Which do you think is more dangerous?

Somebody who's totally ignorant of the facts or somebody who's slightly educated and thinks they understand the entire issue?

Impossible to say. Too many potential variables.

All else being equal, neither strikes me as more dangerous than the other, but both have the potential to cause a disaster.

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What the unbritish Brit said though the latter gets more kneejerk "RAEG" from me.

edited 9th Jun '11 1:14:58 PM by Aondeug

If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan Chah

Somebody who KNOWS they're ignorant of all the facts would be likely to let someone else handle it, thus they're not too dangerous. Someone who knows enough (or thinks they know enough) that they want to participate while not knowing enough to actually be competent would be much worse.

I suspect that in a lot of cases, the second one is how people explain well-informed people that disagree with them. The condescending "Oh well, if you knew more about this issue you'd agree with me" that you occasionally get on forums is insulting and not very helpful.

Point that somewhere else, or I'll reengage the harmonic tachyon modulator.

^^ Well, obviously. Inaction isn't going to directly cause any danger (though it will do nothing to prevent it).

But that's assuming the ignorant person really will be inactive.

edited 9th Jun '11 1:25:08 PM by BobbyG

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Both can be educated.

However, there are too many variables in this: are they willing to learn more? Are they in a position of power?

Also, are they voting people into power?

"I don't know how I do it. I'm like the Mr. Bean of sex." -Drunkscriblerian

Dichotomy assumes the first dude doesn't think he understands everything. Thus, he's going to be less incentivied to mess things up for everyone else.

What's precedent ever done for us?

If the first one is totally ignorant but knows they're ignorant, I'm inclined to think he's less dangerous. However if they've got a "fuck with shit you don't understand" mentality, that sort of goes out the window.

Fight smart, not fair.

A wise man is characterized by what he doesn't know, while a fool is characterized by what he does.

I'll take the former.

Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! ~ GOD

Too little information to decide.

The independent variable isn't ignorance vs. education, it's self-perception of intelligence.

Whichever of the two thinks he's better qualified to make decisions is the more dangerous one.

Share it so that people can get into this conversation, 'cause we're not the only ones who think like this.

It sounded cooler when I said it...

Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! ~ GOD

Exactly. We've been provided two pieces of information about one person, and only one piece of information about the other. No, it didn't.

They are equally bad.
If I have to pick one, I will flip a coin, and nothing more.
Both of them do not understand it, and they both lack the ability to realize they are wrong.

A guy called dvorak is tired. Tired of humanity not wanting to change to improve itself. Quite the sad tale.

The noob is likely to be more dangerous because of his delusion that he knows everything he needs to know, but I would trust neither.

Banned entirely for telling FE that he was being rude and not contributing to the discussion. I shall watch down from the goon heavens.

I'll go with the second one as being more dangerous. Or at least, irritating.

You stand a better shot at showing the ignorant one that they're ignorant, rather easily, and once you do that, they should hopefully defer to those who know more.

The one who knows a little but think they know a lot, well, you may have a harder time convincing them otherwise.

Happiness is zero-gee with a sinus cold.

I think all men are the most dangerous .

Totally ignorant people can be educated. People who think they know everything... often not

"Take your (...) hippy dream world, I'll take reality and earning my happiness with my own efforts" - Barkey