorting to logical fallacies.

Anything on the keeping of Tarantulas, religion in general or people saying that because someone disagrees with their views they are morally bankrupt.

I can admit I'm pretty elitist at times.

I have hobbies, and I care intensely about my hobbies. If you want to rank yourself to par with my hobbies then you better make some effort to back it up. When I got into game reviews, I spent a lot of time figuring out what kinda reviews I liked. I found writers like mjhhiv, RAKtheUndead, Maet, RentCavalier, Gigantor, SimuLord, Spartan Bannana as well as the old X-Play and Zero Punctuation reviews, and I figured out a way to make my writing work with those influences in mind.

Then, once I felt like I had a firm understanding of what made my reviews work, and if they worked at all, I started to notice what I came to feel as my home in User Reviews a little muddy. New users and short reviews... What happened? So I critiqued. (SirDanRhodes can attest to that.)

I think I could be easily regarded as an elitist writer when you look at most of my posts. Although most times it's in the name of offering advice for people who can take it (and take it harsh), and accidentally alienating those who can't.

But it's okay, it's all for the greater good. ^{The greater good!}

Oh, and I'm intense about writing and drawing, too, as those are also my hobbies. You can ask just about anyone, I get a little... Forceful with my opinions.

thiosk:
anyway, i'm elitist when it comes to science. I'm allowed to be, because I got a phD, and you didn't. And I like to call people on it when they spew pseudo- and preconceptual-science.

PhD is the grammatically correct way of writing it. Also, what did you do your dissertation on?

The elitist and general "I'm better than you" attitude have gotten me pretty much everything in life that I've ever wanted. Money, girls, happiness, it all comes down to being numero uno in whatever you're doing. Nobody ever gave a shit about the runner up. I'm smarter, more good looking, more successful, and smell better.

Hevoo:

rottenbutter:

Hevoo:

rottenbutter:
I correct people about everything. I'm a total smart ass.

Stop being a smart ass.

Why? Being a smart ass is fun.

I'm trying to correct you.

I'm just being a smart ass. :D

Better a smart ass than a dumb ass.

I'm not an elitist, I just mess with people because I find it entertaining.

crimson5pheonix:
I'm not an elitist, I just mess with people because I find it entertaining.

so you're a monster. much better. :P

I also protect my star trek pretty violently when i have to

jim_doki:

crimson5pheonix:
I'm not an elitist, I just mess with people because I find it entertaining.

so you're a monster. much better. :P

I also protect my star trek pretty violently when i have to

Of course, if a thread ends without anyone suffering an aneurysm, what the point? I also enjoy pointing out useless facts, like 2*2 approximates to 3.

crimson5pheonix:

Of course, if a thread ends without anyone suffering an aneurysm, what the point? I also enjoy pointing out useless facts, like 2*2 approximates to 3.

I'm an elitist for not understanding maths at all. I get a little bit of wave physics, but thats about it

jim_doki:

crimson5pheonix:

Of course, if a thread ends without anyone suffering an aneurysm, what the point? I also enjoy pointing out useless facts, like 2*2 approximates to 3.

I'm an elitist for not understanding maths at all. I get a little bit of wave physics, but thats about it

I can also prove mathematically that the answer to 2*2 doesn't exist. Math is fun.

Honestly, I'm an elitist to everyone back in my podunk hometown who're my age and have already derailed much hope of a viable college education, as well as career opportunities. Does it make me a bad person that I hate seeing those people when I go back home for the holidays and think, "Christ. You're such a freaking failure"? I don't care. I justify that with the fact that I've known those people for years and it's informed elitism.

And on a slightly off-topic note,

Kikosemmek:

Similarly, I have a playlist that I call 'hardcore awesome' (got the idea from a friend of mine who has a playlist of the same name) in which I place only the most unique, dork-awesome music tracks that I have, like stuff by Gogol Bordello, Secret Chiefs 3 (check those out; highly recommended), and Manowar. Even my favourite band, Iron Maiden, didn't make it there because they aren't eccentric/unique enough, which is admittedly elitist on my part.

I checked them out and I'm so confused. What is this? I went from what sounded like Afrofunk drums to minor key cellos. I'm intrigued and yet so terribly, terribly confused...

I perceive myself as an elitist in some areas. However, I do not belittle others for their opinions as well.

I'm so Elite that I purposely didn't buy a X-Box Three Sixty until they released the black one with the One Hundred and Twenty GB Hard Drive.

