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<?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="http://www.slate.com/discuss/utility/FeedStylesheets/rss.xsl" media="screen"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"><channel><title>XX Factor</title><link>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/2175222/ShowForum.aspx</link><description>XX Factor</description><dc:language>en</dc:language><generator>CommunityServer 2.1 SP2 (Build: 61120.2)</generator><item><title>Re: The arrogance of ignorance</title><link>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/3461245.aspx</link><pubDate>Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:56:51 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8e55aff1-63ee-4857-a1e9-69fccb83d317:3461245</guid><dc:creator>ktikat</dc:creator><slash:comments>0</slash:comments><comments>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/3461245.aspx</comments><wfw:commentRss>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/commentrss.aspx?SectionID=2175222&amp;PostID=3461245</wfw:commentRss><description>&lt;P&gt;Wow.. I have been "attacked" as being an ultra-conservative, and yet I deplore the LACK of sound education today.  I have seen a deterioration in the ability to read, speak, and in most ways to express oneself coherently, without slang, and without appallingly bad grammar.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;I even (perish the thought) see it in these comments at times.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;Yes, I do believe that the world does NOT owe us a living.. and I guess that is rather a conservative credo.  At the same time, I also believe that each person is unique and what we might think should be a standard of ability in any field, ignores the creative mind.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;Bottom line, I do not like extremes of anything.. but... rofl... I suppose I am something of an "extreme" moderate!  Still, look at the bell curve.  Most of us are clustered up the sides and top of the bell and occupy a range called "normal."  &lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;But the few who are attenuated at the bottom lip are considered "abnormal."  Therefore, geniuses (genii?) are, actually, as abnormal as presumed idiots.  Yet we need geniuses for human progress (with the exception of CERN .. sheesh.. ok I won't get off on that)... and from the needy, including the intellectually challenged, we can be taught that &lt;EM&gt;we&lt;/EM&gt; need to learn compassion, insight, and tolerance if we are also to survive as human beings.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;And, really, isn't survival what it is all about? The challenge is, however, survival with grace and integrity.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt; &lt;/P&gt;</description></item><item><title>Re: The arrogance of ignorance</title><link>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/2295250.aspx</link><pubDate>Fri, 09 Jan 2009 15:36:14 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8e55aff1-63ee-4857-a1e9-69fccb83d317:2295250</guid><dc:creator>Dar-al-Islam</dc:creator><slash:comments>0</slash:comments><comments>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/2295250.aspx</comments><wfw:commentRss>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/commentrss.aspx?SectionID=2175222&amp;PostID=2295250</wfw:commentRss><description>good points - thanks</description></item><item><title>Re: The arrogance of ignorance</title><link>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/2256032.aspx</link><pubDate>Mon, 29 Dec 2008 07:51:44 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8e55aff1-63ee-4857-a1e9-69fccb83d317:2256032</guid><dc:creator>AlaskaMan</dc:creator><slash:comments>0</slash:comments><comments>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/2256032.aspx</comments><wfw:commentRss>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/commentrss.aspx?SectionID=2175222&amp;PostID=2256032</wfw:commentRss><description>Don't underestimate "the Colonel".............LMAO</description></item><item><title>Re: It's Even Worse Than You Think</title><link>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/2256029.aspx</link><pubDate>Mon, 29 Dec 2008 07:48:50 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8e55aff1-63ee-4857-a1e9-69fccb83d317:2256029</guid><dc:creator>AlaskaMan</dc:creator><slash:comments>0</slash:comments><comments>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/2256029.aspx</comments><wfw:commentRss>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/commentrss.aspx?SectionID=2175222&amp;PostID=2256029</wfw:commentRss><description>Wow, you completely misunderstood the entire statement.......ignorant arrogance at work.</description></item><item><title>Re: The arrogance of ignorance</title><link>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/2256026.aspx</link><pubDate>Mon, 29 Dec 2008 07:45:10 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8e55aff1-63ee-4857-a1e9-69fccb83d317:2256026</guid><dc:creator>AlaskaMan</dc:creator><slash:comments>0</slash:comments><comments>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/2256026.aspx</comments><wfw:commentRss>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/commentrss.aspx?SectionID=2175222&amp;PostID=2256026</wfw:commentRss><description>...and your post is a perfect example  of arrogant ignorance.  