Anthropologically speaking, Why do stupid people hate smarts and smart people look down on stupidity?

Question

Is this observation in the form of a Q, possible to make across all cultures?

Answer 1

Stupidity is foolishness, not ignorance, so I suppose the "fools" hate to see someone who has their "stuff" together and someone who is altogether hates foolishness!

Answer 2

anthropologically, i think that it's a matter of being with your own kind, of appreciating your own circle of influence, sharing the same language, wavelengths and interests. hate though is a much stronger word for the way they perceive each other; rather it is a mixture of dislike, wonder, awe or maybe indifference and disgust for someone who doesn't think and behave other than one's own way.

Answer 3

I would guess it has to do with different interests and priorities.

A smart person might seek knowledge, enjoy reading books, like the arts, etc.

Stupid people like watching cars make left turns all day, see no point in education where it doesn't directly effect them, enjoy Fox News, and have so many children they don't know what to do.

And because the one group cannot fathom how the other can possibly do what they do, dress as they dress, speak how they speak, etc; they look down at them for they are viewed as inferior.

Answer 4

It is one of the multitude of human failings from which most of us suffer.

We all think we are smart and in the case of very few of us...that may be semi-accurate.  lol

Answer 5

I think that I have been in both worlds and say that if it gets you thru your life with some satisfaction then it's all good.  If watchings cars go round in circles makes you happy go for it. If reading a book that is 500 years old seems valuable then it is just as good.  I do both.  When I was enlisted in the military I had to defend the officers because some enlisted hated when the college educated officers would do some dumb things.  I tried to explain that college didn't make you smart but that it proved that you could do task assigned to you and that you were persistent. The educated don't listen to the working class and it is a shame because alot could be improved if they would. Some of what you call stupid people enjoy life, they don't want to read about it in a book, they want to live it.  Yes, smart people look down on others but stupid people are just trying to figure out why smart people have no common sense.

Answer 6

It is human nature to overvalue the good qualities you have and undervalue the good qualities you don't have.

Answer 7

Not really. Some stupid people do become fans of smart people. But those who hate the smart people are just jealous