Also I'm so beyond 'Leet' that I write numbers with letters.

Mr.Pandah:
My question to you is, What topic gets the best of you? Is it politics? Technology? The Mundane? Anything at all? I speak of things that if you hear someone say speak incorrectly about the subject matter, it irks you to the point that you must speak up and say your piece.

I get irritated when people treat a moral stance like a universal truth as opposed to an opinion. That's why it's pretty much all I post about on these forums. It's irritating and thankless, but I do it because I feel it's important for people to meet at least one person in their lifetime who understands facts and is willing to impart his wisdom on them.

I'm an elitist when it comes to metal. If you like other forms of music, fine, fine, I don't but I won't get up in your grill about it. Unless you try to push it on me, in which case I will respond with the metal I think will cause you the most pain. (Ever seen a rapper's reaction to funeral doom? HA.)

If you say you like metal and state a non-metal band as an example(hard rock bands like ACDC or KISS, or nu-metal or metalcore) I WILL DESTROY ALL YOU HOLD DEAR. Or if you like deathcore. It is so bad an analogy could never hope to convey my distaste. If you like forms of metal that I don't like... fiiiine. I will grudgingly accept that our tastes differ. I hold a caveat in that I do not hold that true for all bands. I will verbally masticate you if you say you like Metallica, Dragonforce, or (new) In Flames, as examples.

I also am elitist when it comes to opinions. If some one has an opinion and has backed it up soundly, fine. I will concede that they've thought about it and harbour no ill will for their choice. If they're just spouting something off because they read a feel-good fuzzy article on the subject at most, I WILL ONCE AGAIN DESTROY ALL THEY HOLD DEAR. I will play Devil's advocate. I will rip apart people I agree with because their reasons are retarded. People seem to think that since every one has an opinion, they're all equal. THEY ARE NOT. An opinion needs to be backed up by arguments that make it sound. An unsound opinion is a disservice to yourself. It's like ordering things off a menu without reading the ingredients. Don't. Frigging. Do. That.

Politics and video game discussions really get to me. The American government needs to cut domestic spending and let the firms who involved themselves in sub-prime mortgages die.
The Wii and PCs are currently the best gaming platforms.

No one is created equal, of varying backgrounds, qualities and intellect.

However all opinions are.

That is what elitism is, believing that your opinion matters more than another's.

I don't suffer from a case of elitism, I'm too good for that.

I laughed hysterically watching people sign a petition to ban dihydrogen monoxide

Nothing gets the best of me, I know everything.

Anytime anyone gets something wrong, I correct them. I dont considered correcting someone to be eltist unless youre a total dick about it and you talk down to them about it, which I dont do. I hope.

Calamity:
I laughed hysterically watching people sign a petition to ban dihydrogen monoxide

Penn and Teller Bullshit? I laugh so hard at that. Plus I did chemistry in school so I knew what they were talking about.

Aardvark:
It's not really elitism when 99% of people out there are borderline retarded.

I do agree with that, but i do wonder at what level elitism starts when you consider 99% of the world is borderline retarded, if you get my point.

WeedWorm:

Calamity:
I laughed hysterically watching people sign a petition to ban dihydrogen monoxide

Penn and Teller Bullshit? I laugh so hard at that. Plus I did chemistry in school so I knew what they were talking about.

I figured out it was water myself! how smart am I.

on topic. I'm not elitist about everything. i just have a huge huge huge ego. although if someone is being borderline retarded or says something wrong in one of my preferred subjects (evolution and history) i will make a huge rant about it. also i have literally argued for 3 days about religion to someone but that's a bit off-topic (I was on the atheist side).

C Lion:
Ironically, neutrality. If I hear someone trying to sound unbiased one minute but spinning opinions as facts the next, I call bullshit.

Don't we all?

People that cry, become depressed or even if they need a minute to gather their thoughts. I immediately tell them that they are living in the past and look down on them for being unable to feel apathetic to their losses.

Aardvark:
It's not really elitism when 99% of people out there are borderline retarded.

Was that meant to be a joke? I laughed anyway.

crimson5pheonix:

jim_doki:

crimson5pheonix:

Of course, if a thread ends without anyone suffering an aneurysm, what the point? I also enjoy pointing out useless facts, like 2*2 approximates to 3.

I'm an elitist for not understanding maths at all. I get a little bit of wave physics, but thats about it

I can also prove mathematically that the answer to 2*2 doesn't exist. Math is fun.

Having done a bit of proof, i'd actually like to see that!

Been a while