Is there such a thing as Intellectually abusive?

[Jjpayne]

Updates

+1 y

It means, using your intelligence to mock someone or hurt someone that you deem inferior to yourself. Or placing them inside a judgmental box that you beileve they should be in because it's only logical that they are

[IlyaTheImpaler]

Yes, there are many who reached the top of their field while remaining completely humble (like Terry Tao), but what you mentioned also exists.
Incidentally those who fall under the label "intellectually abusive" are also responsible for... modern science, mathematics, technology, civilization: Isaac Newton (possibly the greatest scientist/mathematician in the history according to other scientists/mathematicians) was a notorious flamer, so were Gottfried Leibniz, the Bernoulli brothers, Augustin Cauchy, Carl F Gauss, Godfrey H Hardy, David Hilbert, Niels Bohr, Wolfgang Pauli, Lev Landau, Richard Feynman, Murray Gell Mann, Goro Shimura, Shinichi Mochizuki etc and many more across different cultures. The names I listed are those who will not hesitate flaming you if you're wrong and vocal about something or pretend to know science.

In my opinion this character flaw makes them human, and also saved us from the noise/chaos caused by stubborn contrarians (imagine if Bohr or Pauli didn't scathingly criticize/flame the folks who opposed them, if Hilbert or Einstein didn't use their authority to push their correct ideas, we wouldn't have quantum mechanics, or... electronics, or spaceships, or a unified framework for modern mathematics).

I would say the attitude of ripping on the aggressive frauds who propagate wrong/conspiracy theories is especially NEEDED among the highest caliber experts in modern days. In the age of information and social media, laymen are much more vulnerable to misinformation and populist strategy (example https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MXR998F/ a contrarian just needed to write a pop sci book and most people gladly use it as their reference instead of accepted physics lol SIMPLY because it's easier to understand. Only one reviewer seems to be the exception https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R1NKM1IVXVDF92/ )

Sometimes it's also a matter of life and death. Cases in point
https://twitter.com/CT_Bergstrom/status/1241522140559503360
https://twitter.com/mlipsitch/status/1243372361098936320

[Regmorus]

At least in the following case your going can be percepted as such. When you (maybe unintentionally) let an unprepared person see that you play (in some frame of reference in which you communicate in the time) on completely different much higher level than them, then it can be percepted as such. Especially if it's a field dear to the person.

(However usually the problem in this case is the person who regards it as offensive although it's just a genuine discussion)

[Xoxocutekitty]

While more likely categorically defined as emotional abuse (Within most platonic/romantic/domestic relationships) intellectual abuse can definitely be a thing, particularly if you are looking into the unfairness in the access, dissemination, and ability to communicate on the basis of a particular subject.

Transaction of knowledge should be on fair terms, where a teacher should teach to the level that a student is capable of grasping and understanding. A highly experienced lawyer of 25 years is at an extreme intellectual advantage over a 1st year law graduate. Just because two people are having defense under the court of law, is the defense really equal or fair? Is one in a way intellectually handicapped or the other overly advantaged?

To take it a step forward, rights upon intellectual rights are a huge subsection of the law, so yes, there are even legal implications of intellectual unfairness/distribution/opportunity such that the consequences are often grounds for "undue emotional distress" (aka emotional abuse) via slander, defamation, loss of value, ability to copy/patent and make a profit.

[AmandaYVR]

I don't know. You tell us your theory.

Intelligent people are abusive too, so sure, I guess so. But that's probably not what you mean by the phrase. I mean, all mental abuse comes from the head. I don't think it has to be made distinctly intellectual. Smart people do stupid and cruel things, but abuse is about contempt and power, and no one's got the monopoly on that.

[Justacatlady]

I think so. Might not be purposely that way but sometimes intelligence gives the person a better than you attitude simply because they know better. Makes me think of Sheldon from the Big Bang show. He had to be told when his social interactions weren’t acceptable because his logic didn’t realize it was a social problem.

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

Intellectual abuse. MEANING: Disrespect for another's learning style, way of thinking or intellectual interests. This can involve ridiculing a child's carefully thought out ideas or devaluing a person's opinions.

[DeeDeeDeVour]

Yes, there is such as thing.
The arrogance is absurd.

[AustinMan]

I guess I can sort of see it. Depending on how it's done, I'd characterize it as more emotional abuse, probably.

[genericname85]

no, there's emotional abuse, not intellectual abuse. you can emotionally abuse better when you're intellectual though, cause that requires some smarts.

[Unit1]

This happens quite a lot. I decide to get my intel elsewhere in such cases. I am not gonna tolerate peasant class behavior.

[Richard-Tilburg]

Yes. "I have studied/a degree, therefore I know more/better then you." Or a variation of it is the most used. 😇

[Jamie05rhs]

I thought that was just called bullying. But I suppose that could be an appropriate term for that particular type of bullying.

[Shellyworld]

There are people who show off their academic status to debase other people. It’s nasty.

[willisg]

I like the intellectual abuser that has a Big big ego. Do you know how easy it is to fuck them up!
They never can see past their own nose.

[Richard-Tilburg]

🤣🤣🤣

[Cryptic-Game]

I'm sure people take advantage of others using their intelligence.

[DanaeAdam5]

I mean... that's called emotional abuse

[LilElph]

Well I that would fall under emotional abuse

[MountAverage]

Haven't heard that term before. What is it exactly?

[WowwGirl]

I'm in psy it's my job

[Jamie05rhs]

How is that your job?

[Tomsta]

Thats also known as condesention in my books

[apropos1]

Yes. But they wouldn't realise that.

[reptocarl2]

In my opinion teachers are

[NorthwestRider]

Sure it does exist

[Hotboy_booblover]

Yes very much