And one question to add.  Why are the Democrats so intent on dumbing down the welfare electorate on whom they rely so much to win elections?  Only through the promise of larger government spending on welfare benefits do they purchase these votes.  So is the dumbing down of this particular demographic strictly to shield them from the harsh reality that they are being used?</description></item><item><title>Re: The arrogance of ignorance</title><link>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/2087923.aspx</link><pubDate>Fri, 07 Nov 2008 06:27:05 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8e55aff1-63ee-4857-a1e9-69fccb83d317:2087923</guid><dc:creator>okakura</dc:creator><slash:comments>0</slash:comments><comments>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/2087923.aspx</comments><wfw:commentRss>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/commentrss.aspx?SectionID=2175222&amp;PostID=2087923</wfw:commentRss><description>&lt;BLOCKQUOTE&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;img src="http://www.slate.com/discuss/Themes/slate/images/icon-quote.gif"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Archarito:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The problem with this country is the arrogant ignorance of all those who rely upon the indoctrinating main stream media as providing reliable information. For just one example, how much does the main stream media report on &lt;EM&gt;Skull &amp;amp; Bones, Bildrbergers &lt;/EM&gt;or the &lt;EM&gt;Illuminatti&lt;/EM&gt;? None at all! Yet these organizations have more influence on the world than the US Congress or President! 
&lt;P&gt;The arrogance of Ignorance is defined by those who fail to be significantly informed about these and similar secretive organizations! &lt;/div&gt;&lt;/BLOCKQUOTE&gt;&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;The essence of comedy is timing. Following the first post in this thread, &lt;EM&gt;this &lt;/EM&gt;post is freakin' hilarious! &lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;Good job, archa! You almost had me for a sec!&lt;/P&gt;</description></item><item><title>Re: It's Even Worse Than You Think</title><link>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/2084206.aspx</link><pubDate>Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:27:57 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8e55aff1-63ee-4857-a1e9-69fccb83d317:2084206</guid><dc:creator>Issywise</dc:creator><slash:comments>0</slash:comments><comments>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/2084206.aspx</comments><wfw:commentRss>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/commentrss.aspx?SectionID=2175222&amp;PostID=2084206</wfw:commentRss><description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;"I'm starting to wonder if she suffers from a serious cognitive defect."&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Dumbness? &lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Re: The arrogance of ignorance</title><link>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/2084195.aspx</link><pubDate>Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:26:11 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8e55aff1-63ee-4857-a1e9-69fccb83d317:2084195</guid><dc:creator>Issywise</dc:creator><slash:comments>0</slash:comments><comments>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/2084195.aspx</comments><wfw:commentRss>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/commentrss.aspx?SectionID=2175222&amp;PostID=2084195</wfw:commentRss><description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;These artificial divisions include:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;1.)  Black v white; &lt;/i&gt;So slavery, Jim Crow and racial discrimination didn't really exist? &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;2.)  Liberal vs conservative; &lt;/i&gt;So the policy of leaving the markets unregulated didn't result in the financial meltdown?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;3.)  Rich vs poor; &lt;/i&gt;So there aren't people in this country foregoing needed health care because they can't afford it or rich people flooding hundreds of thousand of dollars into political campaigns for the purpose of investing in a future economic return from government?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;4.)  Rural vs suburban; &lt;/i&gt;So urban sprawl isn't consuming farmland; aquifers below rural land uses aren't being drained and pumped to sprawling cities; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;You got some weird ideas of what is artificial. &lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Re: The arrogance of ignorance</title><link>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/2084147.aspx</link><pubDate>Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:20:13 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8e55aff1-63ee-4857-a1e9-69fccb83d317:2084147</guid><dc:creator>Issywise</dc:creator><slash:comments>0</slash:comments><comments>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/2084147.aspx</comments><wfw:commentRss>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/commentrss.aspx?SectionID=2175222&amp;PostID=2084147</wfw:commentRss><description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;"Skull &amp;amp; Bones, Bildrbergers &lt;/em&gt;or the &lt;em&gt;Illuminatti...