What's wrong with being 'intellectual'?

[Dennis]

> I prefer the word 'learned' rather than 'intellectual', because I think
that
> many 'unlearned' people have high 'intellect' but don't necessarily have
the
> opportunity to develop 'it' as they would like to.
>
> Arrogance relating to the possession of certain specific knowledge is what
> is offensive (as is any form of arrogance). I believe the medical
profession
> display this unfortunate trait to a high degree (in their assumptions that
> patients are incapable of understanding medical concepts and their
repeated
> refusal to share their knowledge with 'underlings').
>
> Hierarchies in organisations simply perpetuate this arrogance.
>
> Knowledge is something that should be shared rather than used as a 'status
> symbol'. I wish the school and University I went to had more
> 'intellectuals'.
>
> Brenda Rosser

Absolutely. Human intelligence crosses every political/social boundary, and
this is what sends the Smart Crowd into its defensive posture.

Years ago I was friendly with a medical crowd -- doctors and dentists and
psychiatrists -- and used to party with them. To this day I've yet to
encounter the level of arrogance and elitism I dealt with there. The
majority of these people were in it strictly for the bread; they hated
people in general, and made fun of many of their patients. They drank till
they puked or passed out and more than a few had a taste for coke (being
doctors they got hold of some primo flake). Whenever I broached the topic of
socialized medicine they practically choked on their cocktail olives.
"What?! Give up the summer house and boat and jet ski so that some n-words
get a free flu shot! Ha!"

Good thing I didn't bring up the Cuban model of international medical
service. I'd love to see some of these assholes serve in an African village
riddled with disease.

DP