&lt;/em&gt;&lt;i&gt;have more influence on the world than the US Congress or President!"&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;I am not sure if that statement is mere ignorance of outright insanity.  Since we are supposed to live in a nation based on a reasoned search for both truth and the best policy, maybe Archarito can tell us why he would say such a nutty thing? &lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Re: The arrogance of ignorance</title><link>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/2079327.aspx</link><pubDate>Thu, 06 Nov 2008 01:01:10 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8e55aff1-63ee-4857-a1e9-69fccb83d317:2079327</guid><dc:creator>teaandthunder</dc:creator><slash:comments>1</slash:comments><comments>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/2079327.aspx</comments><wfw:commentRss>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/commentrss.aspx?SectionID=2175222&amp;PostID=2079327</wfw:commentRss><description>&lt;P&gt;&lt;EM&gt;For just one example, how much does the main stream media report on Skull &amp;amp; Bones, Bildrbergers or the Illuminatti? None at all! Yet these organizations have more influence on the world than the US Congress or President!&lt;/EM&gt; &lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;Don't forget the Rothschilds and Colonel Sanders. To be fair, the latter seems to get plenty of play in the MSM. &lt;/P&gt;</description></item><item><title>Re: The arrogance of ignorance</title><link>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/2061203.aspx</link><pubDate>Mon, 03 Nov 2008 18:28:11 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8e55aff1-63ee-4857-a1e9-69fccb83d317:2061203</guid><dc:creator>faulkner_s_mom_m_@hotmail.com</dc:creator><slash:comments>0</slash:comments><comments>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/2061203.aspx</comments><wfw:commentRss>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/commentrss.aspx?SectionID=2175222&amp;PostID=2061203</wfw:commentRss><description>this message touched me in many ways i have never been touched before.
I have never felt so open after reading this, it broadened my
perspective on life majorly. I hope that you will keep righting stories
like thse so mo  people like me can be touched and rubbed like i
have. thank you havea good evening&lt;br&gt;</description></item><item><title>It's Even Worse Than You Think</title><link>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/2051322.aspx</link><pubDate>Sat, 01 Nov 2008 10:28:14 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8e55aff1-63ee-4857-a1e9-69fccb83d317:2051322</guid><dc:creator>Thrasymachus</dc:creator><slash:comments>2</slash:comments><comments>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/2051322.aspx</comments><wfw:commentRss>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/commentrss.aspx?SectionID=2175222&amp;PostID=2051322</wfw:commentRss><description>&lt;P&gt;You haven't truly encountered the disgruntlement of the ignorant until you've listened to &lt;A href="http://showbizexpress.net/pages/2136995.php?" target="_blank"&gt;this&lt;/A&gt;:  &lt;/P&gt;
&lt;BLOCKQUOTE&gt;
&lt;BLOCKQUOTE&gt;
&lt;P&gt;"Sarah Palin told WMAL-AM radio talk host Chris Plante that she fears her &lt;EM&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;First Amendment rights may be threatened by "attacks" from reporters&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;/EM&gt; who suggest she is engaging in a negative campaign against Barack Obama:&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;If [the media] convince enough voters that that is negative campaigning, for me to call Barack Obama out on his associations, then &lt;STRONG&gt;&lt;EM&gt;I don't know what the future of our country would be in terms of First Amendment rights and our ability to ask questions without fear of attacks by the mainstream media&lt;/EM&gt;&lt;/STRONG&gt;.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;/BLOCKQUOTE&gt;&lt;/BLOCKQUOTE&gt;
&lt;P&gt;That's beyond simple ignorance. It's a tsunami of stupid that makes that dolt at the McCain rally look as wordly as Gore Vidal. &lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;She thinks that the purpose of the First Amendment is to &lt;EM&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;silence journalists&lt;/STRONG&gt;,&lt;/EM&gt; in order to protect what she thinks is her "right," as a Vice-Presidential candidate, to run for (and, by extension, to hold) national office "&lt;STRONG&gt;&lt;EM&gt;without fear of attacks by the mainstream media&lt;/EM&gt;&lt;/STRONG&gt;."&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;This is more than just a lack of knowledge. Palin holds a degree in journalism, she's worked in broadcast news, and she's been a politician for more than a decade. These are all pursuits that relate directly to the First Amendment. The First Amendment is exactly one sentence long. She's had enough time to read it. &lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;I'm starting to wonder if she suffers from a serious cognitive defect. &lt;/P&gt;</description></item><item><title>Re: The arrogance of ignorance</title><link>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/1975563.aspx</link><pubDate>Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:52:10 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8e55aff1-63ee-4857-a1e9-69fccb83d317:1975563</guid><dc:creator>Archarito</dc:creator><slash:comments>1</slash:comments><comments>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/1975563.aspx</comments><wfw:commentRss>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/commentrss.aspx?SectionID=2175222&amp;PostID=1975563</wfw:commentRss><description>&lt;P&gt;&lt;BLOCKQUOTE&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;img src="http://www.slate.com/discuss/Themes/slate/images/icon-quote.gif"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Kija:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Studies have shown that the ignorant and incompetent most often overestimate their own competence and underestimate that of others. I look at those studies on competence and ignorance and all I see is that it's the Republican PArty on the couch.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/BLOCKQUOTE&gt;&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;Arrogance and/or ignorance has little to do with the commonly referred divisive issues bandied about the main stream media, pundits, or what have you in the grand scheme of things!&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;The artificial divisions are manufactured to keep the population engaged in obfuscatory issues.  &lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;These artificial divisions include:&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;1.)  Black v white;&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;2.)  Liberal vs conservative;&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;3.)  Rich vs poor;&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;4.)  Rural vs suburban, and so on.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;The goal is to distract and conceal information from all America.  &lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;The media's focus on artificial or contrived conflict is prevalent; so is focus on the glamourousness of the material indulgent world.  The major media prevents focus on things that over time, may matter far more than all their other stories combined.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;The arrogance of the ignorant includes all those who do not look outside the box for pertinent information about what goes on in the world around them.  Sometimes it takes luck or venturing way outside the box to find relevant pertinent information about the state of mankind on this planet.   Oh sure, there is a lot of information out there that is hard to sift through; made harder because the obfuscation by the major media who distort things. &lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;Finding absolute truth is difficult and may never be found with good and evil protagonists on this planet.  But, that does not preclude us, or; our obligation to seek truths about our existence; truths that include para-normal, spiritual or supernatural power which may also be good or evil.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt; &lt;/P&gt;</description></item><item><title>Re: The arrogance of ignorance</title><link>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/1957251.aspx</link><pubDate>Mon, 13 Oct 2008 23:38:33 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8e55aff1-63ee-4857-a1e9-69fccb83d317:1957251</guid><dc:creator>Kija</dc:creator><slash:comments>1</slash:comments><comments>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/1957251.aspx</comments><wfw:commentRss>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/commentrss.aspx?SectionID=2175222&amp;PostID=1957251</wfw:commentRss><description>Studies have shown that the ignorant and incompetent most often overestimate their own competence and underestimate that of others. I look at those studies on competence and ignorance and all I see is that it's the Republican PArty on the couch.&lt;br&gt;</description></item><item><title>Re: The arrogance of ignorance</title><link>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/1957123.aspx</link><pubDate>Mon, 13 Oct 2008 23:13:32 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8e55aff1-63ee-4857-a1e9-69fccb83d317:1957123</guid><dc:creator>Archarito</dc:creator><slash:comments>3</slash:comments><comments>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/1957123.aspx</comments><wfw:commentRss>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/commentrss.aspx?SectionID=2175222&amp;PostID=1957123</wfw:commentRss><description>&lt;P&gt;The problem with this country is the arrogant ignorance of all those who rely upon the indoctrinating main stream media as providing reliable information.  For just one example, how much does the main stream media report on &lt;EM&gt;Skull &amp;amp; Bones, Bildrbergers &lt;/EM&gt;or the &lt;EM&gt;Illuminatti&lt;/EM&gt;?  None at all!  Yet these organizations have more influence on the world than the US Congress or President!  &lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;The arrogance of Ignorance is defined by those who fail to be significantly informed about these and similar secretive organizations!  &lt;/P&gt;</description></item></channel></rss>